Stabbing-pain: Causes & Reasons

Warning: Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for stabbing pain

Neuralgia

The most common TGM symptom is sharp, stabbing pain in the face. It may also feel like an electric shock, ache or burning sensation. [aurorahealthcare.org]

Irritation of an occipital nerve anywhere along its course can cause a shooting or stabbing pain in the neck, radiating over the head. [treatingpain.com]

Aching or burning pain — Continuous aching or burning may precede an episode of stabbing pain. Spreading pain — This pain begins in one spot and then spreads. [templehealth.org]

Pleurisy

Pleurisy The main symptom of pleurisy is a sharp or stabbing pain in your chest that gets worse when you breathe in deeply or cough or sneeze. [web.archive.org]

The main symptom of pleurisy is severe pain when you breathe in, which can feel like a stabbing pain. [pushdoctor.co.uk]

A pleuritic pain is a chest pain which is typically sharp and 'stabbing' in a part of the chest. The pain is usually made worse when you breathe in or cough. [patient.info]

Cervico-Occipital Neuralgia

Irritation of an occipital nerve anywhere along its course can cause a shooting or stabbing pain in the neck, radiating over the head. [treatingpain.com]

Description: Unilateral or bilateral paroxysmal, shooting or stabbing pain in the posterior part of the scalp, in the distribution(s) of the greater, lesser and/or third occipital [ichd-3.org]

Symptoms Symptoms can be mild or severe in nature and could include the following: Shooting or stabbing pain in the neck – radiating over the head Constant headaches Pain [treatingpain.com]

Neuropathy

Medicines that may help include: Over-the-counter or prescription pain drugs Antiseizure or antidepressant drugs to reduce stabbing pains A full recovery is possible if the [nlm.nih.gov]

Symptoms The most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include burning, numbness, tingling, or shooting or stabbing pain in the toes and/or fingertips. [apma.org]

The most common symptoms are: Pain (which may be there all the time or come and go, like shooting or stabbing pain) Burning Tingling (“pins and needles” feeling) or electric [cancer.org]

Intercostal Neuralgia

She had stabbing pains in the left side of the lower chest which started off intermittently but became continuous. There was some associated soreness. [londonpainclinic.com]

Signs & Symptoms Patients presenting with intercostal neuralgia will have a sharp, stabbing pain along the affected nerve. This is usually a unilateral pain. [aspecthealth.ca]

A 23 year old lady was seen in the Pain Clinic. [londonpainclinic.com]

Viral Pleurisy

Symptoms Of Viral Pleurisy Fever Stabbing pain in the chest which is aggravated by breathing. [tandurust.com]

When you inhale deeply, cough, sneeze or laugh, you’ll likely feel a sharp, stabbing pain in the area of this inflammation. [webmd.com]

You’re likely to notice these things: A sharp, stabbing pain causes you to take small, shallow breaths, because it’s worse when you try to breathe deeply. [webmd.com]

Trigeminal Neuralgia

The most common TGM symptom is sharp, stabbing pain in the face. It may also feel like an electric shock, ache or burning sensation. [aurorahealthcare.org]

We report a 34-year-old man with a complaint of left hemifacial stabbing pain in maxillomandibular area that was triggered by chewing and speaking. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Atypical trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by constant aching, burning or stabbing pain. A person may experience both forms of the pain, sometimes at the same time. [aurorahealthcare.org]

Peripheral Neuropathy

Biting pain. Stabbing or shooting pains but only after some time. [chroniccarecharlottesville.com]

Burning, shooting, or stabbing pain in the legs, hands, and feet. Often the pain is worse at night. Weakness and loss of balance. How is peripheral neuropathy diagnosed? [stlukesonline.org]

Symptoms The most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include burning, numbness, tingling, or shooting or stabbing pain in the toes and/or fingertips. [apma.org]

Trigeminal Nerve Lesion

People have repeated short, lightning-like bursts of excruciating stabbing pain in the lower part of the face. Doctors base the diagnosis on the characteristic pain. [merckmanuals.com]

Patients sometimes describe the pain as being like an electric shock, or like a stab with a hot needle. [pijn.com]

Repeated short, lightning-like bursts of excruciating stabbing pain can be felt in any part of the lower portion of the face but are most often felt in the cheek next to the [merckmanuals.com]

Heelspur

Causes of Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis / Heel Spur A sharp stabbing pain, like a nail going into the bottom of the heel when first stepping on the foot after getting out of [thefootanklecenter.com]

Selective, stabbing pain on the underside of the heel is described, which can work its way up to the thigh. [bort.com]

Symptoms Heel spur sufferers usually experience a sharp and stabbing pain, as if a knife is stuck into the bottom of their heel. [eastcoastpodiatry.sg]

Radial Tunnel Syndrome

pain at the top of the forearm or back of the hand, especially when you try to straighten your wrist and fingers. [arlingtonortho.com]

Compression of the radial nerve results in cutting, piercing, or stabbing pain affecting the top of the forearm and back of the hand and side of the elbow. [merckmanuals.com]

Symptoms Radial Tunnel Syndrome symptoms include, cutting, piercing, or stabbing pain at the top of the forearm or back of the hand, especially when you try to extend or straighten [posmc.com]

SUNCT Syndrome

The diagnostic criteria include attacks of unilateral orbital, supraorbital or temporal stabbing pain accompanied by one of the following: conjunctival injection and/or tearing [doi.org]

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) are characterized by attacks of moderate to severe stabbing pain, strictly [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Lumbar Strain

You have frequent, painful, or bloody urination. You have severe abdominal pain. You have a sharp, stabbing pain. Your pain is constant. [urmc.rochester.edu]

You have a temperature over 101.0 F (38.3 C) You have frequent, painful, or bloody urination. You have severe abdominal pain. You have a sharp, stabbing pain. [hopkinsmedicine.org]

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

pain on the outside of the knee during or after activity Pain that shows up in the hip, known as referred pain Progressive, worsening pain Snapping, creaking, or popping [winchesterhospital.org]

She reported a 9/10 stabbing pain on a visual analog scale (VAS) in the left lateral knee at mile two while running. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] properly fit to the user, such as a bicycle Symptoms Symptoms of ITBS include: Dull aching or burning sensation on the outside of the knee during or after activity Sharp stabbing [winchesterhospital.org]

Cough Headache

Question Asked by questionmaker Sharp, Stabbing Pain In My Head When I Cough? Ice Pick Migraines? [healthcentral.com]

Read More Conditions I have a sharp stabbing pain in my temple. [axappphealthcare.co.uk]

I have been experiencing a stabbing pain on the left side of my head when I cough, along with pressure and pain in the frontal part of my head. [healthcentral.com]

Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia

Case 3: A 49-year-old man presented with sharp, shooting, and stabbing pain in the maxillary left molars. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

PSH is characterized by unilateral but erratic, moderate-to-severe, jabbing or stabbing pain, lasting from a fraction of a second to 3 seconds [ 1 ] or more (in the Vågå study [thejournalofheadacheandpain.springeropen.com]

Case 2: A 47-year-old woman presented with sharp, shooting pain in the maxillary left molars, which radiated to the temple and periorbital region. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Ruptured Ovarian Cyst

It transformed from a pinch to an ache to a full-blown stabbing pain. Needless to say, I was pretty freaked out (appendix? miscarriage? infection?) [empowher.com]

I have on and off stabbing pain and period like cramps constantly. I have also had a yellow mucousy discharge, but it doesn't have an odor. [steadyhealth.com]

or stabbing pain that happens on one side Pain that starts during activity or sex, or that gets worse when you move Tenderness in the area of your ovary A low fever Nausea [drugs.com]

Insect Bite

Black widow spider bites may cause stabbing pain in the bite area, but they can also be painless. [firstderm.com]

Cutting, stabbing, or burning pain may be felt, along with swelling, tingling, or numbness. [uofmhealth.org]

Swipe to advance 5 / 28 Black Widow Spider Bites Black widow spider bites may cause stabbing pain in the bite area, but they can also be painless. [webmd.com]

Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

A 65-year-old woman presented with three "convulsive" events that were preceded by stabbing pain extending from the left submandible zone to the neck and ipsilateral ear. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare pain disorder characterized by severe, stabbing pain of the ear, posterior tongue, and throat. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Occipital neuralgia, a condition affecting the greater or lesser occipital nerve, may also cause a zapping or stabbing pain, but the pain is located on the back or top of [nspc.com]

Sphenopalatine Neuralgia

Neuralgia Definition Neuralgia is defined as an intense burning or stabbing pain caused by irritation of or damage to a nerve. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

given their dual anti-nociceptive and anti-neuropathic effects. 11 OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA Paroxysmal stabbing pain, with or without persistent aching between [practicalneurology.com]

It is characterized by some combination of sharp, stabbing, intense facial pain. [patientslikeme.com]

Pericarditis

The distinguishing symptom of pericarditis is a sharp, stabbing pain behind the breastbone on the left side and some have described it as dull and pressure-like. [belmarrahealth.com]

This can be a sudden, sharp and stabbing pain behind your breastbone or more of a dull ache. The pain is often relieved by sitting forward. [nidirect.gov.uk]

Pericarditis can feel like a heart attack, with a sharp or stabbing pain in your chest that comes on suddenly. [healthline.com]

Supination Injury

This strain can lead to a painful condition called plantar fasciitis that is characterized by a deep ache or stabbing pain in the heel and/or along the arch of the foot. [rockyfootandankle.com]

Metatarsalgia is characterized by a burning or stabbing pain in the ball of the foot which is worse on weight bearing and usually subsides with rest. [underpronation.org]

They are as followed… Constant Achilles pain (Achilles Tendonitis) Frequent ankle sprains Ankle pain Constant shin pain (Shin splints) Stabbing pain on the bottom of feet [womentd.com]

Oral Candidiasis

[…] during nursing or painful nipples between feedings, Stabbing pains deep within the breast. [flipper.diff.org]

Flaky or shiny skin on the areola, unusual pain, or stabbing pain within the breast can make it difficult to breastfeed. [naturalremedies.org]

[…] breasts are infected with Candida may experience the following signs and symptoms: Unusually red, sensitive or itchy nipples, Shiny or flaky skin on the areola, Unusual pain [flipper.diff.org]

Abdominal Muscle Strain

I too feel a sharp tearing/stabbing pain in my right side of my abs. [babycenter.com]

With a grade three Abdominal strain there is an immediate burning or stabbing pain and the athlete is unable to move without pain. [physioroom.com]

My doctor has performed all types of blood test and all the results come back normal and YES there is nothing I can do to relieve the pain :( I am 25 weeks..almost there! [babycenter.com]

Viral Lower Respiratory Infection

Sometimes, the symptoms of severe pneumonia can include pleuritic pain, which is a sharp, stabbing pain in your chest that occurs in one place when you breathe in. [hse.ie]

Musculoskeletal Lower Back Pain

It is described as a stabbing pain in the buttocks distal and lateral to L5-S1, may radiate down to the knee, and may be worse when weight bearing on the ipsilateral leg. [practicalpainmanagement.com]

Posterior pelvic girdle pain is related to the sacroiliac joints. [practicalpainmanagement.com]

Pain may be elicited in the sacroiliac joint by the iliac compression test with the patient lying supine. 15 Pelvic pain may present similar to low back pain and may originate [practicalpainmanagement.com]

Sciatica

The pain varies from aching pain to stabbing pain and even burning sensation or excruciating pain. [betahealthy.com]

Other medicines may be prescribed to help reduce the stabbing pains due to nerve irritation. Nerve pain is very difficult to treat. [medlineplus.gov]

Direct touching on the sciatic nerve areas will exaggerate the pain even further. [betahealthy.com]

Tabes Dorsalis

Definitions of tabes dorsalis 1 n syphilis of the spinal cord characterized by degeneration of sensory neurons and stabbing pains in the trunk and legs and unsteady gait and [vocabulary.com]

Severe stabbing pains in the legs and trunk, an unsteady gait, and loss of bladder control are common. [oxfordreference.com]

The first manifestation is usually “lightning pain,” transient, stabbing pains affecting the legs; this is followed by loss of tendon reflexes and by progressive loss of muscular [britannica.com]

Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Sometimes, the symptoms of severe pneumonia can include pleuritic pain, which is a sharp, stabbing pain in your chest that occurs in one place when you breathe in. [hse.ie]

Bronchitis

They include: severe coughing, producing mucus yellow, green, or blood tinged mucus fever shortness of breath chest pain that may feel sharp or stabbing fatigue and low energy [medicalnewstoday.com]