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I Asked This Yesterday And Wanted Your Opinion: I’m Having

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Posted on Sun, 3 Jan 2021
Question: I asked this yesterday and wanted your opinion:

I’m having a panic attack as I write this. I have written about headaches before but as you are aware people get scared when they have a headache and think the worst like they have a brain tumor etc. I have been having headaches off and on since 2011. In 2008, 2012 and 2015 I had brain CTs and all were normal. I went to a neurologist in 2012 and she diagnosed me with cervicalgia and neuritis. Seems like my headaches are cyclical. I can go years without them and then they hit me and last for weeks. Seems like they start in my lower left neck area and you can push in that area and pain will radiate to my eye. Now I’m having pain in that area again and then sensitivity on my scalp in that area when pushed. Usually the pain starts around lunch time. I can take Tylenol or Advil and it goes away but I don’t want to take that everyday. Sometimes it starts when I wake up. But now I’m nervous and get anxiety about it and not sure if anxiety makes it worse. I just went and got a shoulder and neck massage and it seems as if my traps and lower left neck area are all tight and knottted up.

But since I have a super sensitive scalp. Like I can push on part of the scalp had been real sensitive. I believe I have shingles too below my left breast. Can shingles cause headaches and weird nerve pains in the head?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (31 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Shingles manifest with skin signs too.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

I have read your new question.

Shingles may leave the nerves and area supplied by them more sensitive, but this is temporary.

Furthermore, there should be also skin signs of there was an infection from shingles.

So, since there were no evident skin signs on your scalp to support shingles and your symptoms are going on for a long time, irritation of the upper cervical nerves is more likely to be the culprit.

Hope this helps.

Feel free to ask if you have further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (2 hours later)
I do have a rash on my chest that is very sensitive and hurts when my shirt rubs across it. I have asked fellow shingles sufferers and they said headaches are common no matter where shingles happen because it systematically effects nerves.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

Scalp nerves are not excluded by shingles infection, but the headaches and scalp sensitivity are a consequence if these nerves are involved, and this condition is temporary.

In other words, if the statement of your fellows is true, there are nerves all over the body, there should be pain all over the body too if shingles appeared in some area.

Anyway, the good news is that your headaches are explainable, be it from cervical nerves irritation, scalp muscles tensions, or even shingles, but there is not a serious condition underlying.

Hope this helps.

In good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 4500 Questions

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I Asked This Yesterday And Wanted Your Opinion: I’m Having

Brief Answer: Shingles manifest with skin signs too. Detailed Answer: Hello again. I have read your new question. Shingles may leave the nerves and area supplied by them more sensitive, but this is temporary. Furthermore, there should be also skin signs of there was an infection from shingles. So, since there were no evident skin signs on your scalp to support shingles and your symptoms are going on for a long time, irritation of the upper cervical nerves is more likely to be the culprit. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have further questions.