Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Remedy For Sharp Pain In Head With Eye Twitching
Question: My sister is having very sharp pain in the top of her head one inch back from the hair line they come and go and her eye twitches when it happens I hope they are not TiaS my dad just passed from a stroke my mom died last year from cardio myopathy please advise ths XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Not TIA
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Let me start by reassuring you that those pains are not TIAs. TIAs are not painful in fact, they present with a neurological deficit like weakness of the limbs on one side, speech issues when in the anterior part of the brain, balance and coordination, vision issues in the posterior areas. Pain is not a manifestation of TIAs at all.
Stroke can have headache, usually when in the posterior part of the brain or when hemorrhagic, but it is not a sharp pain which comes and goes, it is a persistent one (apart from having other neurological deficits like in TIA but permanent).
So these pains are not indicative of any stroke type.
As for the cause of such pain sharp intermittent pain is often related to irritation of a nerve root, given the fact she has told you her neck is locked might be the occipital nerve due to compression of this nerve as it exits the neck. There usually is some pain behind in the occipital region radiating in the top of the head, not isolated in the top.
Another possible cause is primary stabbing headache (or ice pick headache), a benign headache without a known cause, presenting with short lasting stabbing pain episodes.
Other possible causes to mention are trigeminal neuralgia, temporal arteritis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, cluster headache but they are usually confined to one side, so unlikely.
So to conclude pains do not indicate a brain lesion. If persisting should be checked for the possibility of the diagnosis I mentioned about in order to well define the area involved, trigger points or other abnormalities on physical exam.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Not TIA
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Let me start by reassuring you that those pains are not TIAs. TIAs are not painful in fact, they present with a neurological deficit like weakness of the limbs on one side, speech issues when in the anterior part of the brain, balance and coordination, vision issues in the posterior areas. Pain is not a manifestation of TIAs at all.
Stroke can have headache, usually when in the posterior part of the brain or when hemorrhagic, but it is not a sharp pain which comes and goes, it is a persistent one (apart from having other neurological deficits like in TIA but permanent).
So these pains are not indicative of any stroke type.
As for the cause of such pain sharp intermittent pain is often related to irritation of a nerve root, given the fact she has told you her neck is locked might be the occipital nerve due to compression of this nerve as it exits the neck. There usually is some pain behind in the occipital region radiating in the top of the head, not isolated in the top.
Another possible cause is primary stabbing headache (or ice pick headache), a benign headache without a known cause, presenting with short lasting stabbing pain episodes.
Other possible causes to mention are trigeminal neuralgia, temporal arteritis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, cluster headache but they are usually confined to one side, so unlikely.
So to conclude pains do not indicate a brain lesion. If persisting should be checked for the possibility of the diagnosis I mentioned about in order to well define the area involved, trigger points or other abnormalities on physical exam.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Now for me I was just told I have osteoporsi and my decade score is minus 1.9 and I have had two fractures in seven months im 58 years old not overweight I'm going to my primary on tues what meds would be best thx XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
There are two types of bone densitometry scores which are used to evaluate osteoporosis, the T-score and the Z-score. I am assuming that you are referring to the first as the second is used usually for for children, premenopausal women, or men younger than 50.
That score is not that bad actually, from -1 to -2.5 by definition it is defined as osteopenia (decreased bone mass), it is when it reaches above -2.5 that it is called osteoporosis. So I do not know what other exams have been done, but it should also be considered the possibility of osteomalacia as well, a softening of the bones usually by a vitamin D deficit which also can present with fractures. So among tests should be included vitamin D, serum Ca, Mg, and P, parathyroid hormone level, liver and kidney function tests.
Treatment for osteoporosis consists in Calcium and vitamin D supplements, as well as a group of drugs called bisphosphonates (like ibandronate, alendronate, risendronate). These are first choice options. Other options usually used only when bisphosphonates can not be taken include estrogen hormone therapy, calcitonin, raloxifene.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
There are two types of bone densitometry scores which are used to evaluate osteoporosis, the T-score and the Z-score. I am assuming that you are referring to the first as the second is used usually for for children, premenopausal women, or men younger than 50.
That score is not that bad actually, from -1 to -2.5 by definition it is defined as osteopenia (decreased bone mass), it is when it reaches above -2.5 that it is called osteoporosis. So I do not know what other exams have been done, but it should also be considered the possibility of osteomalacia as well, a softening of the bones usually by a vitamin D deficit which also can present with fractures. So among tests should be included vitamin D, serum Ca, Mg, and P, parathyroid hormone level, liver and kidney function tests.
Treatment for osteoporosis consists in Calcium and vitamin D supplements, as well as a group of drugs called bisphosphonates (like ibandronate, alendronate, risendronate). These are first choice options. Other options usually used only when bisphosphonates can not be taken include estrogen hormone therapy, calcitonin, raloxifene.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
