Sudden Sharp Headache Running from the Right Neck to the Occiput
symptom
A woman in her 80s presented with a chief complaint of right-sided headache that had suddenly begun two days prior. The pain occurred from the right side of the neck to the occipital region, characterized by sudden sharp, shooting pain. Although the pain itself subsided within seconds, its intensity and suddenness were severe enough to cause her to involuntarily cry out, interfering with her daily life. She had not sought medical consultation. Additionally, she had been engaged in weeding work for about a week prior to the visit, resulting in fatigue in her right arm and difficulty raising it.
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Visitors
Female
80's
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Period
February 2026 - March 2026
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Visit Frequency per week
1
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Number of Visits
1
Treatment and progress
On initial examination, palpation revealed tension in the neck and fatigue in the right arm. Acupuncture was performed on points in the neck, arm, and lower back. By the time of payment after treatment, the intervals between pain episodes had widened, and the pain completely disappeared after returning home. There was no recurrence of symptoms thereafter, and the patient recovered to the extent of forgetting about the headache. The symptoms improved with a single treatment session, suggesting that physical strain from weeding work was a contributing factor to the headache.
Acupressure points used
Summary
This case involved right-sided headache triggered by physical strain from weeding work. The characteristic feature was sudden sharp shooting pain, associated with neck tension and right arm fatigue. Acupuncture treatment to points on the neck, arm, and lower back resulted in symptom improvement immediately after treatment, with complete pain resolution after returning home. There was no subsequent recurrence, and favorable results were achieved with a single treatment session. It is considered that muscular tension due to physical strain caused the headache, and treatment at appropriate acupuncture points was effective in this case.
It was noted that the patient was using the thumb and the PIP (proximal interphalangeal) joint of the index finger when pulling weeds.
Acupuncture clinic for the case:Takahashi Acupuncture and Massage
