Stabbing Pain/Left Top Side of Head

[sandibalz]

Not much to describe here.  It seems to be irregular, but happens frequently in bunches.  Feels like someone has stuck a knife in my scalp.  The area is also tender to the touch, and the pain is mildly relieved when pressure is applied.

I have had chronic neck and back pain, with only 2 herniated discs, and multiple points of intrusion along the mower spinal column being diagnosed for the back pain. The neck pain has yet to be diagnosed, but MRI results seem to give the impression there are multiple bulging discs.  I don't have the results with me or I would post them fully.  

I have noticed weakness in my arms and loegs, but I can't imagine that this would have an impact on a stabbing pain in my head.  

Anyways, ideas are welcome.

Thanks

[sandibalz]

so funny. my wife told me to check my BP.  I didn't.  Taking Diovan for it and didn't even think about it going up, but I am going to check tonight.

so weird because typically when I get a migraine type headache i know that it's coming from my neck or back, but these are so sudden and just shocking.  and usually nothing else is bothering me when they do.  i hadn't had one in years and the other day out of nowhere it just happened.

thanks

[sandibalz]

Never thought much about it...but I did used to get some pretty bad headaches as a child, not so much now...but bad enough that I would halucinate.

It's hard to really deal with it...I am treated through the VA, which is like trying to get treatment from a rock.

[marileew]

When I get icepick headaches (sharp stabbing knife like headaches that only last for seconds and happen randomly for weeks or months at a time and then go away for months <- how I would describe mine), I also have associated weakness/tingling/numbness in my arms and legs some of the time (but not all of the time). So, I believe there are an association between the two symptoms in my case. But, as for your case, I would alert your doctor to both of your symptoms, because there may be two separate things going on..

As for my icepick headaches... my doctor has suggested that mine could be caused by a medication that I am taking or they could be caused by something I have that is called Chiari Malformation (which is when your cerebellum is herniated out of your foremen magnum a few millimeters or so).

To me it sounds like there is a slight possibility your headaches Could be related to blood pressure, what with the associated ringing in the ears and the weakness... but I AM NOT A DOCTOR so please don't take any medical advice from me!! But, it never hurts to ask your doctor to check your blood pressure for you. So maybe get it checked next time you see your doctor? Probably not related at all but always a good thing to get your blood pressure checked out at least yearly anyway.

Also, since you have problems with your neck, there could be a pinched nerve or something... weakness and headaches sound sort of pinched nerve like... but your doctor would have been able to diagnose that, especially with the MRI results.

Hope you are feeling better soon! Headaches are awful! And I know that icepick headaches can be hard to treat with medication since they come and go on their own so quickly...! Which leaves one just having to cope with them. So, I hope you are coping okay!

If you are dealing with icepick headaches... the ONLY thing I have found that have helped mine (since they can't really be treated with any medicine) is to not bend over or turn my head to the side quickly when I am getting them. Bending over as well as turning my head to the side quickly are actions that trigger icepick headaches for me, so I make sure to avoid those actions when I find I'm getting icepick headaches. So, if you are getting icepick headaches... maybe that could help you too?

Let us know how it's going.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Sharp stabbing headaches on one side of the head are very suggestive of ice pick headaches. Ice pick headaches are usually seen in migraneurs. It will help us to know if you have a history of migraine attacks.
Other possibility is ice cream headaches. These are also sharp stabbing headaches which are triggered by ingestion or inhalation of cold stimulus.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ice-cream-headaches/DS00640/DSECTION=causes

Hope this helps!

[sandibalz]

Along with the stabbing pain I have had intermittent sharp, ringing in my ears...almost to the point that I can't hear anything else.  I usually have to stop what I am doing and close my eyes to focus and wait for the ringing to stop.  The pitch is usually so high that it doesn't seem like ringing, it's more like a high pitched squelch.