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What Causes Shooting Pain In The Head And Behind The Eyes?

Posted on Sat, 4 Feb 2017

Question: My last thread was closed so i am starting a new one. I have been having bad shooting ice pick pains in my head mainly behind my eyes ans temples.

I have a constant neck ache that sometimes feels like pain shooting up behind my ears. I am faint and weak most of the day. This is going on dor a month now. I had a CT scan and basic blood wirk that came back ok.

I am concerned w an unruptured aneurys is this type if pain for a month consistent with something like that?

I also get burning pain on top of my head and it is very tender as well as my temples and scalp. Almost like your hair hurts type feeling. What can cause this type of burning pin wet stabbing feeling.

I aso have throbbing ar the top of my neck and base of my skull. Could be consistent with the neck pain.

I have severe anxiety and thats what ppl tell me it is. But i an scarwd to just write actual physical pain off as anxiety and neglect it. The brain zap feelings behind my eyes that jolt me away if im sitting are scary. So looking for alrernate opinions.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could be cervical radiculopathy. Need to consult neurologist in person.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXXXXX

Thanks for the query.

Based on your detailed description, I suspect cervical radiculopathy. The second cervical spinal nerve (greater occipital nerve) seems to be the one involved, it could be compressed or inflamed.

You could get an MRI scan of the cervical region to find out the exact cause. CT scan is not very accurate for such minute details.

If the MRI turns out to be fine, then you can consider this to be due to anxiety, until then, this needs to be managed as cervical radiculopathy.

Please consult a neurologist/spine specialist and get yourself evaluated further.

I hope this answers your query.

Please do write back to me if you have any doubts.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (4 hours later)

Ok is there anything i can do to try and manage it for now?

Is this a dangerous i am very concerned w the head pain as something imminent

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Pain killers, slow and gradual muscle strengthening exercises.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

You can take pain killers whenever you have pain, apart from that gradually increasing muscle strengthening exercises will help.

Do not go to chiropractors, things may get serious.

Physiotherapy like intermittent traction will help.

Avoid forceful bending, lifting weights on head.

Please do consult neurologist at the earliest.

Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (4 minutes later)

What about my concern that this is something imminent? Like something unruptured or something? Should i be as worried as i am?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Does not sound anything imminent, get MRI, will rule out such possibility.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again Mr XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing back.

I did not comment on that specifically because it is very unlikely to be something very imminent.

There are no structures that can rupture in that area, except the vertebral arteries, but those are confined to the foramen transversarium within the vertebra, and are very very rare.

Please stop worrying so much, you will be fine. Kindly consult a neurologist and get an MRI, that will find the exact cause for your symptoms, it will show even an aneurysm, if present.

I hope I have been of some help. Kindly close the thread and rate my answer if you are satisfied, otherwise you are most welcome to revert to me with any concerns you may have.

Wishing you good health.

Best regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (2 minutes later)

Thank you for your help!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are most welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you very much indeed for making use of healthcaremagic.com

I am pleased to have been of some help to you.

All the best.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (14 hours later)

I have some pain in my temples aching snd sensitive to the touch. Could that be part of it as well or should i be concerned about that. Sometime a needle type feeling very brief

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could be different.

Detailed Answer:
This does not fit with cervical radiculopathy because the nerve supplying the temporal region is a different one. (A cranial nerve).

However, based on your description, it seems to be mild inflammation of the artery, rather than nerve irritation. This pain will subside with a painkiller.

This is not worrisome at all. So do not bother about this for now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (5 hours later)

I have been noticing as well my right eye seems to be a little teary and swollen is that normal?

I read for cluster headaches it is but even when i do not have any pain it is a bit teary and red

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is unrelated. But not normal, please visit an eye specialist for this.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again Mr XXXXXXX

This new complaint you have is not related to your previous issue and this needs to be looked at by an eye specialist.

From your description it appears to be a local problem with the eye itself.

Kindly visit your doctor and proceed further.

Best.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar