Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 2/23/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have been suffering from chronic headaches.. I went to my regular doctor who sent me to a neuologist who sent me for physical thearpy. I'm 29 years old. The headaches started in the back and lately they have been frontal and today I'm getting like a sharp stabbing like headahce on one side and also a pitching sharp feeling that does not last long behind my one eye. The neurolgist didn't send me for any type of tests which worries me that she is missing some sort of brain tumor. She did say that she thinks it occipital nerities and sent me for pt which did help the werid sensation headaches in the back but now they seem to be more frontal.

ANSWER: Well a neurologist should know what she is doing so probably you do not have any brain tumor. However since this frightens you it would probably be better to have an MRI brain scan done (a neck scan could be done at the same time in order to find the causes of your neck problems)in order to show the absence of any brain tumor and thereby reassure you!


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QUESTION: Well I did ask her to run a MRI and she said she did not think it was necessary at all :( So do you really think I should push the issue does it sound like brain tumor issues to you?

ANSWER: No I do not think a brain tumor is very probable BUT I think that maybe you need the support of such a test to know that you do not have a tumor.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I want to thank you for your honestly in reassuring me it's not a brain tumor... I do want to ask you your opinion on the sharp kinfe like headaches I get I mean they feel like someone is stabbing me then it goes away and comes back like every minute or so for awhile... Also would migraines have these type of symtoms.. I also get very dizzy and feel just weird at times??? I do feel like I have some sort of ear thing going on I get a sharp pain in my ear ever now and then... any suggestions on all of this? I've read alot of your responses and it seems as you are very informative thanks again

Answer
Head ache symptoms are Extremely difficult to evaluate! Mainly because they are so common! Furthermore, I'm a medical oncologist & radiation therapist with experience of treating brain tumors (in short a cancer dr.). However I'm not a neurologist. You should direct this question to a neurologist.