1. < Chronic Pain

"Electric Shock" type pain in my scalp!

Posted by Deby @deby, Aug 17, 2011

It feels like someone is touching my scalp with an electric wire or prod. Like a "zap" and then it takes a few seconds to get over it. It happens 2 or more times per MINUTE! It lastes for a couple of days usually and when it goes away it takes a few more days for my scalp not to be sore. I don't know how many times a year it occurs but when it does, like today, it drives me crazy. I walk around making weird faces and people stare at me. They think I have a headache or migrain but I don't, the pain is only on my scalp not IN my head. Sometimes the shocks occur over and over for a minute, then go back to 2 or more times per minute. It's the weirdest thing and I can't wait for it to be over. I never know when it's going to occur or what brings it on. Anyone ever heard of something like this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

elainesharon | @elainesharon | Apr 19, 2017

Yes it did I've forgot the name of the tablets but I'm also diabetic as well last night I was in agony the pain was unbearable my doctor said it was due to having shingles but I had no rash the pain is at the back of my neck on the left hand side I'm really fed up now

REPLY
megamom | @megamom | Apr 19, 2017

I am just getting over some crud and it seems anytime I get a fever over 100 I can expect this head pain to occur, either that day or soon. So it has to have something to do with inflamation or viral. Little devils shooting lightening bolts at my head. I have had these so many years I don't expect anyone is going to be able to help up, if they even believe or listen to us, but strangely it feels better knowing I am not the only one who has these. For those just starting with these pains, I am 62 and they haven't killed me yet and I have had them off and on for as long as I can remember, hang in there,

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2 replies
megamom | @megamom | Apr 19, 2017
In reply to @ennergizerbunnee "Yes I have had this over the years and have it right now since about 5pm,..." + (show)
@ennergizerbunnee

Yes I have had this over the years and have it right now since about 5pm, not able to sleep yet with the zap happening.VERY painful for about 4 - 8 seconds. I have been informed that there is a very slight swelling in the ear canal and the nerves at the side of the head run very closely to the nerves of the ear so it triggers off a synapse which is very painful. I found i get it if the windows are open in the car, i can't have a breeze blowing at my ears or it happens like clock work. This morning i got splashed in the swimming pool into the ear, and then drove 1/2 hr to apt with windows open , it was a beautiful day free from smoke from the forest fires and i forgot so now i pay the price. I usually have a pair of ear puffs from the sporting goods store for skiing that i wear when the wind it up and i wear them, don't care if it looks silly in summer but my hair covers them up. Better that than the horrid pain. I currently have taken a Tylenol #2, 5 mg of Oxycontin and 15 mg of oxazipam and i put an ice pack in the towel at the side of the head to numb the spot. The spot is about 2 1/2 inches above the ear on the scalp this time. Hope it simmers down asap, i need sleep.
I am a retired nurse. You have to pay attention to what you were doing within about 5 hours before onset of the zapping to know what is setting it off. good luck, always wear hats in cold weather.

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I am going to pay more attention to see if it occurs during periods where I might have gotten wind in my ears, has your ever accompanied a fever?

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elainesharon | @elainesharon | Apr 19, 2017
In reply to @megamom "I am just getting over some crud and it seems anytime I get a fever over..." + (show)
@megamom

I am just getting over some crud and it seems anytime I get a fever over 100 I can expect this head pain to occur, either that day or soon. So it has to have something to do with inflamation or viral. Little devils shooting lightening bolts at my head. I have had these so many years I don't expect anyone is going to be able to help up, if they even believe or listen to us, but strangely it feels better knowing I am not the only one who has these. For those just starting with these pains, I am 62 and they haven't killed me yet and I have had them off and on for as long as I can remember, hang in there,

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Hi I've been back to my doctors and they have put it down to stress I give up

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Bexter18 | @bexter18 | May 29, 2017

I've been dealing with chronic nerve pain for yrs. I was diagnosed with TN 8 yrs ago. Over the last few days, my scalp, at the top of my head, feels like I have an electric shock hitting me every few minutes. I can feel exactly where the trigger spot is. I am unable to even touch my hair by the spot or the pain is excruciating. I've also had a trigger spot by my right temple at the hairline for over a year and cannot even lay my head on a pillow on that side or the pain is awful. Has anyone else had a nerve block and does it help? The electric shock pain also often triggers a migraine. Thanks.

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2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 29, 2017

Hello @trishd. It’s been a few months since you last posted on Mayo Connect. I hope that you are getting some answers regarding the pain you mentioned. We look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, Teresa

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 29, 2017
In reply to @bexter18 "I've been dealing with chronic nerve pain for yrs. I was diagnosed with TN 8 yrs..." + (show)
@bexter18

I've been dealing with chronic nerve pain for yrs. I was diagnosed with TN 8 yrs ago. Over the last few days, my scalp, at the top of my head, feels like I have an electric shock hitting me every few minutes. I can feel exactly where the trigger spot is. I am unable to even touch my hair by the spot or the pain is excruciating. I've also had a trigger spot by my right temple at the hairline for over a year and cannot even lay my head on a pillow on that side or the pain is awful. Has anyone else had a nerve block and does it help? The electric shock pain also often triggers a migraine. Thanks.

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Welcome to Connect, @bexter18.
While we wait for others to join the conversation, can you tell us a bit more about their recent episode? This electric shock type pain only recently started? Have you had a chance to speak to your doctor about it yet?

You also mention TN. We have several member talking about trigeminal neuralgia on Connect as well. You may wish to join this discussion:

- Trigeminal neuralgia* http://mayocl.in/2bVAIAl

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Laura48(Laura Walters) | @david33 | Jun 3, 2017
In reply to @david33 "My wife has the same and odd symptoms, she is also seeing a doctor for this..." + (show)
@david33

My wife has the same and odd symptoms, she is also seeing a doctor for this whom claims its just headaches....but they are getting more intense.....there's an explosion that goes off like a gun shot, and red liquid type will go over her eyes. No doctors believe her, even with the test, everything comes back normal.She even have a numbness behind right ear that if she touches it, feels like she is touching her brain, also if she scratches behind her left ear, she gets a pinching between her first two fingers on her left hand that drives her nuts. Before she can even scratch that part of her head she has me or her daughter to put pressure between those two fingers to stop the pitching. She has no idea what's going on, but she does know headaches are and this isn't it.
Can anyone help us here, and who to see.

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My name is Laura and my husband was talking about me (lol), I am now seeing neurologist who is telling me it's my PTSD that's causing my symptoms, on June 20th I see a neurosurgeon about my neck. There is soft tissues that showed up, and won't know more til then.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 3, 2017
In reply to @david33 "My wife has the same and odd symptoms, she is also seeing a doctor for this..." + (show)
@david33

My wife has the same and odd symptoms, she is also seeing a doctor for this whom claims its just headaches....but they are getting more intense.....there's an explosion that goes off like a gun shot, and red liquid type will go over her eyes. No doctors believe her, even with the test, everything comes back normal.She even have a numbness behind right ear that if she touches it, feels like she is touching her brain, also if she scratches behind her left ear, she gets a pinching between her first two fingers on her left hand that drives her nuts. Before she can even scratch that part of her head she has me or her daughter to put pressure between those two fingers to stop the pitching. She has no idea what's going on, but she does know headaches are and this isn't it.
Can anyone help us here, and who to see.

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@david33 Thanks for providing an update to your treatment. You mention, "soft tissues that showed up" do you mean soft tissue damage? I hope that you appointment on June 20 goes well and you get some answers to his difficult pain problem. Teresa

REPLY
Laura48(Laura Walters) | @david33 | Jun 4, 2017
In reply to @david33 "My wife has the same and odd symptoms, she is also seeing a doctor for this..." + (show)
@david33

My wife has the same and odd symptoms, she is also seeing a doctor for this whom claims its just headaches....but they are getting more intense.....there's an explosion that goes off like a gun shot, and red liquid type will go over her eyes. No doctors believe her, even with the test, everything comes back normal.She even have a numbness behind right ear that if she touches it, feels like she is touching her brain, also if she scratches behind her left ear, she gets a pinching between her first two fingers on her left hand that drives her nuts. Before she can even scratch that part of her head she has me or her daughter to put pressure between those two fingers to stop the pitching. She has no idea what's going on, but she does know headaches are and this isn't it.
Can anyone help us here, and who to see.

Jump to this post

@hopefull33250
Actually the 'soft tissue' was found on my wife, somewhere on her neck and head. We don't know what it is until they run more test on her, the only trauma she had to her neck was a whip flash when she tried to learn how to drive and failed, ever sense then she has been having neck pain and pressure. No doctors would listen to her, we wounded up changing doctors and when she showed the doctor her neck he told her to see a neurosurgeon. He found the problem, now it's just a waiting game.

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