Anyone have experience with ice pick headaches?

[shareasmile]

Hello friends! Over the last 2 days, I have had stabbing pains in the left side of my head. The pain is sudden and lasts only a second or two and makes me gasp. This happens every few seconds or minutes during wake and sleep. My scalp is super tender and there is an ache in the temple and around the left eye. I've read that these can be associated with autoimmune diseases such as MS and lupus. Anyone have words of wisdom or discussions with your rheumatologist about these?

[PMRpro]

If someone my home forum, PMRGCAuk, described those symptoms I would immediately think of giant cell arteritis - they really are typical, especially the tender scalp. You are in the "right" age range (I put that in quotes because doctors will try and tell people they are too young despite the guideleines saying over 50 and the medical literature warning this doesn't rule out younger people having it).

It is also autoimmune - a vasculitis.

Looking back at your previous posts - what conclusion did the doctor come to about your hip pain? I had similar pain in my hip with the bursitis which is common with undiagnosed and untreated polymyalgia rheumatica which can be a precursor to or part of a GCA diagnosis.

[shareasmile in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your reply, PMRpro! I am seeing an orthopedic doc for my hip. I had an mri which ruled out avascular necrosis. A labral tear is suspected, but doesn't clearly show on the mri. He decided to send me to a physiatrist to rule out the SI joint since I have a history of SI joint dysfunction. Thankfully, the hip hasn't been as painful. But there is still something out of whack in there. You have definitely given me more to research. I really appreciate your response. 🙂