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.

doloresmacneil | @doloresmacneil | Aug 4, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @kjelley, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your story. It great to hear you..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @kjelley, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your story. It great to hear you finally found something that provided real relief after 12 years of pain. There is another discussion you might find helpful:

— Occipital Neuralgia: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/occipital-neuralgia/

I've tapered off of prednisone twice for Polymyalgia Rheumatica so I know that can be challenging at times. My rheumatologist had me keep a daily pain log along with the prednisone dosage for the day. When it came time to taper, if my pain level was more than a 1 or 2, I stayed at the same dose for a few days and tried again. Sometimes I had to go up by half of the previous taper but finally was able to taper completely off of the prednisone.

Did your doctor suggest a tapering schedule?

Jump to this post

I have had PMR have shock like jabs that are very painful and cause me I scream instantly. Areas affected vary throughout all body areas; PMR prednisone dosage varies frequently; initially 10 mg. ; tapered to 5; 8 mg. Due to flare ups.

REPLY
Ranger | @kjelley | Aug 4, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @kjelley, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your story. It great to hear you..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @kjelley, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your story. It great to hear you finally found something that provided real relief after 12 years of pain. There is another discussion you might find helpful:

— Occipital Neuralgia: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/occipital-neuralgia/

I've tapered off of prednisone twice for Polymyalgia Rheumatica so I know that can be challenging at times. My rheumatologist had me keep a daily pain log along with the prednisone dosage for the day. When it came time to taper, if my pain level was more than a 1 or 2, I stayed at the same dose for a few days and tried again. Sometimes I had to go up by half of the previous taper but finally was able to taper completely off of the prednisone.

Did your doctor suggest a tapering schedule?

Jump to this post

Hey John,

Thank you for the welcome, and the reference to the ON discussion group.

I went from 10 mg / day for about a decade, and when I started feeling better from the surgery I tapered to 5 mf/day on my own with no trouble. Rather than free lance my taper, I started seeing a new rheumatologist (my past one retired), and she has me on 4 mg/day in the morning for one month, then I'll go to three for a month, and so on. She said that I will probably start having trouble when I reach 2 mg/day, and we scheduled an appt for the time frame to check in with her.

4 mg / day is going ok for three weeks now. Have had to bump up to 5 a couple times but the next day right back down to 4. I'm still in the "I can't believe the surgery worked" phase, which is such an incredible feeling. I had just about given up hope for any serious improvement. Life is good again.

best,

Kevin

REPLY
donial | @donial | Aug 15, 2022

Have you had shingles? If so, it could be postherpetic neuralgia which I've had on my scalp since my shingles outbreak there healed.

REPLY
kangaroo001 | @kangaroo001 | Oct 30, 2022
In reply to @oregongirl "Stess.02..It is like an explosion in your head. Wakes you up from deep sleep. You actually..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Stess.02..It is like an explosion in your head. Wakes you up from deep sleep. You actually hear the large explosion in your head. Look it on on Google. There are others who have this. It went away for me, but I am always waiting for the next time. I do not consume myself with it. I wish I knew what started it. It lasted maybe two months or less. Do you hear the noise in your head. It is horrible. BANG big time. I thought it would do my brain in. But no.

Jump to this post

I had this happen in my sleep also, but it sounded like a dog barked right in my ear. I was so disoriented to wake up (not from a dream, but a loud noise). It happened 2 days before I completely and suddenly loss my hearing in one ear. Several weeks later, the noise occurred again, but I haven't had any other notable side effects. I'm checking into candidacy for a cochlear implant for my ear that lost all hearing (sudden hearing loss).

REPLY
1 reply
jayrob624 | @jayrob624 | Nov 1, 2022
In reply to @kangaroo001 "I had this happen in my sleep also, but it sounded like a dog barked right..." + (show)
@kangaroo001

I had this happen in my sleep also, but it sounded like a dog barked right in my ear. I was so disoriented to wake up (not from a dream, but a loud noise). It happened 2 days before I completely and suddenly loss my hearing in one ear. Several weeks later, the noise occurred again, but I haven't had any other notable side effects. I'm checking into candidacy for a cochlear implant for my ear that lost all hearing (sudden hearing loss).

Jump to this post

Can it be Meniers disease?

REPLY
sunny8 | @sunny8 | Nov 1, 2022

This is a form of neuropathy. After experiencing Guerlain Barre for the second time in 2010, I live with pins and needles and burning sensations on my skin and especially on my scalp. It can even wake me out of deep sleep. I do take (off label) Peroxetine daily which helps tone it down. Sometime I just have to massage it till it stops.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.