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.
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.
Describe your headache and we will help you identify the most likely type and what typically helps.
Try our Headache Type Identifier free, here on this site →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.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Please need help.
As I know it was due to anxiety as I never approached to the physician because the pills may have untold side effects as some of them may be chronic
In my case the head usually starts paining with dizziness when someone gives me specific task ,I don't know what happening with me as I used to be so smart and intelligent in childhood but now I am geek ,loser and moron I became mentally weak this was started happening 10 years ago when we shifted to our village it was really cultural shock I was 14 years old and don't know how to cope with this then slowly inferiority complex started to build up it was root cause of my problema
4 Months ago I was injured at work where a heavy ceiling tile the weight of a laptop was dislodged and fell on my head flush on from thirty feet up......
I did not lose consciousness or vomit but immediately was left with headpains ~ On visiting two A&E departments over the first five weeks I was told I had Concussion and it would go away within 6 weeks?
The headaches worsened along with impaired vision and dizziness so after 5 weeks I visited my GP and was sent for a CT scan (Came back normal) so was prescibed Naproxen and diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome and laid off work.
The symptoms persisted with a headache 24/7 and so I paid 300.00 to see a specialist who has since diagnosed Post Traumatic Chronic Migraine and over the last 3 months in an attempt to control the said Migraine I have been prescribed Propropranol which made me violently sick with respiritory issues and so was then prescibed Amitriptyline which only worsened the continued headaches and other symptoms with Vertigo.
Following this I was prescribed Topiramate which made the headaches so severe, I begged my GP to stop the medication.
I am at my wits end and actually doubt the diagnosis of Migraine as I have the headaches continuously stemminf from the scalp and across the forehead at times to the sides of the head at others with a throb.
Is it possible that there has been some nerve damage that is causing Neuropathic pain and if so how can this be verified for I need to return to work but the dizziness and impaired vision are making it difficult as I work laboratories.
If you have any advice I would be grateful for a way forward as I wish to return to a normal life and normal duties.
Best Regards
Rick
Thank you
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