Head burning daily

I am unsure if l am addressing this to the correct forum but don't know where to start. For about six months l have had very uncomfortable, unnerving and painful burning sensation in my head. It initially started with pins and needles across my scalp. Over the 6 months it has developed into burning from the back of my head, tightening in my neck. The burning can cover the whole of my head and to my forehead. It feels like it's on fire. I have several episodes throughout the entire day. There is no trigger I am aware off, it's random. I also wake with it in the mornings. The sensation had recently started causing pins and needles on both sides of my face from my temples downwards. I have been through a stressful life event but feel life is returning to a new unavoidable normality. Dealing with these daily episodes is undermining the progress l feel l am making. I regularly meditate and practice mindfulness. I have an underactive thyroid, osteoarthritis in my spine and neck and high blood pressure which is well controlled. I had a TIA last year with numbness in my hand and arm momentarily. There were no lasting symptoms. Due to the traumatic event l experienced l assumed the head sensations were anxiety related. My doctor also suggested maybe that was the case. I am now thinking l could possibly be overlooking a medical causation as life generally had become more settled. I would be really grateful for any insight.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Hi, and a warm welcome. are you wondering if your symptoms could be fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia pain is widespread, affecting the entire body - you only mention pains in your head /scalp

Other main fibromyalgia symptoms are chronic fatigue, cognitive dysfunction (brain fog) and unrefreshing sleep

[Hidden in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and reply. I do get pains in my neck and joints but l think this is secondary and due to my osteoarthritis. The head burning is new. I am clutching at straws really and haven't a clue what could be the underlying cause. I suppose l am hoping someone may have a similar experience and can point me in the right direction. Normally l would talk this over with a GP but the current climate makes accessing services difficult. Thank you for your help.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff in reply to Hidden]

Fibromyalgia pain can be felt as a burning pain, but not only one area such as the head. I appreciate that seeing a doctor can be difficult at the moment, but that would be my suggestion for getting some answers

[Hidden in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you 💐

[Cheriann]

I have similar sensations and painful burning starting in the back of my head and spreading to the front. Was diagnosed by a neurologist with Occipital Neuralgia. The burning pain is horrible and the tingling makes me so nervous. The pain is sometimes so bad that I cannot sleep because I can't stand to have my head touch a pillow. Also have 2 herniated discs in my neck which cause pins and needles and numbness in both hands. Was sent to physical therapy and thankfully some of the exercises they gave me are helping.

I hope you get some answers and relief!

[Hidden in reply to Cheriann]

Thank you so much for your reply Cheriann. Your experience sounds very similar. I have neck problems with bulging disc where the spine meets the neck. I often wake with pins and needles in my hands. I feel really reassured from your answer. When I get to see a GP l will suggest l think it's occipital neuralgia. When I was diagnosed with my spine and neck my GP received the diagnosed but didn't follow up with any treatment. It was during lockdown. Thank you once again.

[Henry04 in reply to Cheriann]

Hi i have the same problem with my neck hands going numb and weak did physio help your handd

[Cheriann in reply to Henry04]

Hi! The exercises helped a lot with the occipital neuralgia, but unfortunately no so much with the hands issue. Still have the tingling and numbness. The exercise that they gave me will relieve it a little for a minute or 2 and then its right back to the same feeling.

[Fibrofog]

You need to get this checked out. Ask to see either a neuro surgeon or neurologist x

[Hidden in reply to Fibrofog]

Thank you Honeydebra. I am so grateful for your reply. I am going to see my GP. I think this is highly likely related to the osteoarthritis in my neck with bulging disc. Thank you once again.

[Fibrofog in reply to Hidden]

No problem I hate to see people suffer xx

[Chloe789]

I have always suffered migraines, starting as a young kid. I will always get hot pain it would be all over my head. Temples, behind eyes, back of neck.

I got them alot during exams and I was checked out by doctors to make sure it wasn't anything bad.

I did notice that the weather would effect me.

Stormy weather or pressure changes in the weather would cause some of them.

I was told to keep an eye on certain foods

Chocolate

Cheese

Eggs

Tomatoes

Grapes

There are other foods that can possibly trigger them. But I haven't yet found any that do.

They calmed down for years and then my doctors messed around with my birth control. I finally went back on my original one. But this took ages to get back on my original birth control pill.

This time now I get them with and around my period, it's to do with the hormones.

This might help you, the weather and hormones might be contributing to your headaches.

Try keeping a diary of your life to work out why these are happening. It hopefully might make it easier to see any patterns etc.

But please get checked out to make sure it isn't anything very bad, that can be fixed.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello, you sound like you need to explore this further, it is a nuisance getting appointment s but I agree perhaps an appointment with a neurologist which your doctor can refer you too and seek out some answers as too why this is happening, good luck with this x

[Gaballetto]

Has your GP considered something that could be caused by BOTH a medical problem AND stress? Like, for example, Herpes virus or shingles?

Do you get, or have you ever been prone to cold sores? Did you have chickenpox as a child? If so, it might be worth discussing this with your GP.

My husband told me that he listened to a talk on BBC Radio 2 yesterday where they were discussing how Herpes virus (cold sore virus) can cause, amongst other things, ear pain and scalp and head pain and even neck, shoulder and chest sores. My husband thought it might apply to my recent symptoms, that's why he noted it. I don't know who was talking but obviously, on BBC it was someone who was not just a quack. It was middle of the day on 13th June if you can find a catch-up somewhere.

In fact, an ENT I saw privately recently also suggested the same, but I haven't been able to try his theory by taking the antiviral med he prescribed because I'm allergic to something that seems to be in almost all meds (huh, lucky me - allergy clinic appt in August)

Just throwing ideas around. Your description makes it sound like something that affects the nerves in your head, hence my mental jump to viruses.