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Conditions and Diseases > Brain and Head Injuries Forum > Cluster headaches with unknown etiology
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Q: Cluster headaches with unknown etiology
asked by: DoctorQuestion on July 21st, 2008
Has anyone heard of these symptoms before, recognize what might be causing this or be able suggest what I might do? I have spoken to friends about this and they have mentioned that they too on occasion have had a similar thing to happen to them - but not with the kind of regularity or frequency that I have experienced this condition. Because others have said they too have experienced I have always assumed its a normal thing that everyone deals with once in a while and thus haven't done anything about it.


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on July 24th, 2008
Brain and Head Injuries Answer A4448
Current medical status: Hello. The condition I am about to describe has been happening all my life. I am now 36 and can recall this happening since my childhood. It always happens when I turn my head quickly or at a sharp angle. It happens randomly and over the years I could always count on it happening about once a year. If it happened on the left then within 6 months it would happen to the other side or visa versa. Then first side would happen again maybe a year later. I could always count on the opposite side happening within 4 to 6 months of the first side happening. But of lately it has been increasing with frequency it has begun to worry me. The best way I can describe it is that if feels as if someone is jamming a needle or nail in the base of my brain at the back side of my skull. My vision instantly blurs, that side of my head and brain goes numb, the pain is sharp and severe and instant - and then I am left incapacitated for several minutes. As quickly as it happens it goes away - the pain doesn't persist - though the numbing and tingling affect does take several minutes to pass. Again, this has been happening since childhood and I have always attributed it (or correlated it to) physical inactivity. If I stopped exercising playing sports, etc for a period of time and then got back into sports/exercising again then it would happen within several weeks of me picking things back up again. Over the last 18 months it has increased in frequency to the point its 3 to 4 months between episodes instead of the usual 12 to 18 months.
Current medical treatment: none

According to your headache description you might be experiencing a “cluster” headache. It is a kind of primary headache with unknown etiology. If the pain-attacks become more frequent you may want to consult a neurologist. You may request an MRI-scan of the head.




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