Head pain

[231952]

I have a sharp stabbing pain the left side of my head it is not constant but happens periodically every few minutes it causes me to catch my breath I have taken pain killers which do not help. Does anyone else experience this sort of pain in the head?

[monster05]

Hi there,

This sounds like neuralgia. I get this too, sometimes very badly indeed and the flashing pain is excruciating. Painkillers don’t work although aspirin can take the edge off it. An anti-inflammatory such as naproxen or diclofenax is also useful. If it continues, see your GP but it definitely sounds like neuralgia.

[231952 in reply to monster05]

Thankyou the pain is on side of my head towards the top of my head

[bamboo89]

I see MonsterO5 has mentioned neuralgia; I came on to say it might be trigeminal neuralgia, but it depends precisely where you mean on the side of your head. Usually, trigeminal neuralgia is felt in the temple and/or close to the front of the ear, maybe down into the jaw below the ear, and may cause a general low grade headache the same side, as well as the intermittent, usually fairly closely spaced stabbing pain which can make you flinch. Usually with neuralgia, there is an unpleasant feeling of extreme sensitivity in the area, sometimes with a sensation of slight numbness or tingling. It is horrible and no, painkillers don't touch it really. Causes can be the neck or TMJ - if you can use voltarol gel, that might help, applied to the area where it hurts, or if not, 10% ibuprofen gel.

[troy04]

.... and just to be safe, if it has not been done previously to investigate same "pain" - try to get an MRI to rule out tumor related issue.

[headachequeen]

I get those nerve type pains with some migraines and sometimes on their own. Ibuprofen seems to dull but I just wait it out a couple of days. I can sleep if I rest my head in a way that puts pressure on the affected area. When it affects my ear, it’s the worst.

[231952]

Thankyou the pain is on side of my head towards the top of my head . Visited the GP the last time this happened said it was migraine and gave Sumpitryn not quite sure if spelt correctly did not do any good at all. I have suffered migraines before and this pain is nothing like a migraine.

Feeling better today have suffered for the last 3 days.

[MackJess]

Ask the GP if it could be cluster headaches. I have just been diagnosed by a headache specialist. I am woken up each morning with pain over right temple. She has prescribed a range of treatments that are different to ones I have tried for migraine. She had given me nerve blocking injections and has prescribed oxygen and injectable triptans.

[231952]

Thankyou

[Gaia219]

I get something similar. It feels like I’ve been stabbed with an ice pick through the top of my head. My neurologist said it’s a type of migraine that’s actually referred to as “ ice pick headache “. Meds do absolutely nothing for them. Fortunately the severe pain does not last long but I’m left with a dull ache and severe dizziness. I have found that chiropractic that specifically targets my jaw and TMJ does give some relief.

[Bea66]

Yes, that's what it sounds like to me, I get ice pick headaches too, on top of everything else. Not much you can do about them, antiinflammatories are mildly helpful if you're getting them in clusters.

[231952]

Many thanks it seems that this could probably be the problem as no meds help at all.