Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
What Causes Recurring Stabbing Pain In The Left Side Of The Head?
I was grocery shopping and felt a sudden very severe stabbing pain in my head, left side about eyebrow level. Very severe sharp pain that lasted only about four seconds, seemed to pulse. Felt like someone stabbed my head with a nail. Went away. Don t have any residual symptoms. This has happened before, but this was the worst pain and lasted a little longer.
Tue, 7 Mar 2017
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
This may be neuralgia which is nerve related pain. This type of pain tends to be intermittent in nature and may also be sharp as you described.
Neuralgia can be temporary or permanent and there are different possible causes.
If it continues then you would need to be assessed to find a cause.
Some of the more common causes are: (1) diabetes
(2)trauma to the nerves that supply an area.
The nerves to the face would be called the cranial nerves which come directly from the brain
(3)low levels of vitamin b12 and folate
(4)abnormal levels of vitamin b6
(5)side effect of medication
(6)liver or kidney disease
(7)infection such as shingles
(8)thyroid disease
(9)exposure to toxins
IN some cases, the cause is not found.
Blood tests and imaging can be done to check for these conditions if the symptoms persist.
There are medications that can help reduce neuralgia but specific treatment would depend on the cause found.
Normal pain killers can initially be used such as ibuprofen, cataflam, naproxen.
If these are not effective then medications that are used specifically for neuralgia may be needed eg gabapentin, tegretol, lyrica, amitriptyline
I hope this helps
This may be neuralgia which is nerve related pain. This type of pain tends to be intermittent in nature and may also be sharp as you described.
Neuralgia can be temporary or permanent and there are different possible causes.
If it continues then you would need to be assessed to find a cause.
Some of the more common causes are: (1) diabetes
(2)trauma to the nerves that supply an area.
The nerves to the face would be called the cranial nerves which come directly from the brain
(3)low levels of vitamin b12 and folate
(4)abnormal levels of vitamin b6
(5)side effect of medication
(6)liver or kidney disease
(7)infection such as shingles
(8)thyroid disease
(9)exposure to toxins
IN some cases, the cause is not found.
Blood tests and imaging can be done to check for these conditions if the symptoms persist.
There are medications that can help reduce neuralgia but specific treatment would depend on the cause found.
Normal pain killers can initially be used such as ibuprofen, cataflam, naproxen.
If these are not effective then medications that are used specifically for neuralgia may be needed eg gabapentin, tegretol, lyrica, amitriptyline
I hope this helps
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Loading Online Doctors....