Beginning approx. 2 months ago while exercising (fast walking/bicycling)I began to get a numbing sensation on the top left side of my head.? The area that seemed to be numb is about the size of a silver dollar.? Without touching the area I can sense that something is there. Recently, I decided to determine if the area was truly numb or just seemed to be.? One morning while walking when the numbing came on I took a pin and gently poked around the spot. I found that even though the area felt numb when I touched it with my fingertips, I could feel the pin. 
 
Now, along with the numbing sensation I get a dull pain in the same spot. The numbness and pain subside once I come indoors and cool down. I am concerned about exercising outdoors even though I’ve been doing so for many years. 
 
Other than a this problem, I am in perfect health, take no medications, and have a physical every year.

?

Dr. Joshua’s Answer

You’ll have to see your own physician to have this problem evaluated. The doctor needs to take a history, perform a physical examination with emphasis on the skin in the region,? check your cranial nerve functions, and then he/she will determine whether further investigations are necessary or not. Often this sort of localized numbness is caused by trauma or compression, such as hitting the head, wearing a tight helmet (cycling helmet?)? etc.. and will resolve on its own over a periods of weeks-months. If the symptom persists and bothers you, talk to your doctor.