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I Am Experiencing Some Skin Tenderness On The Left Side
Question: I am experiencing some skin tenderness on the left side of my head. It starts just about two inches above the hairline and extends into the far head. The right side is fine. It almost feels like a very low level headache. I have had this for about two days. There is no visible rash. Just a bit sensitive to the touch. Any thoughts?
I am experiencing some skin tenderness on the left side of my head. It starts just about two inches above the hairline and extends into the far head. The right side is fine. It almost feels like a very low level headache. I have had this for about two days. There is no visible rash. Just a bit sensitive to the touch. Any thoughts?
Brief Answer:
Allodynic state of your left scalp
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Sorry that you're feeling this way.
You are describing pain in the left head region corresponding to the NERVE distribution or territory of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE's first division called V1 or the OPHTHALMIC DIVISION. There are several terminal branch nerves in this areas that appear to be unhappy for some reason. I am including a link to a cartoon of the dermatomal map of the head so you can appreciate an actual region involved and see where your head "tenderness" lies verifying whether I've gotten the correct visual on your description.
I don't believe you are in the territory of the GREATER OCCIPITAL NERVE which is more toward the occipital or "Beanie" portion of the head (my own vernacular). I believe you are clearly within the territory of V1 but on the left side. This link will take you to a map showing a PROFILE AND FRONTAL VIEW of the head. Check it out.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Dermatotmal+map+of+the+head&fr=yhs-avast-securebrowser&hspart=avast&hsimp=yhs-securebrowser&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fqxmd.com%2Fcalculate%2Fassets%2F997.png#id=4&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebmconsult.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2FAnatomy%2FDermatomes%2520Face%2520Image.png&action=click
The description of increased sensitivity to the skin or scalp tenderness can be referred properly as ALLODYNIA. In other words, a normal tactile stimulus such as touching the skin on the head produces an ABNORMALLY sensitive reaction such as pain. Some people describe allodynia in other terms such as burning, squeezing, irritation when combing their hair, difficulty taking a shower and allowing water to fall on their head.
The cause that is underlying this type of pain message being perceived by your brain over the past 2 days is that for some reason the V1 portion of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE on the left is being stimulated by something noxious which can be anything from chemical, to metabolic, to compression, or inflammatory processes going on in the body.
Also, allodynia can often times be PRELUDE to something such as a MIGRAINE headache. Allodynia can precede other events such as headaches or breakouts of rashes such herpes zoster (Shingles), etc. by up to 12-18 hrs. or even a couple of days. I believe you were referring to a possible Shingles or Zoster rash when you mentioned the NEGATIVE FINDING that you've not noticed a rash. But that is actually a very good piece of information since it is definitely in the differential of diagnostic possibilities.
How about this one though.....are you having any visual issues out of the left eye? Is there new onset blurriness, pain behind the eyeball itself, burning sensations over the left TEMPLE area, is there any type of rash, or bumpiness to the skin over the left temple area?
If you wished to show me the area in a digital photograph that is bothering you (and especially this area of the left temple that I'm making such a fuss about...please have someone take a photograph with you showing where it hurts....and make sure the LEFT TEMPLE shows up in the picture. You can then, upload that photograph in JPG format to your next response so I can see for myself what things look like.
The fact is that nothing else seems to be going on right now therefore, my best interpretation is what I've previously stated which is this could be the prelude to something else that will need to evolve a bit more to see what "shakes out" of this allodynic state of affairs. As a neurologist and headache subspecialist my inclination is advise you to take something on the order 1000 mg. of EXTRA STRENGTH Tylenol or alternatively and ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE Gastric issues or any history of a bleeding ulcer, etc. you could substitute that with 4-600 mg. of MOTRIN (Ibuprofen) or whatever your favorite NSAID may be. EXCEDRIN FOR MIGRAINE may even turn out to be a good choice. I would further say that if you take one of the 2 medications and the pain finally subsides in a period of 2 hrs. or less then, we MAY have a better idea of what this could be....my vote would be towards that of some form of headache aura.
Of course, even in the face of a positive result (if that recommendation seems to work), one is never 100% sure of anything at this stage of the game so I would recommend you do get an evaluation and worked up metabolically to see if it makes sense to get either lab work (looking for inflammatory markers and other things) and/or an imaging study of the left orbital region if there are any physical or neurological findings that you're not picking up right now
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions and you have no further questions or comments on this case then, could you do me the utmost of favors in CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few POSITIVE WORDS of feedback and maybe even a 5 STAR rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on how things are going in the next few days or weeks if you'd drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope this conversation has helped you get a little more direction as to what you may wish to discuss with your doctors in order to help get you feeling back to normal as soon as possible.
This query required 59 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and respond in complete form.
Allodynic state of your left scalp
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Sorry that you're feeling this way.
You are describing pain in the left head region corresponding to the NERVE distribution or territory of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE's first division called V1 or the OPHTHALMIC DIVISION. There are several terminal branch nerves in this areas that appear to be unhappy for some reason. I am including a link to a cartoon of the dermatomal map of the head so you can appreciate an actual region involved and see where your head "tenderness" lies verifying whether I've gotten the correct visual on your description.
I don't believe you are in the territory of the GREATER OCCIPITAL NERVE which is more toward the occipital or "Beanie" portion of the head (my own vernacular). I believe you are clearly within the territory of V1 but on the left side. This link will take you to a map showing a PROFILE AND FRONTAL VIEW of the head. Check it out.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Dermatotmal+map+of+the+head&fr=yhs-avast-securebrowser&hspart=avast&hsimp=yhs-securebrowser&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fqxmd.com%2Fcalculate%2Fassets%2F997.png#id=4&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebmconsult.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2FAnatomy%2FDermatomes%2520Face%2520Image.png&action=click
The description of increased sensitivity to the skin or scalp tenderness can be referred properly as ALLODYNIA. In other words, a normal tactile stimulus such as touching the skin on the head produces an ABNORMALLY sensitive reaction such as pain. Some people describe allodynia in other terms such as burning, squeezing, irritation when combing their hair, difficulty taking a shower and allowing water to fall on their head.
The cause that is underlying this type of pain message being perceived by your brain over the past 2 days is that for some reason the V1 portion of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE on the left is being stimulated by something noxious which can be anything from chemical, to metabolic, to compression, or inflammatory processes going on in the body.
Also, allodynia can often times be PRELUDE to something such as a MIGRAINE headache. Allodynia can precede other events such as headaches or breakouts of rashes such herpes zoster (Shingles), etc. by up to 12-18 hrs. or even a couple of days. I believe you were referring to a possible Shingles or Zoster rash when you mentioned the NEGATIVE FINDING that you've not noticed a rash. But that is actually a very good piece of information since it is definitely in the differential of diagnostic possibilities.
How about this one though.....are you having any visual issues out of the left eye? Is there new onset blurriness, pain behind the eyeball itself, burning sensations over the left TEMPLE area, is there any type of rash, or bumpiness to the skin over the left temple area?
If you wished to show me the area in a digital photograph that is bothering you (and especially this area of the left temple that I'm making such a fuss about...please have someone take a photograph with you showing where it hurts....and make sure the LEFT TEMPLE shows up in the picture. You can then, upload that photograph in JPG format to your next response so I can see for myself what things look like.
The fact is that nothing else seems to be going on right now therefore, my best interpretation is what I've previously stated which is this could be the prelude to something else that will need to evolve a bit more to see what "shakes out" of this allodynic state of affairs. As a neurologist and headache subspecialist my inclination is advise you to take something on the order 1000 mg. of EXTRA STRENGTH Tylenol or alternatively and ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE Gastric issues or any history of a bleeding ulcer, etc. you could substitute that with 4-600 mg. of MOTRIN (Ibuprofen) or whatever your favorite NSAID may be. EXCEDRIN FOR MIGRAINE may even turn out to be a good choice. I would further say that if you take one of the 2 medications and the pain finally subsides in a period of 2 hrs. or less then, we MAY have a better idea of what this could be....my vote would be towards that of some form of headache aura.
Of course, even in the face of a positive result (if that recommendation seems to work), one is never 100% sure of anything at this stage of the game so I would recommend you do get an evaluation and worked up metabolically to see if it makes sense to get either lab work (looking for inflammatory markers and other things) and/or an imaging study of the left orbital region if there are any physical or neurological findings that you're not picking up right now
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions and you have no further questions or comments on this case then, could you do me the utmost of favors in CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few POSITIVE WORDS of feedback and maybe even a 5 STAR rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on how things are going in the next few days or weeks if you'd drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope this conversation has helped you get a little more direction as to what you may wish to discuss with your doctors in order to help get you feeling back to normal as soon as possible.
This query required 59 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and respond in complete form.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Allodynic state of your left scalp
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Sorry that you're feeling this way.
You are describing pain in the left head region corresponding to the NERVE distribution or territory of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE's first division called V1 or the OPHTHALMIC DIVISION. There are several terminal branch nerves in this areas that appear to be unhappy for some reason. I am including a link to a cartoon of the dermatomal map of the head so you can appreciate an actual region involved and see where your head "tenderness" lies verifying whether I've gotten the correct visual on your description.
I don't believe you are in the territory of the GREATER OCCIPITAL NERVE which is more toward the occipital or "Beanie" portion of the head (my own vernacular). I believe you are clearly within the territory of V1 but on the left side. This link will take you to a map showing a PROFILE AND FRONTAL VIEW of the head. Check it out.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Dermatotmal+map+of+the+head&fr=yhs-avast-securebrowser&hspart=avast&hsimp=yhs-securebrowser&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fqxmd.com%2Fcalculate%2Fassets%2F997.png#id=4&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebmconsult.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2FAnatomy%2FDermatomes%2520Face%2520Image.png&action=click
The description of increased sensitivity to the skin or scalp tenderness can be referred properly as ALLODYNIA. In other words, a normal tactile stimulus such as touching the skin on the head produces an ABNORMALLY sensitive reaction such as pain. Some people describe allodynia in other terms such as burning, squeezing, irritation when combing their hair, difficulty taking a shower and allowing water to fall on their head.
The cause that is underlying this type of pain message being perceived by your brain over the past 2 days is that for some reason the V1 portion of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE on the left is being stimulated by something noxious which can be anything from chemical, to metabolic, to compression, or inflammatory processes going on in the body.
Also, allodynia can often times be PRELUDE to something such as a MIGRAINE headache. Allodynia can precede other events such as headaches or breakouts of rashes such herpes zoster (Shingles), etc. by up to 12-18 hrs. or even a couple of days. I believe you were referring to a possible Shingles or Zoster rash when you mentioned the NEGATIVE FINDING that you've not noticed a rash. But that is actually a very good piece of information since it is definitely in the differential of diagnostic possibilities.
How about this one though.....are you having any visual issues out of the left eye? Is there new onset blurriness, pain behind the eyeball itself, burning sensations over the left TEMPLE area, is there any type of rash, or bumpiness to the skin over the left temple area?
If you wished to show me the area in a digital photograph that is bothering you (and especially this area of the left temple that I'm making such a fuss about...please have someone take a photograph with you showing where it hurts....and make sure the LEFT TEMPLE shows up in the picture. You can then, upload that photograph in JPG format to your next response so I can see for myself what things look like.
The fact is that nothing else seems to be going on right now therefore, my best interpretation is what I've previously stated which is this could be the prelude to something else that will need to evolve a bit more to see what "shakes out" of this allodynic state of affairs. As a neurologist and headache subspecialist my inclination is advise you to take something on the order 1000 mg. of EXTRA STRENGTH Tylenol or alternatively and ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE Gastric issues or any history of a bleeding ulcer, etc. you could substitute that with 4-600 mg. of MOTRIN (Ibuprofen) or whatever your favorite NSAID may be. EXCEDRIN FOR MIGRAINE may even turn out to be a good choice. I would further say that if you take one of the 2 medications and the pain finally subsides in a period of 2 hrs. or less then, we MAY have a better idea of what this could be....my vote would be towards that of some form of headache aura.
Of course, even in the face of a positive result (if that recommendation seems to work), one is never 100% sure of anything at this stage of the game so I would recommend you do get an evaluation and worked up metabolically to see if it makes sense to get either lab work (looking for inflammatory markers and other things) and/or an imaging study of the left orbital region if there are any physical or neurological findings that you're not picking up right now
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions and you have no further questions or comments on this case then, could you do me the utmost of favors in CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few POSITIVE WORDS of feedback and maybe even a 5 STAR rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on how things are going in the next few days or weeks if you'd drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope this conversation has helped you get a little more direction as to what you may wish to discuss with your doctors in order to help get you feeling back to normal as soon as possible.
This query required 59 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and respond in complete form.
Allodynic state of your left scalp
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Sorry that you're feeling this way.
You are describing pain in the left head region corresponding to the NERVE distribution or territory of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE's first division called V1 or the OPHTHALMIC DIVISION. There are several terminal branch nerves in this areas that appear to be unhappy for some reason. I am including a link to a cartoon of the dermatomal map of the head so you can appreciate an actual region involved and see where your head "tenderness" lies verifying whether I've gotten the correct visual on your description.
I don't believe you are in the territory of the GREATER OCCIPITAL NERVE which is more toward the occipital or "Beanie" portion of the head (my own vernacular). I believe you are clearly within the territory of V1 but on the left side. This link will take you to a map showing a PROFILE AND FRONTAL VIEW of the head. Check it out.
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Dermatotmal+map+of+the+head&fr=yhs-avast-securebrowser&hspart=avast&hsimp=yhs-securebrowser&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fqxmd.com%2Fcalculate%2Fassets%2F997.png#id=4&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebmconsult.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2FAnatomy%2FDermatomes%2520Face%2520Image.png&action=click
The description of increased sensitivity to the skin or scalp tenderness can be referred properly as ALLODYNIA. In other words, a normal tactile stimulus such as touching the skin on the head produces an ABNORMALLY sensitive reaction such as pain. Some people describe allodynia in other terms such as burning, squeezing, irritation when combing their hair, difficulty taking a shower and allowing water to fall on their head.
The cause that is underlying this type of pain message being perceived by your brain over the past 2 days is that for some reason the V1 portion of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE on the left is being stimulated by something noxious which can be anything from chemical, to metabolic, to compression, or inflammatory processes going on in the body.
Also, allodynia can often times be PRELUDE to something such as a MIGRAINE headache. Allodynia can precede other events such as headaches or breakouts of rashes such herpes zoster (Shingles), etc. by up to 12-18 hrs. or even a couple of days. I believe you were referring to a possible Shingles or Zoster rash when you mentioned the NEGATIVE FINDING that you've not noticed a rash. But that is actually a very good piece of information since it is definitely in the differential of diagnostic possibilities.
How about this one though.....are you having any visual issues out of the left eye? Is there new onset blurriness, pain behind the eyeball itself, burning sensations over the left TEMPLE area, is there any type of rash, or bumpiness to the skin over the left temple area?
If you wished to show me the area in a digital photograph that is bothering you (and especially this area of the left temple that I'm making such a fuss about...please have someone take a photograph with you showing where it hurts....and make sure the LEFT TEMPLE shows up in the picture. You can then, upload that photograph in JPG format to your next response so I can see for myself what things look like.
The fact is that nothing else seems to be going on right now therefore, my best interpretation is what I've previously stated which is this could be the prelude to something else that will need to evolve a bit more to see what "shakes out" of this allodynic state of affairs. As a neurologist and headache subspecialist my inclination is advise you to take something on the order 1000 mg. of EXTRA STRENGTH Tylenol or alternatively and ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE Gastric issues or any history of a bleeding ulcer, etc. you could substitute that with 4-600 mg. of MOTRIN (Ibuprofen) or whatever your favorite NSAID may be. EXCEDRIN FOR MIGRAINE may even turn out to be a good choice. I would further say that if you take one of the 2 medications and the pain finally subsides in a period of 2 hrs. or less then, we MAY have a better idea of what this could be....my vote would be towards that of some form of headache aura.
Of course, even in the face of a positive result (if that recommendation seems to work), one is never 100% sure of anything at this stage of the game so I would recommend you do get an evaluation and worked up metabolically to see if it makes sense to get either lab work (looking for inflammatory markers and other things) and/or an imaging study of the left orbital region if there are any physical or neurological findings that you're not picking up right now
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions and you have no further questions or comments on this case then, could you do me the utmost of favors in CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few POSITIVE WORDS of feedback and maybe even a 5 STAR rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on how things are going in the next few days or weeks if you'd drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope this conversation has helped you get a little more direction as to what you may wish to discuss with your doctors in order to help get you feeling back to normal as soon as possible.
This query required 59 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and respond in complete form.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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