Intense, sudden headaches (often called thunderclap headaches) are not always serious, but they can be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition. A sudden and intense headache can indicate an aneurysm or bleeding in the brain. Additional signs of this are blurred vision, loss of consciousness, and seizures.
It is typical for a person to have either a single stab, or a series of stabbing pains that last seconds, occurring at random in a day without any associated autonomic symptoms (tearing, sweating, congestion, eye redness, eye drooping, etc.).
Cluster headaches begin quickly and without warning. The pain is very severe and is often described as a sharp, burning or piercing sensation on one side of the head. It's often felt around the eye, temple and sometimes face. It tends to affect the same side for each attack.
See a GP if: your headache keeps coming back. painkillers do not help and your headache gets worse. you have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head – it could be a migraine or, more rarely, a cluster headache.
A severe headache that comes on suddenly can be a sign of a stroke, though there are other possible causes as well. Regardless, most causes of these so-called thunderclap headaches can be serious.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
Every patient's pain experience is unique, but headaches associated with brain tumors tend to be constant and are worse at night or in the early morning. They are often described as dull, "pressure-type" headaches, though some patients also experience sharp or "stabbing" pain.
The easiest way to differentiate between the two is to pay attention to sensations. A migraine headache produces sensations like auras, flashing lights, or tingling skin, while a stroke-related headache causes sensations to be lost, such as a loss of vision or feeling.
Common causes of shooting nerve pain throughout the body may include brain, spine, or nerve injuries; vitamin B12 or thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, poor blood supply to the nerves, use of certain medications, and heavy drinking.
The main symptom of a thunderclap headache is sudden and severe pain in your head. This pain reaches its most intense point within 60 seconds and lasts at least five minutes. It then usually fades within the next few hours.
Common symptoms of brain tumours include headaches, feeling or being sick and seizures (fits). These symptoms and the others listed below are often caused by other medical conditions. But if you have any of them, it's important to see your doctor.
Studies show pain is one of the most common and most feared symptoms of cancer. Cancer pain may be mild, moderate or severe. It may take several forms, such as feeling like a sharp stabbing pain that comes and goes, a tingling or burning sensation or a persistent ache.
Some people will experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling several days before they have a serious stroke. One study found that 43% of stroke patients experienced mini-stroke symptoms up to a week before they had a major stroke.
Pre-strokes or mini strokes are the common terms used to describe a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Unlike a full blown stroke, a TIA only lasts a few minutes and does not cause permanent damage. Nevertheless it is a warning sign that a possible stroke may be coming in the future.
This rare type of severe headache comes on suddenly. It can cause intense pain and often nausea and vomiting. If you have one, get emergency medical attention. The cause, which can be life-threatening, is often some kind of bleeding in or around your brain.
A vascular headache, or migraine, refers to a group of headache conditions that occur due to changes in blood vessels in the head or neck. They often involve throbbing pain and swelling or dilation of the blood vessels.
An unruptured brain aneurysm can manifest as recurrent or chronic headaches. Even with successful treatment, many people who have had an unruptured brain aneurysm will continue to experience these headaches.
The pain is usually like a dull ache, but it can also be sharp. You may have a throbbing (pounding) headache, or the pain might be constant. The pain might get worse when you bend over, shake your head or move around. Other dehydration symptoms usually occur along with headache pain.
Severe Migraines Deserve an ER Visit
Go to the ER if you are experiencing severe migraine symptoms, or symptoms such as confusion, fever and vision changes, neck stiffness, trouble speaking or numbness or weakness, even if other symptoms of migraine are present (e.g. light sensitivity, nausea).
Many things trigger migraines, including stress, loud noises, certain foods, or changes in the weather. This type of headache causes throbbing or pulsing pain, often on one side of your head. A migraine usually starts slowly, then ramps up and causes throbbing or pulsing pain.