"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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I have occipital neuralgia which causes shooting shock like pain in on one said of my head. It also cause pain in the neck. Sounds like it could be your problem

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Hello everyone. I have been informally diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia type 2, pending an mri. I don’t have the electric shock associated with type 1, just constant pressure near my temple. Sometimes it drives me crazy and I seriously consider bashing my head against the wall. Please don’t talk to me about you can’t do that. I’ve put up with so many different diagnoses and doctors and medications I’ve about had it. Sorry, I’m just venting. Sometimes the pain and pressure go away and I’m completely fine. Sometimes it gets so bad I just want to end it all. It takes self talk to stop that urge. I am currently seeing a neurologist and I’m taking 1600 mg of oxcarbarzepine (sp.?) and 600 mg of 600 mg of gabepentine. Anyway, thanks for hearing me.

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@sdgoddard10

Hi- I believe in another thread you had mentioned this came on after your sinus surgery?

I am glad you have at least gotten some help from this.
I know this can be frustrating going to doctor to doctor for this pain.

I’m curious to know if the Neurologist you saw discussed Sinus Migraine vs Sinusitis?

They see many patients as a result of onset of pain from sinus surgeries. They give a diagnosis of “trigeminal neuropathy” which essentially means the trigeminal nerve is irritated.

I believe that sinus surgeries disrupt the trigeminal nerves and over excite them causing this pain loop.

I have attached a really helpful video that could maybe give you a better understanding of how they are related.

Hopefully this helps and can guide your treatment discussions or options to move forward.

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I’ve watched part of that video and I appreciate your efforts. I hope, no I pray that the mri will show something. I don’t know how much longer I can stand it. Not so much pain, but more of a sluggishness and lack of joy. I’m nothing being melodramatic, either. If they can’t cure or treat this I’m not sure what I will do. I hope they find something. This is fucking torture.

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I apologize for the foul language. You can kick me off if you want. I have to take the kid gloves off and say how I, otherwise nothing gets done. Thanks for hearing me.

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One more thing. I’ve had this pain on my left side my entire life, long before sinus surgery.

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@sdgoddard10

One more thing. I’ve had this pain on my left side my entire life, long before sinus surgery.

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I read all of the above but this last one really struck home! For the last year or so I’ve had a shock pain that seems to start in my left hip and emanates out toward my extremities. No answers yet from my doctors including a neurologist. Tha closest I can think of is that I had a bone deterioration test (I have Paget’s disease) showed only a 10% bone loss in my left hip. Haven’t been able to meet with my neurologist.
BTW I am 88 years old and live in the Boston area which has some of the largest and best facilities in the world. The medical establishment seems to be in disarray with cataclysmic changes going on. I’ve been to the three top ones and it seems universal. I’ve had to wait more than 6 months to get a date for an endo/colonoscopy. It’s coming Nov 1st.
Guess all we can do is be “patient patients”. Now I know why that term is used.😆

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@cantab

I read all of the above but this last one really struck home! For the last year or so I’ve had a shock pain that seems to start in my left hip and emanates out toward my extremities. No answers yet from my doctors including a neurologist. Tha closest I can think of is that I had a bone deterioration test (I have Paget’s disease) showed only a 10% bone loss in my left hip. Haven’t been able to meet with my neurologist.
BTW I am 88 years old and live in the Boston area which has some of the largest and best facilities in the world. The medical establishment seems to be in disarray with cataclysmic changes going on. I’ve been to the three top ones and it seems universal. I’ve had to wait more than 6 months to get a date for an endo/colonoscopy. It’s coming Nov 1st.
Guess all we can do is be “patient patients”. Now I know why that term is used.😆

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I forgot to mention that I have multiple peripheral neuropathy and I’m male.
I’m guessing that since I’m in the middle of all these great medical facilities, people must be coming from all over the world in droves. Plus many and varied medical personnel are leaving the field. I have experienced that as part of the problem. Scheduling is horrible. I’ve made appointments the had to remake them later because the person has left.
I also forgot to mention that I have Barrett’s esophagus for which I am taking omeprazole!
And a few other things. Living 88 years you can accumulate many litlle things.

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@cantab

I read all of the above but this last one really struck home! For the last year or so I’ve had a shock pain that seems to start in my left hip and emanates out toward my extremities. No answers yet from my doctors including a neurologist. Tha closest I can think of is that I had a bone deterioration test (I have Paget’s disease) showed only a 10% bone loss in my left hip. Haven’t been able to meet with my neurologist.
BTW I am 88 years old and live in the Boston area which has some of the largest and best facilities in the world. The medical establishment seems to be in disarray with cataclysmic changes going on. I’ve been to the three top ones and it seems universal. I’ve had to wait more than 6 months to get a date for an endo/colonoscopy. It’s coming Nov 1st.
Guess all we can do is be “patient patients”. Now I know why that term is used.😆

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I’ve been having this shocking pain after receiving the stim wave I don’t know what it is

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@cantab

I read all of the above but this last one really struck home! For the last year or so I’ve had a shock pain that seems to start in my left hip and emanates out toward my extremities. No answers yet from my doctors including a neurologist. Tha closest I can think of is that I had a bone deterioration test (I have Paget’s disease) showed only a 10% bone loss in my left hip. Haven’t been able to meet with my neurologist.
BTW I am 88 years old and live in the Boston area which has some of the largest and best facilities in the world. The medical establishment seems to be in disarray with cataclysmic changes going on. I’ve been to the three top ones and it seems universal. I’ve had to wait more than 6 months to get a date for an endo/colonoscopy. It’s coming Nov 1st.
Guess all we can do is be “patient patients”. Now I know why that term is used.😆

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Why would you need an colonoscopy at 88YO? I've heard that once you hit 75 they are no longer needed.

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