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Is Supra-orbital Neuralgia Common In The Elderly?
Question: I have a sudden very sharp headache that is very narrowly positioned on my forehead, running for about four or five inches vertically, above my left eye. I have spoken to my primary care physician about this (June and September, he ordered an MRI in XXXXXXX that showed nothing, and in September he took me off two statins for 90 days to see if there is any change). I still have the headache -- now and then, not even weekly, but very sudden and painful when it happens. I am 82, and during the Vietnam War was exposed to Agent Orange -- 40% VA disability.
Is this just one of the painful aspects of aging, or should I be seeing a specialist?
Is this just one of the painful aspects of aging, or should I be seeing a specialist?
Brief Answer:
Supraorbital neuralgia likely
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging by your description and seemingly lack of other symptoms I think that pain to be a form of neuralgia, pain due to damage to a peripheral nerve, in that location most likely culprit supraorbital nerve (supraorbital neuralgia).
It is not something to panic about, since the MRI has resulted normal other causes like brain or skull lesions, sinusitis have been excluded. Damage to the nerve may have been due factors such an episode of trauma to the nerve or a viral infection. So not due to old age (although viral infection a little more common in old age due to lower immunity - but can occur at any age really).
Now management can be through medication to alleviate the pain like anticonvulsants or local anesthetic injections at the site (called nerve block - is also a diagnostic test to confirm the diagnosis).
Since you state for the episodes to be reducing in frequency if they are indeed only one a week or so and short lasting, I wouldn't go with medication to be honest, are drugs with potential side effects and such a frequency of short lasting pain would seem bearable, since it is becoming rarer the nerve might be regenerating and progressively the pain disappear altogether.
You can see a specialist if you want to try nerve block, to definitely confirm the diagnosis, but there is no urgency about it.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Supraorbital neuralgia likely
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging by your description and seemingly lack of other symptoms I think that pain to be a form of neuralgia, pain due to damage to a peripheral nerve, in that location most likely culprit supraorbital nerve (supraorbital neuralgia).
It is not something to panic about, since the MRI has resulted normal other causes like brain or skull lesions, sinusitis have been excluded. Damage to the nerve may have been due factors such an episode of trauma to the nerve or a viral infection. So not due to old age (although viral infection a little more common in old age due to lower immunity - but can occur at any age really).
Now management can be through medication to alleviate the pain like anticonvulsants or local anesthetic injections at the site (called nerve block - is also a diagnostic test to confirm the diagnosis).
Since you state for the episodes to be reducing in frequency if they are indeed only one a week or so and short lasting, I wouldn't go with medication to be honest, are drugs with potential side effects and such a frequency of short lasting pain would seem bearable, since it is becoming rarer the nerve might be regenerating and progressively the pain disappear altogether.
You can see a specialist if you want to try nerve block, to definitely confirm the diagnosis, but there is no urgency about it.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you, Dr. Taka, for your thoughtful response and good advice. XXXX
Brief Answer:
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Pleased to have been of help.
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Pleased to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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