Numbness in Head With Pain and Dizziness: What Can it Be?
Q.
I want to ask you about the headache that I have been having on and off over the past 3 weeks. I get a sharp pain every now and again at the back and sides of my head and then sort of feels like it's gone numb. I did feel a bit faint but not sure if that was related or not. I usually never have any headaches so this is why I'm worried and scared that it's something really serious. I just want to know your opinion on the matter.
A.
First of all, we must stress that if your symptoms continue, get any worse or you are worried then the best thing to do is to go and see your doctor to talk over how you are feeling so they can do a proper physical examination.
Sharp pain and numbness in the head could be due to a whole range of things, some not at all serious, others more serious. If you are young and otherwise healthy, one of the most likely explanation may be that you are suffering from stress and some anxiety. Do you feel you are under any unusual stress at the moment? Tension headaches, muscular problems in the shoulders and upper back can all cause pressure on the nerves that lead up to the skin on the scalp. If a nerve becomes pinched or inflamed, this can cause all sorts of symptoms.
It is interesting that you mention feeling a little faint as well as having the pain and numbness – could it be that you have hyperventilated just before you experience your symptoms? Hyperventilation, even for a short time, can be a result of anxiety.
If you think the cause might be stress, you need to consider how you can tackle the source of the stress – is it your work, a family problem, concerns about money? If there is something you can do to remove the source of your main stress, then take steps to do that. If it is something that you have no control over – many people a facing uncertain financial situations at the moment – you can try some techniques to help you deal with the stress, to stop it affecting you so much. Try a good relaxation technique, take some time out to do more exercise, or do something that you really enjoy doing.
Apart from stress, it is possible that you have some sort of muscle injury in the neck, back or shoulders that could be causing the problem. Have you injured yourself recently – a minor whiplash, a sports injury?
If neither of these explanations seems likely, or if you are experiencing other symptoms such as nausea, dizziness or if you are feeling unusually tired or weak, then you definitely need to make an appointment with your local doctor to find out what could be the cause of your pain and discomfort. If all tests come back negative, and nothing seems to be seriously wrong, you might think about some sort of complimentary medical treatment such as visiting a chiropractor, trying hypnosis or having a course of acupuncture.
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