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"Electric Shock" type pain in my scalp!
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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@cathylc58
I didn't pick up what medications you take. I suppose you could be having a reaction to something. I keep a journal, and going back through them recently, I found a lot of references to brain fog, buzzing in my head accompanying dizziness, but no pain. I have more than enough pain elsewhere to make up for it.
The doctors which have helped me the most are my PCP, neurologists, pain specialist, speech therapist, ENT specialist, and psychiatrist. I know what a challenge it can be to sort out multiple physical illnesses when they're all happening at once.
I've noticed that a few people recommend an internist. I've never pursued that, but I may look into it. If I'm not mistaken, an internist can look at the whole picture, which is something that my PCP also does.
Wherever the answers lie, I hope you find them, and pass along here what you learn, so others may benefit from the results of your search.
Jim
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2 ReactionsHello @juliediane222 Welcome to Connect. I stumbled upon your post and it peeked my interest. I notice you recently joined Connect, yet, you haven't posted much. I'm curious what brings you? You definitely had alot to contribute in this post, thank you for that.
The information you've provided on occipital neuralgia hits home with me. I was diagnosed with it, cervical neuralgia and arthritis in 2017 by a pain management Dr. who suggested both occipital and cervical radio frequency ablations. As I researched the diagnosis of occipital neuralgia, I was never completely sold due to the fact that my scalp wasn't so delicate to the touch and the doc never got too deep explaination beyond that. Still, I went forward and received several rounds of nerve blocks and ablations. During this time I was having electric, stabbing shocks in the sides of my head, temples, brow area and behind eyes. Not pleasant.
I was diagnosed with neuritis after a cervical ablation which felt like sparklers in my neck. Gabepentin and now Lyrica remain for me. For the most part, these shocking pains have subsided except for occasional revisits that still literally shock me and come as a surprise.
I also was experiencing intense pressure inside my head with sensitivity to light and sound. A neurologist diagnosed me with chronic migraine and prescribed botox along with monthly migraine injections. The pressure was like a vice and brought me to tears with debilitation.
2019 I was finally diagnosed with progressive small fiber polyneuropathy which I believe had existed long before the diagnosis.
Rewinding to 2013,, I was diagnosed with Fuchs corneal dystrophy and cataracts. I had double corneal transplant and cataract surgeries. My severe light sensitivity was supposed to have ceased after surgeries but didnt and became a great mystery to my cornea Dr.
The reason I explain it all is because I have always felt like I'm a mixed bag of neurological defects and I've never truly known if I was coming or going. What caused what?
I wanted MAYO to piece it all together for me as I have mitigating circumstances. Quite honestly, I do not have 100% confidence in my health care professionals as they are not a team that works together for me. Unfortunately, I was not accepted at Mayo. I continue to wonder...is it my eyes, head, neuralgia, neuropathy?
You mention John Hopkins diagnosed you and you seem to have a solid handle on occipital neuralgia. I appreciate your in depth detail and advice.
I depend on ear plugs, low volumes, smaller Tv's with brightness turned down, minimal chaos via noise and light. Controlled light and sound. I wear hats, sunglasses, blind folds. My family walks on egg shells around me and I can't participate in much socially...no movies, concerts, fireworks, sporting events, no more family gatherings. It's a very isolating and an unpleasant way to live.
Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you are doing well given your circumstances.
Regards,
Rachel
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1 Reaction@cathylc58
Hello and I hope you read my recent post as well. Please feel free to comment or question. I'm sorry you are having such trouble and wish you the best.
Rachel
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1 ReactionPlease help me out prescribe me some good medecine please I have the same issue since 2009 it's been more then 11 years nobody understand and we don't have neurologist doctor in our state 🤕🤕🤕 all I use to have is painkiller
Hello @bangjungrenba, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry you've had to deal with the pain for 11 years with no help. You mentioned that all you use is a painkiller. Has your doctor run any tests or given you a diagnosis or offered any suggestions to treat the pain?
I'm not sure if you saw this earlier post in this discussion by @juliediane222 -- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/electric-shock-type-pain-in-my-scalp/?pg=16#comment-358685. It may have some helpful information for you.
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1 Reactioncathylc58, I share your electric shocks, although min can be any place around the body. Legs, scalp, or any place in between, or a hard shock from feet to scalp, up my legs, back, neck, ears. Anyway, I have been blaming it on my Gelsolin, or, more likely, on my FKTN Fukuyama Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. It comes regularly for a few months, then fades away for a year or two. Then it will hit hard, like walking into an electric fence, every week or so, then fade away again. One doc said it is my vagus nerve. Another said it was from smoking (I have never smoked in my 80 years). It might be from eating a whole dill pickle for desert each evening.
I too have TN for about 10 years, it is controlled by medicine. Two days ago, out of the blue, I started getting an intense sharp pain on my scalp a couple inches behind my right ear. Sometimes it is every 4-5 seconds and other times it has more minutes in between! I don’t know what’s going on! It is like my TN has turned around and is going away from my jaw. Any suggestions as to what is going on would be appreciated!
Ice pic migraines, literally feels like someone is stabbing me in the skull for a few seconds then stops then moves to another spot on my skull, sometimes the side of my face goes numb then shoots down into my neck and shoulder. If it lasts too long I get a shot at the docs or ER.
I have this type of pain on both sides of my head in the back. Was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia. I get shots to block these nerves every three months. Relief lasts about that long for me.
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3 ReactionsIt could also be occipital neuralgia. Look it up as well.
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