Tell us about your symptoms and treatment experience. Take our survey here.

caret icon Back to all discussions

Crackling like pain

Hi, I have chronic migraines, and yet to specifically determined seizures. I have aphasic tendencies with or without a migraine. I'm 16 and have had them since I was 11. I have severe anxiety, and panic attacks. I currently take Nortriptilyne, magnesium, CoQ10, B2, daily and either maxalt or reglan when I have a migraine.... but to no prevail... When I'm have a mild to a severe migraine, I get a crackling like pain on the left side of my head. I know that doesn't make much sense, so imagine the sound of putting something on to a very hot pan, or the sound a fire makes. Well that's what the pain feels like. And it's either super hot like burning your skin on a curling iron, or almost cold, like an ice bath. I have yet to find anyone else who experiences this... any help in understanding this pain, or how to make it go away, or just someone who understands what I'm going through would be greatly appreciated.

  1. Hi swhite23,

    Thank you for sharing your story with us - we're glad you're here!

    Anxiety, panic attacks and depression (among other conditions) can be comorbid with migraine disease. This means they can occur at the same time but are not caused by one another. Lisa Benson just did a video on panic attacks you may be interesting in watching; https://migraine.com/living-migraine/lets-talk-about-panic-attack/.

    A far as the sound you are describing, I have a crackling-like sound in my neck and jaw from time to time. I don't think you're alone in experiencing this. Migraine attacks can include many varied symptoms, pain being just one. Here is a link to articles describing migraine attack symptoms; https://migraine.com/?s=migraine+attack+symptoms&submit=Go.

    If you don't think you are improving, you may want to seek out the opinion of another doctor. There are doctors who are board certified in headache medicine, which is different than being certified in neurology. We have information on how these doctors are different and how to find one;
    http://migraine.com/blog/how-are-migraine-specialists-different/ and https://migraine.com/blog/really-find-headache-specialist/.

    Keep us posted on how you are feeling.
    Nancy

    Please read our rules before posting.