Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Electric Shock Like Pain In The Neck Radiating To The Ear?
Posted on
Wed, 12 Oct 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 12 Oct 2016
Answered on
Fri, 4 Nov 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I have a shooting pain down the side of my neck,it feel like a electreic shock, it starts at the base of my neck and goes up to my ear.It happens a few times a day.
Brief Answer:
Diagnosis of shooting pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. Such type of shooting can be due to two reasons
: Neuropathic or radiculopathy pain - It is the pain caused by nerve compression or damage. In neck, cervical nerves can be compressed due to cervical disc, ligaments, narrow neural foramina. It is also associated with tingling sensation, numbness, no tenderness, weakness of neck muscles.
C2,3 cervical nerves can cause sharp shooting pain till ear and back of head.
If you have a sitting computer job, then you must seriously take it. In such job, the frequency of neck pain and cervical spondylosis are more common.
You can consult neurologist for it. He will advise you
- MRI cervical spine to confirm diagnosis after complete examination of nervous system.
: Another possibility is cervical neck muscle spasm - It usually causes dull pain, local tenderness, sharp pain occurs on stretching of neck muscles or compression. There will be no tingling or numbness.
It is less likely if current like pain is there.
It can occur due to prolonged duration of neck in one position or sleeping in bad posture, jerk.
The neurologist will rule it out by examination.
You can match your features with above description and tell me. It will help me in reaching upto some conclusion. Only after that, I can tell you exact treatment.
Till then, you can follow few tips
: If pain is persistent, avoid neck movement
: Avoid lifting weight
: Avoid forward bending of neck
: You can take painkiller like Tablet Diclofenac sodium after proper prescription.
: Apply warm compresses
Hope it will help you. Thanks. Take care
Diagnosis of shooting pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. Such type of shooting can be due to two reasons
: Neuropathic or radiculopathy pain - It is the pain caused by nerve compression or damage. In neck, cervical nerves can be compressed due to cervical disc, ligaments, narrow neural foramina. It is also associated with tingling sensation, numbness, no tenderness, weakness of neck muscles.
C2,3 cervical nerves can cause sharp shooting pain till ear and back of head.
If you have a sitting computer job, then you must seriously take it. In such job, the frequency of neck pain and cervical spondylosis are more common.
You can consult neurologist for it. He will advise you
- MRI cervical spine to confirm diagnosis after complete examination of nervous system.
: Another possibility is cervical neck muscle spasm - It usually causes dull pain, local tenderness, sharp pain occurs on stretching of neck muscles or compression. There will be no tingling or numbness.
It is less likely if current like pain is there.
It can occur due to prolonged duration of neck in one position or sleeping in bad posture, jerk.
The neurologist will rule it out by examination.
You can match your features with above description and tell me. It will help me in reaching upto some conclusion. Only after that, I can tell you exact treatment.
Till then, you can follow few tips
: If pain is persistent, avoid neck movement
: Avoid lifting weight
: Avoid forward bending of neck
: You can take painkiller like Tablet Diclofenac sodium after proper prescription.
: Apply warm compresses
Hope it will help you. Thanks. Take care
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
