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What Causes Temporary Sharp Left-sided Head Pain Followed By Scalp Pain?
Question: I just had a really sharp pain in the left side of my head. It is gone but followed by tender scalp which is painful to the touch in general area of the sharp pain and general discomfort in that area. I also have a tight feeling running down my cheek on the left side. Ideas?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The description of sharp short lasting pain is a description which corresponds usually to neuralgia, pain related to involvement of a peripheral nerve. Judging by your description the nerve which may be suspected is the left trigeminal nerve or one of its branches. It may happen in this type of neuralgia to have some abnormal sensations even between pain episodes.
One episode though is not enough, like for most headaches several episodes in time are required to make a diagnosis.
One other possibility if would be primary stabbing headache or ice pick headache as it is otherwise called, which also can manifest with short lasting stabbing pain and is commonly associated with other headache disorders like migraine or tension type headache which may manifest scalp tenderness. The pain episodes in this type of headache switch location though which makes them easy to distinguish from neuralgia which has a constant location, so again one episode is not enough for the diagnosis, other episodes are needed, time makes the distinction.
One last possibility would be an ear or TMJ dysfunction, but usually the pain is more persistent, not sharp and short lasting.
While as I said one episode doesn't allow for an immediate diagnosis (at times may remain an isolated unexplained episode) you should feel reassured that it is not a threatening one as such pain and scalp tenderness is not characteristic for threatening brain lesions (stroke, tumor, infections etc). So no hurried treatment is necessary apart from over the counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The description of sharp short lasting pain is a description which corresponds usually to neuralgia, pain related to involvement of a peripheral nerve. Judging by your description the nerve which may be suspected is the left trigeminal nerve or one of its branches. It may happen in this type of neuralgia to have some abnormal sensations even between pain episodes.
One episode though is not enough, like for most headaches several episodes in time are required to make a diagnosis.
One other possibility if would be primary stabbing headache or ice pick headache as it is otherwise called, which also can manifest with short lasting stabbing pain and is commonly associated with other headache disorders like migraine or tension type headache which may manifest scalp tenderness. The pain episodes in this type of headache switch location though which makes them easy to distinguish from neuralgia which has a constant location, so again one episode is not enough for the diagnosis, other episodes are needed, time makes the distinction.
One last possibility would be an ear or TMJ dysfunction, but usually the pain is more persistent, not sharp and short lasting.
While as I said one episode doesn't allow for an immediate diagnosis (at times may remain an isolated unexplained episode) you should feel reassured that it is not a threatening one as such pain and scalp tenderness is not characteristic for threatening brain lesions (stroke, tumor, infections etc). So no hurried treatment is necessary apart from over the counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you as you have implicitly understood my fear - stroke, etc. i have had this type if episode before but not always on left side. Should I follow up with neurologist?
Brief Answer:
Not for the moment
Detailed Answer:
For the moment no, I do not think it is necessary to follow up with a neurologist if episodes remain rare. Whether to see a neurologist for preventive treatment should depend on the frequency, if episodes become frequent impacting your quality of life then you should see a neurologist for treatment, but if rare and do not really affect your quality of life, I wouldn't advise receiving regular treatment with potential side effects.
Another potential cause would be if new symptoms appear which might indicate something else more serious, such as persistent headache, nausea and vomiting, weakness of the limbs on one side, vision problems, balance and coordination issues, general symptoms such as fever etc.
I hope to have been of help.
Not for the moment
Detailed Answer:
For the moment no, I do not think it is necessary to follow up with a neurologist if episodes remain rare. Whether to see a neurologist for preventive treatment should depend on the frequency, if episodes become frequent impacting your quality of life then you should see a neurologist for treatment, but if rare and do not really affect your quality of life, I wouldn't advise receiving regular treatment with potential side effects.
Another potential cause would be if new symptoms appear which might indicate something else more serious, such as persistent headache, nausea and vomiting, weakness of the limbs on one side, vision problems, balance and coordination issues, general symptoms such as fever etc.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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