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Sudden Cramping in Head

I have been experienceing for the last several days, random, sharp head pains on the right side of my head, about 2 inches above my ear.  They are not like any type of headache I have ever experienced before.  It's just like a sudden cramping/contraction type of pain and it will last for about 15 seconds and then subside and then come back randomly again anywhere from 1 minute later or hours later   The pain is about moderate, but its very alarming to me because I don't know how seriously I should take this.  Any ideas what could be triggering this please?  
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Avatar universal
Hi, I'm 23, slightly over weight but otherwise healthy. I have been suffering from a 'funny head' for about a year and it is getting worse. It feels like a cramp in my brain, like a spasm. At its worse it gives me similar symptoms to being very very very drunk, unable to stand/ focus, I lose control of movements. When it happens I feel sick and my head  hurts, and my eyes feel like they have rolled back. The pain will build suddenly, sometimes will reach a peak and then relax for a bit and increase again. Other times it can be quite mild, but still leaves me unable to talk/ focus/ and feeling sick/'funny'.

I have been to the doctor a number of times and had a blood test and ecg, both came back fine. the doctor has done nothing more, but it doesn't stop the pains.  I am worried because my age, and I do suffer from learning difficulties which make it difficult to explain stuff, they are over looking it, but if I keep going back then they will not take me seriously in the future if generally these symptoms are nothing to worry about. I now keeping. Diary of when it happens and what I am doing at this point. But there are no patterns, or similarities.

Please advice Me on whether you have seen these symptoms before and what the outcome was.
Helpful - 3
Avatar universal
Apparently, sometimes pain on the right side of the head can be due to an issue with the gallbladder and it can go away with a massage on the gallbladder. Look it up just in case.
Helpful - 0
20821616 tn?1523317268
While this is terrible for all those who are having this problem, I am so relieved to know that I am not alone!

I began having those same sudden cramps on the right side of my head in 1996. I had them much more frequently then than I do now.

The first doctor I told was writing in another patient's chart and without even looking up at me remarked "Oh how strange!" and that was that.

I told a number of doctors over the years. They fall into two categories. Category 1 says they have no idea what it is and then never do anything to find out. Category 2 says it's a migraine.

I'm pretty sure it's not a migraine. For one, it's never exactly what I'd call a headache. Two, it doesn't last for hours. It's intermittent.

Now one doctor said it is a type of unnamed migraine that is often triggered by weather changes. After he said this, I did notice that I got them just before it would storm. He said that even wind may cause it.

I then studied the weather and barometric pressure plays a role in both of those. I also read that there are some migraines triggered by barometric changes.

However, I can't find anything that says the sudden pain isn't followed by a headache.

Now when I have a bunch of those cramps, I will have a numbing kind of headache that I call a residual headache, but that's not often at all. There are definitely some reports of this with migraines.

I am at a loss but,  agaun, I am relieved to know that I am not alone and I am not crazy.

Now for your worry about seriousness, I've had them for 22 years and I'm alive. I have heart problems but that is an inherited issue and isn't related.

We should keep in touch!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
There appears to be a common thread here: the cramp is on the right side of the head. Yet doctors cannot reach a consensus on the cause or cure. Could be a good subject for a doctor seeking recognition in the Lancelet or similar medical publication.
12503228 tn?1425636535
well i too have same problem and yes i have problem with my vision since then reading small letters . i thought i have glasses but the optician said my vision is normal but i am really scared of cramps and contractions in my brain and at times i feel someting is there on right side on my head as sara said right above the right hear at times i feel its gastic then i also read about temporal arthritus can u please advice me
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am getting slight craps in my right head.  I am currently undergoing treatmet for kids. I also fell my right pain very slightly when I am typing.
I do an IT job
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Today out of nowhere I lifted my head to take off my shirt and I felt a camping sensation in the area by my neck, head and ear. The pain does not go away and it's been around 8 hours. It feels like someone is beating that area with a bat. Can this be a pulled nerve?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi sir,i have been feeling sudden pain in back of the right side head,from past 1 week only,daily once or twice the pain is coming and it subsides itself,but when i press the paining part i feels little pleasant soft feel of lik massage feel,feeling better.but when i lye to bad at night little bit pain coming but its going by itself,,why sir ?..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,its been 3 days now having this pain nd cramps....it started being a headache on my left side as if the is a heat that passes my head there after I'll have cramps on my head now its a third day the pain and cramp strucks in my head nd I have to look up to feel better...what causes this pains

Your respond will be gladly appreciated

Regards
D.O.Kekane
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648

  Hi and welcome to the Migraine & Headache  forum.

This is an older thread and u may get more notice if u start a new one.

  Have u been to a neurologist for a MRI?

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
One more thing.  For about six months, maybe 7 or 8 yrs ago, I had this weird feeling on the middle of the top of my thighs that would feel like a numb spot if I ran my finger over the spot.  It would come and go and then never happened again after the six months.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm a 27 yr old female and on and off since I was 12, I get these random, burning, sharp pains that feel like a charlie horse inside my head.  Sometimes, I have them frequently, and other times years would go bye without any symptoms.  It frequents the right side of my head, but is not always in the exact same spot. It burns and is very painful at first to the point that my head will jerk to the side at the sudden pain.  It lasts maybe 15 seconds or so and slowly the burning eases up.  On one occassion, about a year ago, I had an episode that was the worst I ever had. The burning was so bad that I had to lay down and it lasted a lot longer than normal.  It was followed with a pain in my sholder, the inside part of the arm near the elbow, and my wrist.  The pain in my arm felt like it was in my joints, and would move from the three locations.  The pain in my arm wasn't severe, but it lasted for several hours.  It was more like an ache.  Around the time this happened, I was having weird things happen that haven't happened since or before that.  I felt like I was going to pass out while taking a shower from the heat.  I've always and still do take hot showers and never had that issue again.  I also had slight numbing feelings in my pinkys from time to time when all this happened.  That hasn't happened since either.  One more random thing that happened a few years before all of this, was that I was driving over a bridge on a sunny day.  Out of norwhere everything started to turn slightly darker and I felt like I was going to pass out.  I didn't have the feeling that I was going to pass out, but it was almost like everthing was just going black slowly.  I panicked because I was afraid I was going to get into an accident.  I pulled over as soon as I could and tried to wait it out.  The darkening went away, but I felt so hot that I started sweating and became somewhat naseous/tingling.  I tried to lay down in the seat but I still felt so hot and didn't feel right because I of how hot I felt.  I blasted the AC and it took about a half hr before I felt ok to drive again.  I was fine after that.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have experienced the same pain too, especially when I move my head when waking from sleep. It's more of a painful cramp, it last only about 10 seconds but it is very alarming.Gonna try water as Dr Santos suggested, hope it helps.Thanks for posting.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi,
so if i smile for too long or in a certain way the back of my head starts cramping up. the only way i can get ride of the pain is if i concentrate and relax the muscles on my head and face. what is going on and should i go in to see a doctor?
thank you lydia
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
How are you? Are there other symptoms present? Visions of rotting dead flesh and black mucus may be due to physiologic or psychological causes. If it persists, it is best that you have this checked by your doctor for proper evaluation. Your medical history and direct clinical examination is essential. Take care and regards.
Helpful - 0
1570749 tn?1366561484
for the past two weeks i have been having cramps on the right side of my head, furthermore i whenever i close my eyes i see rotting dead flesh, and awful clusters of black mucus stuff. i feel like im losing my mind, can any one tell me what is happening to me. i am 41 years
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
How are you? Are there other symptoms present? Is the cramping the same as pain or different? One sided- throbbing headaches are usually associated with migraine headaches while  pain at the head or neck that intensifies on movement may be due to inflammation of the blood vessels of the head or bony changes in the structures of the neck. Anti-inflammatory drugs or  muscle relaxants ,ay help provide relief. If it persists, have this checked by your doctor for proper management.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi,
I've been experiencing the same sharp cramp like pain in my head around my temple and every mourning I wake-up with a headache and I stay nauseous the whole day.Should I worry
Avatar universal
I get a cramp on the left side of my head (closer to my neck)
very painful.  I must keep rubbing the area to dissolve the pain.
It is definitely a cramp......The same kind I get in the back of my thighs when I change position in bed.  what are these cramps from? and how can I get rid of them?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your help
Sara
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think I can help. I get these headaches occasionally. They refer to them as "Ice Pick Headaches" or "Stabbing Headaches" and they can be very alarming and difficult to treat. There is an nsaid drug called Indomethacin which my doctor prescribed specifically for this type of pain, or you can just try Motrin and see if that helps. Sometimes it will last several days and even move around my head before going away but it is an intermittent pain and feels like someone keeps hitting you on the head with a sledgehammer. The good news is that this type of pain is rarely indicative of anything serious. I've been told this by many different doctors. Sometimes they can do an Occipital Nerve Block if it is in the right location which will block the pain if all else fails.
Helpful - 0
368886 tn?1466235284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello Sara.

You have made a good pint about dehydration. Mild dehydration is the commonest cause of headaches. But generally the headaches due to dehydration are dull aching and constant for a bout half and hour or so. But there are always exceptions.

Caffeine can both cause and treat headaches. And it depends upon how much your consumption is.

A glass of wine each night should not cause any trouble.

Regards
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No I'm not on any medication .  I'm 27...in good shape.  The pains have been less frequent today...I'm trying to drink lots of water, not as much caffeine to see if it was a dehydration thing.  Is is common to get this type of pain from dehydration?  I drink a lot of water, but also drink coffee everyday as well as a glass of wine every night.
Helpful - 0
368886 tn?1466235284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi Sara.

The sharp pains do not seem to be related to position, vision problem or any particular time of the day.

Are you on any medication ? Can I ask your age ? Just to rule out if it is hormonal.

Regards

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have poor vision, but I wear contacts so my vision is close to 20/20 with them.
Thanks, Sara
Helpful - 0
368886 tn?1466235284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello.

Do you have any vision problems ? Do you find it stressful to read small letters or see distant things clearly ? I am just trying to rule out the common causes of headache.

Regards
Helpful - 0
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