Strange Headache Disorders

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
There is one published case of this in the literature, but sudden deaths following relatively minor head trauma are often described.
31. Sleep Deprivation Headache
32. Primary Stabbing Headache
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.
33. Third Occipital Headache
34. Retroclival Haematoma
This can present as a thunderclap headache, although only one case has ever been published.
35. Paroxysmal Hemicrania
• Episodic Paroxysmal Hemicrania
• Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania
36. Hemicrania Continua
A bad one sided headache that can last for months until treated with Indomethacin.
37. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
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.
38. Turtle Headache
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

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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