What causes sudden, cramp-like pain in the scalp, and what should I do about it?

Occasional sudden scalp pain resembling muscle cramps may be caused by physiological factors, or it could result from pathological conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia or migraine. In most cases, symptoms can be improved through general management or medication. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Physiological Causes

If a person frequently experiences mental stress, fatigue, or high pressure, local blood vessels may go into spasm, leading to the above-mentioned sensation. Symptoms usually gradually subside after emotional relaxation and stress reduction.

2. Pathological Causes

1) Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a common disorder of the cranial nerves. When present, it may cause elevated blood pressure, leading to blood vessel compression of the trigeminal nerve and demyelination, resulting in sudden, cramp-like scalp pain. In such cases, medications such as gabapentin tablets, phenytoin sodium tablets, or carbamazepine tablets should be used under medical guidance.

2) Migraine

Migraine is a common recurrent condition characterized by one-sided headaches. It may disrupt normal vascular dilation and constriction, causing the aforementioned symptoms. For this condition, patients may follow a doctor’s advice to use medications such as sumatriptan succinate tablets or acetaminophen tablets.

Besides the above causes, such symptoms may also be due to hypertension, cerebral hemorrhage, or cerebral infarction. It is recommended that patients promptly seek medical attention at a qualified hospital, undergo necessary examinations to determine the exact cause, and actively cooperate with treatment.