"Electric Shock" type pain in my scalp!

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.

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

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

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).

Can it be Meniers disease?

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.

Hi Deby. I’m new here. I have occipital neuralgia along with many other conditions. I’ve had trigger pt injections, injection in my scalp. Nothing has helped. I can’t turn my head due to the pain. Radiated to crown of head and sometimes to left eye. It is unrelenting and it’s so hard to live with. Now they are talking about fusing 3-4 neck discs together. Feeling hopeless. I put Biofreeze on my neck and scalp several times a day. It only helps a little. Still can’t turn head either direction. Anyone else? Thanks for being here.

Mine don’t happen 2 or more times in a row mine happens when I turn my head too fast. But if it’s the same type I feel. I’m so sorry dude. The only way I can reduce it is by turning my head slowly I’ve been trying to ask doctors about it but they don’t understand what I’m trying to say.

@tobias02–

Don’t expect doctors to listen too much.

You most likely have some irritation at the occipital muscle causing nerve irritation that runs up the scalp.

In a clinical setting this would be diagnosed as cervicogenic genie headache.

You don’t need any fancy name. Tight traps/neck muscles that tighten your occipital muscles that then irritate the nerves.

Work with a PT. Posture, tech neck, and overall stress on the neck.
It’s very common. What’s also very common, doctors not being in tune beyond a diagnosis code they can bill your insurance for a 15 minute visit and send you out the door

I have suffered with this for years behind my left ear. I used to tell myself it was a migraine from stress. Mine would come on softly and intense over hours where my head would jerk with the shocks every 3 seconds. Lasted 3 to 11 days. Took excedrine migran which would help. Finally this year my doctor told me it is trigeminal neurologia. Went to a neurologist and said it wasn’t but didn’t know. Not helpful. I really believe an unidentified stress factor brings it on.
I feel for you, because they make me nauseous.