Hi,

I am a 28 year old female who is desperate to find out what is causing my burning head pain.

For nearly 2 years now I have this burning pain just to the left of my crown. If I touch my hair/pull my hair in that area it exacerbates the pain. I also get slight nausea.

I have had an MRI of my brain, and a CT which only showed a mucocele in my left sinus (which is at the front) so wouldn't be causing this as per ENT.

I had an MRI of my cervical spine showing a cervical disc bulge at C5 level with nerve root compression (I get a numb/painful left arm), again not apparently related to my head pain.

I have seen a physio who said my neck is tight yet unlikely to cause head pain as when he presses certain areas, it isn't made worse/better.

I have been prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg which didn't help. Upped to 20mg which caused tachycardia so I stopped.

I was given Gabapentin which I am scared to take as it's an anti-seizure drug and apparently makes you feel awful!

I just want to know what is causing the pain rather than being on medication to stop it..

Any ideas anyone? All I can describe it as is burning hot pain in a specific area which isn't relieved with paracetamol, anti-inflammatories, heat, massage etc...

Thank you in advance!

Welcome NatSab87.

I've had pain on the top of my head (along with facial pain) for three years. Mostly it's a stabbing feeling, but I had one area that was sore and tender to the touch. The thing I've learned about the top of my head is that it's a kind of no-man's-land between the trigeminal nerve coming from the face and the occipital nerve coming up the back of your head.

Have you talked to a pain management doctor? They might be able to suggest a nerve block. I've tried blocks in the eyebrow area (didn't help me) and the back of my head (helped a lot!).

I still have facial pain to deal with, but at least the top of my head isn't sore anymore, so that's something to be grateful for. I wish you the best of luck in finding a good solution for your pain. Being in pain and not knowing why is no fun.

I hope this helps, Cheryl

Welcome Cheryl1818.

Thank you so much for your reply! My gp seems reluctant to refer me on and insists I try medication but I don't want to rely on meds that make me feel like a zombie and also we want to try for a baby next year!

I have heard about nerve blocks and would give anything a go so I think I'll see the Dr and ask to see a neurologist or pain specialist. It's not normal to have this burning all day everyday!

I'm glad you got some relief from your pain and thanks again for replying!!

NatSab87 & Cheryl

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, where you have find a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

Hi NatSab87, since you’ve been experiencing your head pain for so long, I think you definitely need to see a good neurologist.

Check to see if your health insurance requires a written referral or if you are able to choose a specialist on your own, but be aware that some specialists nowadays will not see you unless you have a written referral from another doctor.

Any medical doctor who has treated you in the past can probably give you a referral to see a neurologist, so if your GP won’t cooperate with you, perhaps someone else will.

Hi NatSab,

It is not uncommon for various sorts of head pain to be associated with your teeth and/or alignment of your jaw.

How is your dental health? Do you have any root canaled teeth.... extracted teeth ..... teeth with large fillings or crowns...... do you clench or grind your teeth... or have any TMJ issues?

Thank you again for replying, it means a lot! I live in UK so will be referred on the NHS so insurance isn't an issue, I just hope they agree to refer me but clearly they can't leave me like this!!

I have seen the dentist recently and have no issues, I wish it had been something as simple as that and thanks for the suggestion!

Does anyone have the same pain and can suggest anything for relief in the meantime or any idea what is causing it?! It sometimes feels itchy too and if I pull my hair around that area it hurts too.