Nummular headache is a unique type of headache that causes a severe or stabbing coin-shaped pain in the scalp. It is most commonly found in the parietal area of the head. A localized nerve inflammation (neuralgia) of one of the branches of the trigeminal nerve, which transmits sensory information from the face to the brain, is the most common cause of a nummular headache.
What Is a Nummular Headache, and What Causes It?
You may learn about nummular headache in this article. Here are the specifics:
There may be a link between nummular headaches and migraines as well. After a head injury, some persons get nummular headaches.
Symptoms of a Nummular Headache
You can define a nummular headache as chronic discomfort in a circular or elliptically shaped area of the scalp. It’s a fixed type of pain, which means the shape and size of the painful area remain constant. The size of the discomfort area varies from around 1 centimeter (the size of a penny) to 6 cm (around 2.5 inches).
Although a nummular headache can occur anywhere on the scalp, it is most usually found on the sides of the head, in the parietal area. Nummular headaches rarely affect both sides of the head or more than one location on the scalp at the same time.
Nummular headaches are often described as mild to moderate in intensity, although they can also be severe. Stabbing or pressure-like pain is the most common description.
After the headache has passed, some people report having strange symptoms in the location of pain, such as tingling and tingling. During a physical exam, a healthcare provider may be able to duplicate the tenderness by pressing on the area.
A medical diagnosis has been made
In order to identify a nummular headache, a doctor will often order brain imaging, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (MRI).
This will ensure that the headache is not caused by anything else. This is important given the rarity of nummular headaches.
Your doctor will examine your scalp carefully for rashes that can confuse for nummular headache discomfort, such as those caused by shingles. Other conditions that might cause nummular headaches are:
- Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
- Infections of the bones, such as osteomyelitis
- Multiple myelomas are a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells
- Treatment for Paget’s disease
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and Neurontin (gabapentin) are two drugs that you can use to treat a nummular headache. Elavil (amitriptyline), a tricyclic antidepressant, may also be beneficial.
Botox may be an option for treating nummular headaches, especially if the medicine isn’t working. The Clostridium botulinum bacteria produce botulinum toxin, which functions by disrupting nerve connections on the scalp. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came to accept it in 2010 for the treatment of chronic migraine.
Despite the numerous therapeutic options available. We find no single treatment to be effective in significantly reducing the severity. And/or frequency of nummular headache symptoms.
Conclusion:
Because nummular headaches are uncommon, make sure to have it professionally checked by a doctor if you suspect this medical condition. To rule out other possibilities, your doctor will most likely conduct a thorough scalp and head examination and recommend brain imaging.
