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Why Do I Get A Cold Feeling On My Head?

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Posted on Fri, 11 Apr 2014
Twitter Fri, 11 Apr 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 28 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on
Question : Sometimes (not on a regular basis) I get a cold feeling on my head. It feels as though there is an ice pack sitting on my head. It doesn't hurt, but sometimes it moves and feels like water's been poured on my head. It doesn't seem to happen in the exact same place, although it seems to happen mostly at the back corners of my scalp. I do have anxiety and depression and that seems to be a symptom some people have noted, but it's never accompanied by tingling and it doesn't happen when I feel stress or panic. So, could there be another cause for this particular feeling, or is it just general anxiety?
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Answered by Dr. Karl Logan (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer: This could be occipital neuralgia Detailed Answer: Hi, Your symptoms could be described by a condition called occipital neuralgia. This is compression or entrapment of the occipital nerve which supplies the skin over the back of your head. Usually this condition is painful but is does not have to be so. Once diagnosed, occipital neuralgia's symptoms can be treated/managed in several ways. Some non-operative treatments are as follows massage, physical therapy, rest, heat, anti- inflammatory medication, antidepressant medication, anti- convulsant medication, opioid and nonopioid analgesia, and migraine prophylaxis medication. Alternatives to these may include local nerve block, peripheral nerve stimulation, steroids, antidepressants, and Occipital Cryoneurolysis. Other less common forms of surgical neurolysis or microdecompression are also used to treat the condition when conservative measures fail. As your symptoms are not too severe they may not require any treatment at all. IF they persist or worsen or cause you unnecessary anxiety then your doctor should be able to confirm the diagnosis and suggest any further investigation and treatment. I hope this information is of benefit to you. Best wishes
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Dr. Karl Logan

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 705 Questions

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Why Do I Get A Cold Feeling On My Head?

Brief Answer: This could be occipital neuralgia Detailed Answer: Hi, Your symptoms could be described by a condition called occipital neuralgia. This is compression or entrapment of the occipital nerve which supplies the skin over the back of your head. Usually this condition is painful but is does not have to be so. Once diagnosed, occipital neuralgia's symptoms can be treated/managed in several ways. Some non-operative treatments are as follows massage, physical therapy, rest, heat, anti- inflammatory medication, antidepressant medication, anti- convulsant medication, opioid and nonopioid analgesia, and migraine prophylaxis medication. Alternatives to these may include local nerve block, peripheral nerve stimulation, steroids, antidepressants, and Occipital Cryoneurolysis. Other less common forms of surgical neurolysis or microdecompression are also used to treat the condition when conservative measures fail. As your symptoms are not too severe they may not require any treatment at all. IF they persist or worsen or cause you unnecessary anxiety then your doctor should be able to confirm the diagnosis and suggest any further investigation and treatment. I hope this information is of benefit to you. Best wishes