Ive been having a similar experience as well, its happened four times now in the last 2 months. For me, its a searing hot pain, right at the base of my head, just behind and below my left ear. When it happens, it feels like a soldering iron is being pushed in there, or a hot electric shock, and i get a weird metallic taste in my mouth, it lasts for a second or so, but is insanely painful, it also seems like everything goes blank for that second. I can't imagine what it would be like if it came on and didn't subside so quickly. I've also thought about driving, and the effect it would have while driving. I drive a truck for a living......
The first time it happened, i was in my garage and was reaching for a pair of cover-alls that were hanging on a rung on my aluminum ladder. I actually thought i was being electrocuted, at first i thought the ladder was "hot" (as in being electrically charged), then i spun my head around, as it felt like there was a live wire that stuck me! and of course, there was nothing there.
three of the four times, its happened early in the morning, just after waking, getting ready for work. I just had another "episode" about an hour ago, 3:00 pm, at the shop where i park my truck/trailers..... it was the same, and the same metallic taste. Im starting to get concerned.
Ive had back issues for 15 years, lower back was operated on 7 years ago, and since i suffer from acute facet joint syndrome, causing severe chronic pain in my upper back/ rib cage. Ive never had an issue with my neck though.... until now.
I was actually worried it's maybe MS related? ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use
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I'm a licensed massage therapist, that happens because you just released a little built up pocket of lactic acid (a waste product of muscle movement) by moving your neck sharply. The warm sensation is the acid draining out of the muscle and returning to the bloodstream.
I also have a searing burning sensation in my head, along the right side (which might mean the problem is on the right side, if it's neurological), when I encounter intense moments. It has become increasingly intense and intermittent at times when there is increased blood-flow to the brain. I don't know if it is a symptom of a faulty blood vessel, or an impinged nerve, but I am going to get this checked out soon.
Found this page/post after a typical semi-annual or so experience. Exactly as others have described, less the tongue-numb effect which I have never encountered. Reasonable theory by ManGoose, explains symptoms - have always assumed it must be a transient nerve compression. My observations: rather like I imagine being shot in the neck might feel, or hit with a violent poison arrow in the back of the neck 1 cm laterally outside spinal center. Strong sensation of electrical event instantly followed by violent heat & colour deep red (perhaps one blinks involuntarily), spreads upward toward skull over a half-second; abates over a few seconds - sometimes leaving lingering soreness for up to 10 minutes. Strong enough to utterly seize one's attention - would distract one from a bomb blast, tsunami, impending plane crash or cliff fall for at least 3 seconds - though intensity of incidents does vary. Quite unpleasant, occasions thoughts of "am I dying or having a stroke, have I been struck by lightning". Vision not interupted; no aural/taste/odor sensation. Cannot claim dizziness or vertigo. Instances perhaps semi-annually since I was a toddler (now 55yo). Constant in frequency & average intensity - getting neither better nor worse. No physician has ever failed to respond to description with that bemused look of "is this one a nut case?", though one recently opined that "there's a nerve in there you know". Certainly associated with sudden voluntary movement of neck: particularly the slightly awkward, jerky movement one might execute if startled and attention suddenly diverted significantly upward and slightly laterally by a snapping tree branch; particularly following long periods of bad posture (slouching at piano or PC). Mine tend to the left side; always occur during upward/left head movement. Never occur during "single plane" movement (has to be XY, and nothing to do with the limited "Z" plane of jutting one's head forward) The momentary yet perfectly riveting nature of the sensation is so comparable to a dental slip ("oops, I hit a nerve there") when novocaine has worn off (in intensity, transience, and "shockingness" only) that I am inclined to simply presume it's a transient physical impact upon a nerve.
Something similar happens to me, too. Usually it's when I'm washing my hair in the shower. As I'm turning my head just slightly, I feel kind of a 'pop' in the back of my head, then part of my head and my tongue get super-tingly. Lasts for only a few seconds, but usually leaves me bewildered for a bit. Last time (yesterday), besides the tingling, my head also felt cold for just a moment - first time that's happened. Also, it took just a little longer to get my bearings afterward, and I was afraid I might fall down or something.