Differential Diagnosis for Electricity Sensation over Body when Pressing on Top of Head

• Single Most Likely Diagnosis
  • Migraine or Tension Headache: This condition can cause various sensory disturbances, including feelings of electricity or shock, especially when pressure is applied to certain areas of the head. The sensation could be related to the activation of nerve endings or changes in blood flow.
• Other Likely Diagnoses
  • Anxiety or Panic Disorder: Individuals with anxiety or panic disorders may experience a range of physical sensations, including tingling or electric-like feelings, which can be exacerbated by pressure on the head or other parts of the body.
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS can cause a variety of neurological symptoms, including Lhermitte's sign, which is characterized by an electric shock-like sensation that runs down the spine when the neck is flexed. While less common, similar sensations could potentially occur with pressure on the head.
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia: This condition involves sudden, severe, shock-like or stabbing pain in parts of the face, which could potentially be triggered by pressure on the head and might be perceived as an electric sensation.
• Do Not Miss Diagnoses
  • Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Although less likely, it's crucial to consider vascular events, as they can present with unusual sensory symptoms. The sudden onset of electric sensations, especially if accompanied by other neurological deficits, warrants immediate medical attention.
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A severe headache (often described as "the worst headache" ever experienced) can be accompanied by other neurological symptoms. While the electric sensation is not typical, any sudden, severe headache or neurological symptom deserves urgent evaluation.
• Rare Diagnoses
  • Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD): This is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the optic nerve and spinal cord, but it can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms, including unusual sensory phenomena.
  • Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel (VGKC) Complex Antibody-Associated Disorders: These are rare autoimmune conditions that can cause a variety of neurological symptoms, including neuropathic pain and unusual sensations, due to the disruption of normal neuronal function.