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What Causes Superficial Stinging Sensation In The Scalp Upon Waking?
Question: Awoke after two hors sleep with full head stinging. Never had it before. 88 years old, prostate and major acid in mouth at night only known problems. On no medications.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
If by head stinging you mean superficial stinging sensation in the scalp I would say that in the absence of any other symptoms there is not much to be concerned, it is not indicative of any brain lesion (such as stroke which would be the first thing to be suspected at your age). It could be simply what is called tension type headache, the most common primary headache (primary meaning without an identifiable cause) experienced by most people at one time or another. Over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen can relieve the occasional episode, perhaps the XXXXXXX Seltzer you took may have helped as well since it contains some aspirin.
If on the other hand you mean being woken up by a real headache, as opposed to superficial stinging, then of course it must be carefully evaluated. A blood pressure measurement would be the first step as a common cause of headache and even if now is normal and pain has subsided should monitor it by repeat daily measurements in the coming 7-10 days.
If the pain is persisting and not relieved by XXXXXXX Seltzer or Ibuprofen at all, then given the fact you have no prior headache history, a physical evaluation for possible neurological signs and potentially head imaging might be necessary. I do not want to alarm you usually brain lesions have other symptoms as well but I think in front of such a sudden appearance at your age a high level of suspicion must be employed.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
If by head stinging you mean superficial stinging sensation in the scalp I would say that in the absence of any other symptoms there is not much to be concerned, it is not indicative of any brain lesion (such as stroke which would be the first thing to be suspected at your age). It could be simply what is called tension type headache, the most common primary headache (primary meaning without an identifiable cause) experienced by most people at one time or another. Over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen can relieve the occasional episode, perhaps the XXXXXXX Seltzer you took may have helped as well since it contains some aspirin.
If on the other hand you mean being woken up by a real headache, as opposed to superficial stinging, then of course it must be carefully evaluated. A blood pressure measurement would be the first step as a common cause of headache and even if now is normal and pain has subsided should monitor it by repeat daily measurements in the coming 7-10 days.
If the pain is persisting and not relieved by XXXXXXX Seltzer or Ibuprofen at all, then given the fact you have no prior headache history, a physical evaluation for possible neurological signs and potentially head imaging might be necessary. I do not want to alarm you usually brain lesions have other symptoms as well but I think in front of such a sudden appearance at your age a high level of suspicion must be employed.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I suggest you read the information more carefully. I wrote "full head" not forehead nor scalp. After an hour or so it was gone. No further information is desired by me.
Brief Answer:
Pleased you are feeling better.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the feedback.
I did read the information very carefully. I believe forehead was never mentioned in my answer. By "full head" I assumed you meant it to be on both sides as opposed to the possibility of being concentrated on the right or left half of the head (or front or back).
As for the scalp, it is true that you never mentioned it. I went in that direction because the term "stinging" is usually used by my patients related to the scalp or face (the surface), while for headache more commonly patients use terms like throbbing, pressing etc. Of course every patient is unique in itself I am aware of that, that is why I tried to my best to cover both possibilities in my answer.
Anyway what matters is that you are feeling well now, probably a tension type headache as I already mentioned alleviated by the aspirin contained in XXXXXXX Seltzer, hope it remains an isolated episode.
Wishing you good health.
Pleased you are feeling better.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the feedback.
I did read the information very carefully. I believe forehead was never mentioned in my answer. By "full head" I assumed you meant it to be on both sides as opposed to the possibility of being concentrated on the right or left half of the head (or front or back).
As for the scalp, it is true that you never mentioned it. I went in that direction because the term "stinging" is usually used by my patients related to the scalp or face (the surface), while for headache more commonly patients use terms like throbbing, pressing etc. Of course every patient is unique in itself I am aware of that, that is why I tried to my best to cover both possibilities in my answer.
Anyway what matters is that you are feeling well now, probably a tension type headache as I already mentioned alleviated by the aspirin contained in XXXXXXX Seltzer, hope it remains an isolated episode.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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