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Strange Headache Disorders

This is a list of strange headache conditions, some of which are very rare.

These are not necessarily going to cause extreme amounts of pain, but as they are mostly rare, will be difficult to diagnose.

Of this list Carbon Monoxide is probably the one most likely to cause harm if undiagnosed.

The CACNA1A related fatal cerebral oedema and coma syndrome is probably untreatable once recognised.

  1. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  2. Air Flight Headache
  3. Neck Tongue Syndrome
  4. Retropharyngeal Tendinitis
  5. Burning Tongue Syndrome
  6. Burning Mouth Syndrome
  7. Draculas Teeth Syndrome (Phantom Supernumerary Canine Teeth)
  8. Fasting Headache
  9. Hot Dog Headache
  10. Brain Freeze or Ice-Cream Headache
  11. Pneumocephalus
  12. Red Ear Syndrome
  13. Dialysis Headache
  14. Phaeochromocytoma Headache
  15. Thyroid Headache
  16. Dysautonomic cephalalgia
  17. Bathing Headache
  18. Hypnic Headache


  19. Cardiac Cephalalgia (Headaches caused by Heart Disease)
  20. Exploding Head Syndrome
  21. Chinese Food Headache
  22. Eagles Syndrome
  23. Sleep apnoea headache
  24. Space Travel Headache
  25. Diving headache
  26. High altitude headache
  27. Eosinophilic Fasciitis
  28. Nummular Headache
  29. Oculocardiac Syndrome


  30. CACNA1A related fatal cerebral oedema and coma
  31. There is one published case of this in the literature, but sudden deaths following relatively minor head trauma are often described.

  32. Sleep Deprivation Headache
  33. Primary Stabbing Headache
  34. This is also known as Ice-pick Headache. It is a brief, sharp pain, often in or around the eye, but can happen anywhere in the head or neck.

  35. Third Occipital Headache
  36. Retroclival Haematoma
  37. This can present as a thunderclap headache, although only one case has ever been published.

  38. Paroxysmal Hemicrania
    • Episodic Paroxysmal Hemicrania
    • Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania

  39. Hemicrania Continua
  40. A bad one sided headache that can last for months until treated with Indomethacin.

  41. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
  42. A severe Neuralgia-type pain in the throat triggered by swallowing. Compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve by a blood vessel is described as a cause of this symptom.

  43. Turtle Headache
  44. Ever developed a headache after pulling the bed clothes over your head instead of getting up? This was called Turtle Headache back in the 1970's and might be due to a rise in carbon dioxide in the air trapped under your duvet.


Strange Headache References

Kors EE et al. Delayed Cerebral Edema and fatal coma after minor head trauma: role of CACNA1A calcium channel subunit gene and relationship with familial hemiplegic migraine. Annals of Neurology 2001;49:753-60 (free Abstract only)

Hampson NB and Hampson LA. Characteristics of Headache Associated With Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. 2002;42:220-3. (Free Abstract only)



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