Stinging in the head refers to one of about 250 different types of headaches known to us. The discomfort comes in the form of symptoms, but it can also appear as an independent condition. At times, the pain is so bad that it is barely tolerable.
What is stinging in the head?
Sometimes it is complicated to distinguish the twinge from other pains. Often, stinging in the head occurs along with other aches and pains. However, stinging in the head manifests itself in several ways. The discomfort represents a concentrated pain in the area of the head. This pain can occur immediately and pass after a short time. A permanent pain is also possible. Sometimes it is complicated to distinguish the twinge from other pains. Often the stinging in the head occurs together with other complaints. However, there are also diseases that appear exclusively as a headache. This stinging may well appear so violently that the everyday life of the affected person is significantly affected.
Causes
There are many causes of the twinge in the head. To date, the exact mechanism for the occurrence of this discomfort is unknown. There are equally different forms of this pain, which are accordingly divided into primary and secondary types. The former occur as independent diseases, the latter are symptoms of various underlying diseases. The pain mainly affects the nerves, meninges and blood vessels. Primary pain includes stabbing pain, migraine, cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, and trigeminal neuralgia. The stabbing pain in the head is strikingly quite common in those with cluster headache. Migraine can also last for several days in the worst cases. This manifests itself as a hemiplegic stabbing and/or pulsating pain, which can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In the so-called cluster headache, the pain occurs exclusively in intervals. Between these intervals, the patient is symptom-free. The so-called trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by very strong and stabbing pain, which, however, only occurs for a short time. Paroxysmal hemicrania is characterized by seizure-like and stabbing headaches. In just one day, up to 40 attacks of pain may occur. Secondary headaches represent symptoms of other diseases such as eye or dental diseases or spinal complaints. In these cases, a twinge in the head may also occur.
Diseases with this symptom
- Migraine
- Brain tumor
- Cluster headache
- Sunstroke
- Paroxysmal hemicrania
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Diagnosis and course
If a stinging sensation in the head occurs frequently, those affected should definitely consult a doctor. In most cases, the causes are quite harmless, but nevertheless a clarification of the complaints is very useful. Last but not least, the patient’s quality of life suffers considerably from the discomfort. In order for the stabbing headache to be treated specifically, it is absolutely necessary to find out the cause of it. Usually it is already possible for the physician to express a suspicion on the basis of the special symptomatology. For this purpose, he will ask for an explanation of the exact symptoms and the course of the complaints during the patient interview. Furthermore, he is interested in possible previous diseases, especially those of a chronic nature. The symptoms of migraine, cluster headache and other primary pain disorders have the same characteristics. Thus, it is usually possible for the physician to make an accurate diagnosis during the patient interview. Diagnostic imaging is usually unnecessary and are only used when other diseases are feared as the cause of the twinge in the head.
Complications
A great many different complications can occur with a stitch in the head, and as a rule, no universal prediction of these complications is possible. A twinge in the head often leads to difficulty concentrating, lack of sleep, and a poor attitude toward life. The quality of life decreases relatively if the twinge in the head is severe and accompanies the patient for a long period of time. Therefore, if the symptom occurs over a long period of time and does not disappear on its own, a doctor must be consulted.The pain also often occurs in people after accidents or after injuries that occurred in the head region. Here, too, treatment must be carried out by a doctor. Not infrequently, the pain from the head is also transferred to other regions of the mind. Thus, the ears or teeth may also hurt when a twinge occurs in the head. However, pain in the ears and teeth can also cause the stinging in the head, negatively affecting daily life. Treatment is usually done with medication and stress reduction. In most cases, the treatment leads to success, so that the stinging in the head disappears.
When should you go to the doctor?
A twinge in the head can arise from a wide variety of causes, so that eventually an appropriate doctor should be consulted. In most cases, an infection or a cold hides behind a stinging in the head. In addition, there can be various accompanying symptoms, which can be effectively combated and alleviated with suitable medication. However, if you do not seek medical and drug treatment at this point, you must expect the individual clinical pictures to worsen considerably. At the first symptoms, of course, one’s own medicine cabinet can be called upon. Cold ointments, headache tablets or even a cold tea are measures that can achieve a slight improvement. However, if there is no clear improvement after one or two days, then a family doctor should be consulted. In such a case, a doctor can prescribe appropriate medication that will bring about a significant improvement within a short period of time. Thus, the following applies: Anyone suffering from a stinging sensation in the head must see a doctor after two days at the latest. Only with appropriate medication can a rapid improvement and relief of the individual symptoms be achieved. In addition, a stitching in the head can also hide a really serious underlying disease. Those who go to a doctor at an early stage increase their chances of a complete recovery. No matter what kind of illness it is exactly.
Treatment and therapy
Therapy and treatments for stinging in the head depend on the cause of the discomfort. Primary pain disorders occur as a result of irritated nerve pathways in the brain. However, these cannot be treated in their cause. In addition to general pain, a stabbing headache also occurs at regular intervals. This applies to migraine pain as well as to cluster headaches. Of course, this also includes all other primary headaches. They can only be treated according to their symptoms. The goal of treatment is to relieve the pain of those affected. In the case of a migraine attack, therefore, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. These then belong to the group of non-opioid analgesics. At the same time, special migraine medications are given. These are also used for other headache disorders. Sometimes acute treatment with medical oxygen is also given. This usually relieves the pain very quickly. In addition to pure pain therapy with analgesics, surgical options are also available to those affected, depending on the cause. However, if the stinging in the head is due to another disease, this is first treated.
Outlook and prognosis
A twinge in the head does not necessarily need to be treated by a doctor. It often occurs only temporarily and disappears on its own. The patient can manage it with the help of painkillers, plenty of water and bed rest. In most cases, a visit to the doctor is not necessary if the twinge in the head occurs only for a short time and after stressful situations or during an illness. If the stinging in the head occurs after an accident, surgery may need to be performed. After the treatment, complications and further discomfort are rare, and most of the time the patient can go back to his usual daily routine. If the stinging in the head is caused by a chronic disease, serious complications may occur without treatment. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted especially if the twinge occurs together with nausea, vomiting or general malaise. In this case, self-help is not possible.
Prevention
No generalized advice can be given to prevent stinging in the head.In the case of migraine, calcium antagonists, beta blockers or antiepileptic drugs perform well. In the case of secondary headache, which occurs as a twinge in the head, the causes are so varied that no specific recommendations can be made.
What you can do yourself
Severe stabbing headaches as well as chronic complaints should be treated by a doctor. The causes can be varied. Self-treatment alone is not recommended in these cases. It is advisable to keep a pain diary in order to determine the right type of headache from the approximately 200 types. If a known migraine disorder is the cause, rest and darkened rooms can help. As a preventive measure, care should be taken to ensure a low-stress environment without sensory overload. For a natural treatment of the stabbing pain in the head, essential oils of basil, eucalyptus, lemon, lemon balm, thyme, mint or rose are suitable. These can be spread in a scented bowl or – dripped on a cotton cloth – placed directly on the forehead. The oils are available as finished preparations in pharmacies, health food or natural food stores. Herbs and medicinal plants can also be consumed. The simplest form of administration is a freshly brewed tea. Likewise, eating parsley is said to provide rapid relief at the first signs of pain. With existing headache the concerning must often first try, to which stimuli the body reacts with pain reduction. Gentle walks in the fresh air or a light massage of the temples can also help. In the case of so-called tension headaches, massages to relieve blockages in the neck and back area can help first. Consultation with an osteopath is also recommended. With prolonged computer use in the workday, it is important to look out into the distance and move in between.
