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What Causes Tender Knots On Head Along With Headache And Poor Memory?
Question: I have 3 knots on my skull top left side near crown 2 area very tender other one not so bad have been there now for about 6 months. No trauma has happened, but I am getting very bad headaches along with migraines the last month and half. If I push on one knot head hurts worse if I push on another one it helps to stop the pain. These are hard like bone about the size of grapes. Should i be concerned I sometimes have trouble remembering things, forget words, drop things just lose total grip of them, numbness in my arms and hands when I lay down. These headaches are different than I use to have, they are putting me into tears I hate to even say I can get very angry or cry for no reason. What do I need to do I have these headaches/migraines now 2-3 times a week now.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I don't believe the headaches to be directly related to the knots though. Since the brain is confined within the skull, brain lesions do not usually have such symptoms which are visible on the scalp or can be touched. Those knots should be related with an issue of the skin and it's underlying subcutaneous tissue (outside the skull).
Of course they need to be examined directly as well, on a first guess I would say it could be a case of atheroma, a benign tumor of the subcutaneous tissue leading to accumulation of the product of the sebaceous glands and skin cells. It can show no symptoms but at times (especially when touched, pressed a lot) it can get infected and cause the pain you describe. In that case it can be removed through a simple surgical procedure (local anesthesia, nothing major). The scalp location is pretty common.
So I would recommend to have it looked at by your primary physician, first to examine the knots and confirm the diagnosis and also if infected to consider the possibility of removing them.
As for the headaches as I said they shouldn't be related, more probable to be related to an exacerbation of your migraine due also to stress and anxiety, however considering the other issues like memory issues, numbness in arms and hands they should be evaluated as well, if noticeable on exam as well brain imaging might be scheduled. Again I'd consider it more probable to be related to stress and anxiety, they do cause concentration issues which can affect information retaining, also feelings of numbness can be present (especially if present on both sides - when related to brain lesion usually unilateral), but a physical exam for neurological signs might reveal something more.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I don't believe the headaches to be directly related to the knots though. Since the brain is confined within the skull, brain lesions do not usually have such symptoms which are visible on the scalp or can be touched. Those knots should be related with an issue of the skin and it's underlying subcutaneous tissue (outside the skull).
Of course they need to be examined directly as well, on a first guess I would say it could be a case of atheroma, a benign tumor of the subcutaneous tissue leading to accumulation of the product of the sebaceous glands and skin cells. It can show no symptoms but at times (especially when touched, pressed a lot) it can get infected and cause the pain you describe. In that case it can be removed through a simple surgical procedure (local anesthesia, nothing major). The scalp location is pretty common.
So I would recommend to have it looked at by your primary physician, first to examine the knots and confirm the diagnosis and also if infected to consider the possibility of removing them.
As for the headaches as I said they shouldn't be related, more probable to be related to an exacerbation of your migraine due also to stress and anxiety, however considering the other issues like memory issues, numbness in arms and hands they should be evaluated as well, if noticeable on exam as well brain imaging might be scheduled. Again I'd consider it more probable to be related to stress and anxiety, they do cause concentration issues which can affect information retaining, also feelings of numbness can be present (especially if present on both sides - when related to brain lesion usually unilateral), but a physical exam for neurological signs might reveal something more.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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