Suggest Remedy For Scalp Numbness While Suffering From Migraine

Posted on Sun, 19 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 19 Jul 2015 Answered on

Tue, 11 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, this morning I woke up with a pretty bad migraine, they always start at the base of my skull so I massage there and hit the pressure points that help the migraine go away, then later in the shower when I went to wash my hair, I felt a fairly large numb spot on my scalp on the right side top side and back but does not go to my hairline. Why would I be experiencing this? It makes me nervous. I get migraines all the time so its not new but this is. I have seen a neurologist and they sent me to Physical Therapy which helped but now I am getting them more and more again. I am only 23.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Occipital neuralgia should be evaluated as a possibility.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.

I have read your query and understand your concerns.

Scalp numbness can be related occasionally to migraine headaches, but always occurs AFTER the crisis.

If no time relationship between numbness and migraine, in other words, if numbness occurred independently, occipital neuralgia should be evaluated further as a possible cause of the numbness and partially as cause of headaches.

Occipital neuralgia is a nerve compression condition and NSAID drugs together with physical therapy as first steps toward treatment help improve symptoms.

I suggest you to discuss with your Neurologist this diagnosis as a possible cause of your symptoms.

Hope this helps. Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj