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"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?

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Andrew | @benneaf | Jul 10, 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 read the healthline article and my symptoms tend to follow the middle ear description and I have been told my tubes are more horizontal.

REPLY
Andrew | @benneaf | Jul 10, 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.

Jump to this post

I do follow the prevention methods pretty regularly. What I don't do regularly is use swimmers ear drops after swimming...I tend to only use them in the winter.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 10, 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.

Jump to this post

Good for you for following the prevention tips. If you swim regularly, you may think about the ear drops or ask your doctor about swimmer's ear prevention tips.

REPLY
Andrew | @benneaf | Jul 10, 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.

Jump to this post

When I wrote I had no shooting pains today I spoke too soon. They started up again shortly after I typed the above. If it continues or gets worse I'll go to the doctor and they'll likely tell me I have an ear infection.

REPLY
Emily | @emme | Jul 12, 2017

Sounds like trigeminal nerve.pain which I've had for years. It's so painful that even the water in the shower hitting my scalp is so bad. I've found no one who has any suggestions for relief. My multiple sclerosis neurologist feels it's due to my MS.. .

REPLY
Andrew | @benneaf | Jul 13, 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.

Jump to this post

I went to the doctor and he says my ears are all clear. The pain has been horrible the last two nights. I've had that happen before where when I go in the ears look fine and then I go back a couple of days later and voila...ear infection. He gave me a prescription for some antibiotic so I'll take that and see if it helps.

REPLY
mike007 | @mike007 | Aug 31, 2017
In reply to @normasmith381 "I have this sensation. It just started recently. Its scary. I dont have a headache or..." + (show)
@normasmith381

I have this sensation. It just started recently. Its scary. I dont have a headache or anything...its just these electrical bursts on my scalp and then its just sore to the touch. They only last 5 seconds. What is this?? Somone please tell me. Its so strange and I never know when it is coming on!!

Jump to this post

HI NORMASMITH
You were my first hit and I couldn't believe your description EXACTLY fit the description of my symptoms; shocking pain that makes me scream, grunt, flinch and swear. I thought the worst (embolism) that an artery had swollen an was about to burst in my scalp. In the last 2 days, the pain moved from the left side of my scalp above the ear to the right side of my head slightly above and behind my ear.
Maybe related,For the last 6 days, I've been treating a nasty infection in my prostate- yuch- related?- don't know. I do know that some of my lymph nodes got active.( Using "doxycycline" to knock it out). Maybe the antibiotic is related too?

This pain, what ever its source, causes stress and shortness of breath. I may be imagining this, but I perceive it trying to override my pacemaker!.
getting old ain't for sissies.............
Mike007

REPLY
reed2017 | @reed2017 | Nov 8, 2017

I'm experiencing the same thing and have before about a year ago. I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't a result of the weather/pressure. (We went from 70* to 50* in a couple of hours during the day and the pressure is awful.) If it lasts much longer I'll be seeing doc, as it is incredible aggravating. It stems from the sinuses I believe.
Any thoughts regarding this would be appreciated!

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lauren123 | @lauren123 | Nov 8, 2017

I do believe from many experiences and conversations with doctors that there can be a relationship between weather pressure, Trigeminal neuralgia and sinus issues. I think you are on the right track to see a doctor, particularly one who specializes in oral-facial pain./

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Parus | @parus | Nov 9, 2017

Trying to solve and analyze ones own self with information online can, at times, lead to even more serious issues. I, for one, do not recommend doing thus as many health issues can mimic another. Arrive at a doctor's office telling him/her you know what is wrong by what you read online can well lead you in a direction you may not benefit from-only a comment.

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