Differential Diagnosis for Forehead Shocking Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Migraine: This is often characterized by severe, throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, which can include the forehead. The pain can be described as shocking or stabbing and is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Tension headache: While typically less severe than migraines, tension headaches can cause a band-like pressure around the forehead, which might be perceived as shocking pain, especially if the headache is severe.
- Cluster headache: Known for causing severe, piercing pain on one side of the head, often around the eye, which can extend to the forehead. The pain is extremely painful and can be described as shocking.
- Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses can cause pain in the forehead, especially if the frontal sinuses are involved. This pain can be sharp and might be perceived as shocking, especially during acute exacerbations.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: Although rare, a sudden, severe headache (often described as "the worst headache of my life") can be a symptom of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.
- Temporal arteritis: This condition, also known as giant cell arteritis, can cause severe, sudden headaches, including forehead pain, and if not treated promptly, can lead to blindness and other serious complications.
- Meningitis: Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which can cause severe headache, including forehead pain, along with fever, neck stiffness, and confusion. It is a medical emergency.
- Rare diagnoses
- Trigeminal neuralgia: A chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which can cause intense, shocking pain in parts of the face, including the forehead, usually triggered by specific actions like chewing or talking.
- Occipital neuralgia: Involves the occipital nerves and can cause sharp, stabbing pain in the forehead, among other areas of the head, though it typically starts at the base of the skull.
- Idiopathic stabbing headache: A rare condition characterized by short, stabbing pains in the head, which can occur in any area, including the forehead, without any known cause.