Yes, cramping *without bleeding* can be an early sign of pregnancy. Below, several women tell their personal experience with cramping and pregnancy:

• Cramping can be a sign of implantation, which occurs very early in pregnancy. Also, your uterus gets crampy as things start growing! If your period is late, it's time to test.

• Yes, cramping can be a normal sign of pregnancy. I asked my doctor about it and he said it is the body's way of preparing for the baby.

• It could be. I was sure I would get my period since I was cramping a lot, but all the cramping was because my uterus was preparing for the baby.

• I'm about 6 weeks pregnant with my second child and have just started experiencing some cramping that seems to come and go, but no bleeding whatsoever. My doctor says cramping in early pregnancy (unless accompanied by other symptoms like bleeding, fever, etc.) is completely normal.

• I am six weeks pregnant. I have been having period like cramping for the last 2 weeks. I thought I was going to have my period, but instead I found out that I am pregnant. Don't worry unless the cramping is accompanied by bleeding.

• Last month on cycle day 27, I took a pregnancy test and it was a very faint positive. Then several tests after that one were negative. Then I began to feel cramps like my period was coming, only lighter in intensity and of less duration, but my period didn't come until 2 weeks later and was heavy with clots. My doctor said that I had a chemical pregnancy - which is basically an early miscarriage, happens in up to 50% of pregnancies, most women don't even know they were pregnant. So while cramping could be a sign of pregnancy, it can also be a sign of your menstrual cycles following an early miscarriage.

• I am in my first-trimester and cramping as we speak. For about 2 weeks before AF was due, I was experiencing abdominal cramps and discomfort. I think I ran to the bathroom tampon in hand for a week. My normally regular period never showed. I took a EPT and to my excitement, these cramps are just my little one making room.

• I had cramping as if my period was going to start for a week. I was due for a period on May 3. I decided to take a pregnancy test on April 30th and to my surprise it was positive. So cramping could be a sign of pregnancy.

• It seems that cramping in a lot of cases is normal but in my case it wasn't. Both times I have been pregnant I had cramping similar to my period. I took HPT that came out positive but when I went to the doctor my bloodwork was not normal and I had miscarriages both times around weeks 7-8. So while cramping can be perfectly normal, sometimes it isn't. Go to the doctor and have them do a blood test so you can have peace of mind.

• I have a four year old and with my pregnancy with him I had pretty severe cramping from about the week before I found out I was pregnant until I was about 6-8 weeks pregnant and everything was perfectly normal. So try not to stress about it too bad. I worried myself sick and everything was fine.

• Go to your doctor and get a blood test to make sure everything is perfectly fine, but cramping is probably just your body making room for your child.

• I had bad cramping with this pregnancy (my second, first was a miscarriage) until I was almost 10 weeks. My OBGYN said he never worries about cramping unless you are also having spotting and/or bleeding. He said in most cases cramping is a very normal sign of pregnancy. I am now 15 weeks pregnant and everything is fine.

• I just found out I was pregnant today. I was expecting my period 2 weeks ago. I had period-like cramps and the whole time and I had a pad on but nothing. So today my husband and I decided to get a home pregnancy test and it came out positive. So cramps but no bleeding is perfectly fine.

• Yes - it certainly does. I thought I was getting my period, cramping and lower back ache for a few days. Just done a test and it's positive!

• I told my husband for over a week that I would be starting my period that day because I was having cramping just like I would for my periods, now my pregnancy test is positive, with the cramping! Who would have thought that cramping could be a good thing?

• I, too, am allergic to sulfa drugs. I have arthritis in my upper back and neck, and the doctors have diligently been trying different non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the arthritis. I have had about 15 bouts with an allergic reaction that causes (1) redness and itching in the neck area, spreading to the entire facial area, (2) severe headaches, (3) severe swelling in the eye areas, (4) eventual flaking of the skin in the affected areas as the swelling goes down. We kept thinking these reactions were the result of the Celebrex, Viox, etc. Then I took a steroid drug to get rid of the swelling and inflammation and then I didn't take any of the NSAID drugs for two weeks. During that time the whole thing started over again, so I began to suspect something else. I realized that this problem began when I started drinking Diet Cherry Coke as opposed to regular Diet Coke. I checked the labels on the two beverages, and the only difference is that the Diet Cherry Coke contains Acesulfame Potassium. So I am going back to my doctor to see if this could be the cause. I quit drinking the Diet Cherry Cokes, and my allergic reaction is beginning to clear up, but I will have to wait and see if it comes back again.

• A couple of weeks ago on the day before my sister's wedding I, too, had a SEVERE reaction to what I believe to be from drinking Diet Cherry Coke.

Small, circular and sometimes spotted welts developed on my hands, and then a few days later on the sides of my thighs, and them over a course of 2 hours spread over my entire body (red, itchy, inflamed protutions of flesh). I didn't know what was wrong (and neither did my doctor). I had been drinking Diet Cherry Cokes and Diet Lime Cokes) over a period of a couple of weeks, and I guess the allergen had built up over time in my system.

What was I to do!? I was the maid of honor, and had to drive 7 hours with the groomsmen to the S.C. coast!! The night before leaving my doctor gave me a steroid shot, and a prescription for a 6 days of oral steroids. I was ALSO on Benedryl, Pepcid AC (!), and using topical medication. The shot was still taking affect the next day, and my swellings and rashes continued to spread up from my legs and to my chest, back, and eventullay to my nose and around my mouth. I looked in the mirror and was a horror of horrors. During the wedding rehearsal, I was given something that FINALLY caused the swelling to subside. What eventually helped me was simple-- (ALLEGRA)! Who would have known? If anyone else has had this reaction to Diet Cherry Coke, I'd appreciate knowing what helped them.

• Absolutely! I have been drinking diet A&W Root Beer, and diet Pepsi, both of which contain acesulfame potassium. I have been having mild sulfa allergy symptons, such as severe itching. Even though the companies claim it is not the same form that causes sulfa allergies, it certainly causes a sulfa reaction to me! Stay away from all diet products with acesulfame potassium is you react to sulfa! Also, there is sulfa in celebrex, so if you are allergic to sulfa, stay away from Celebrex!

• I'm actually 15 and my entire head is numb right now, i have no neck problems or anything that my doctor and i know of. I can feel when something's touching my ears, but i have no idea if it hurts or not. there will be some brief periods during the week when i can suddenly feel things around my head. i wake up at 4:00-4:30 every day. i hate my german teacher:), and i have a 6 page paper due in 12 hours and im screwed. Hope i helped
• Numbness on your head may be caused by twisting the neck while the body is flat on its back. This position is achieved most often while asleep; the head lolls to the side with the face facing the left shoulder, or when attempting to watch television in the same position. Blood is not allowed to flow through the neck's artery causing the numbness. The numbness generally goes away when the body is righted, that is, one trains themselves to sleep on their backs with the head in alignment, or the entire body is twisted to face the television when in a lying position. Numbness may also occur when the head rests upon the arm near the temple, but does not occur if the cheek, for example, rests on the same arm. The numbness generally happens within 10 to 15 minutes and the entire right side of the head at the top is without feeling until circulation improves. Circulation is achieved within 5 minutes.

• I am a 24 years old male and it has been many years since my head started getting numb sometimes. I usually get it when I am under a lot of stress and or I fear of something bad going to happen. Mostly it lasts for days but sometimes it goes away in a few hours. And each time my head gets numb I think I have a tumor or something and then it makes it even worse till I see a doctor about it, and be told that its only the anxiety.

• I also suffer from head numbness but it did not start till my car accident 6 years ago. Ever since then, every now and then I get the numbness and the doctors keep telling me it's a migraine What's Going On????? I went to several different doctors and they just don't get it it's not a migraine I can feel it.

• I am a 23 year old male and I frequently experience numbness and tingling in my head, specifically near the back and on the right. It also causes a flight numbness or ache in my right ear. I sincerely worry this is a problem related to cell phone use as I've stupidly had one since I was 11. It seems to get worse when I think about it thought which makes me think I'm just being a hypochondriac, but there are other times I notice it out of no where. It's very weird that there are so many young people around my age with this problem.............

• I GET THE SAME THINGS. i was cutting hair and i had to leave my client because i thought i was about to have a stroke, I'm only 24 years old... i had to get another girl to finish my hair cut as my forehead temple and cheek were all tight and numb feeling went to the doctor and she was like its a migraine. i have migraines a lot and i said no that's not what it is she says its called a Ora migraine. I'm going to look it up however i am still scared for tumors or brain cancer... and same thing as you i was in a car accident and it never happened before that....sometimes the back of my head goes numb and the center of my spine too... always on the left side i am booked in with a nuerologist!!!

• Dude this is freakin' weird! I AM 24 ALSO and have the same problem with the numbness!!! Though I was not in a car accident I woke up one morning and my whole head was numb and I could feel the blood rushing back to it as I got up but tingling and pain was still there for the rest of the day! Then I figured it was me cutting off my circulation while I slept until it started randomly happening during the day and other random times! It never stopped and even as I type this my the whole back of my head is about to be numb now. . . THIS SUCKS AZZ!!! I have always had problems with my scalp cause it is tender in the center and ridiculously painful sometimes (sensitive) hair dressers call it acute tender head-a- something or other but the numbness is new and gotta go!!! I thinking Im about to have a stroke or heart attack or something!!! What the hell are we supposed to do?

I am a 24 year old female and am shocked to discover there are other people the same age with the same problem with numbness and tingling of the head. I too get anxious when I have symptoms of any sort and it took me a while to gather the nerve to even look up what might be the cause of the symptoms. I too was in a car accident when I was nineteen and suffered whip lash, but only recently started experiencing these symptoms. I am relieved to hear that what I am experiencing might be less severe then a brain hemorrhage or cancer. I really scared of going to the doctor. Please keep updating your posts about what the doctors say so I can also know what might be wrong with me.

How weird, I am also 24 and a hair stylist. I suffer from migraines, neck & shoulder pain from my job etc. For the first time today the back of my head went numb and very cold feeling, which to me was a bit strange. I have had a pretty medium headache all day today. I went home and went to bed and somewhat later my head started going numb and down my back in the middle around my spine with the cold feeling again. Prehaps my spine is out and pinching on some nerves??I have not been in a car accident before but have slipped and fallen straight onto my back hitting my head on wooden floor receiving whiplash then.

Finding a Neurologist and requesting a mri and a having your brain scanned will be the best thing you could do. Upon you getting that done, ask the doctor if they can look for Chiari 1 Malformation. More information on that you can find on: http://www.asap.org/index.php/disorders/chiari-malformation

You never want to assume or diagnose yourself.

Well folkes I am pushing 50 know and had this cold head for many years ,stayed away from dinning rooms that are air condintioned etc.

I wear a ball cap ever day and a bed cap every night to bed.

Been to a few Doctors.They believe I frozze my head to many times working up north. Not !

There is hope. It is mostly in the neck . Chiropractors helped some .

But what realy helped me is taking 2 Calcium pills 500mg each before bed time.

It took about 2 weeks to notice a diffence.

Must be because we have not been drinking enough milk ,more pop and beer etc.

Joints are working better ,maybe allowing more blood flow to the scalp now.

Still wear a cap in cool days,just don't need a hot shower or use of a hiar dryer in the morning.

The point of all the above? We can reduce the number and frequency of migraine headaches. Reduce them to a bare minimum, one every five years even. But a comparison must be drawn to another neurological disorder - epilepsy. A person can have their seizures well under control for years, but the fact is their brain works differently - and there is the possibility that any day they could have a seizure. It is the same with migraine headaches. You could have them under control for years, but the possibility still lurks that you will have one - because your brain has a certain dysfunction.

I disagree there is no cure for migraines. I have a relative that suffered from migraines for 12 years. She had been to doctor to doctor all over the United States, and no-one could help her. She was on every kind of medicine that you could possibly think of for migraines. She also had to stay at many hospitals for tests. Until one day someone she read that a chropractor had helped people with migraines for fifty dollars. She went and all he had to do was have her in everyday for about two weeks, three days for another two weeks, then one day and so on. Within three months she had no more migraines. She said it was one of the best descitions she has ever made.

Chiropractic may be successful as a treatment for migraines for some people, particularly cervicogenic migraines. However, it is the same as any other treatment - doing the same as myofascial therapy, craniosacral therapy, osteopathic manipulation, microvascular decompression surgery, and the NTI appliance. It can adjust pressure and bad signaling of the nerves, as well as reducing muscle spasm (which for some is a trigger for migraines), however - the fact that you are a person who experiences the spreading cortical depression of migraine will not be altered. Also, the chiropractic treatment of neck manipulation carries a small risk of stroke due to causing clots in the carotid artery. If you do pursue chiropractic treatment for your migraine, any good chiropractor will know other methods of adjusting the cervical spine without that classic neck twist. Those that practice the Sacro Occipital Technique are especially gentle.The other chiropractic methods will give you the same benefit.

As a chronic migraine sufferer for over 15 years, I was getting as many as 22-27 migraine headaches a month. I discovered this after keeping a migraine diary. I was so used to getting them daily, I never realized how much of my life was affected. I started participating in a study. After thousands of dollars on medication and numerous efforts to relieve the pain (massage, massaging apparatuses, ice packs, eye covers, over the counter products like Biofreeze), I figured, "Why not?" I started getting Botox injections around my temples and scalp, and even down into my neck and shoulders. It was very similar to acupuncture, and actually felt relieving when I had them done since I usually had a migraine) This did improve the number and duration of migraines I was getting, but was only taking the number of migraines down to about 1/3.

I checked into a chiropractor who gives a Chiropractic Bio Physics (CBP) approach, which is essentially adding a sort of "physical therapy" into your treatment regimen. It took about 3 hours a week, being adjusted, stretched and doing excercises with my chirpractor, and following up on the excercises at home. He explained where and why I was getting the pressure on points of my nerves from my x-rays, and my treatment was catered to my specific causes. There are only a handful of chiropractors across the US that utilize this approach. Overall cost? About $1800 (without insurance). Luckily I had help from my insurance to absorb this cost, but I'd happily pay it in full to experience life as I do now - migraine free! I am happy to say that I now RARELY get migraines, about one or two days a month around my menstruation time, which my doctors all say are normal. I rarely have to use my prescription anymore, and can most of the time just use Excedrin Migraine.

There are reported incidents of abnormal thyroid lab results in patients taking valproate sodium (Depakote). Physicians often do frequent thyroid testing on patients taking valproate sodium.

For appropriate diagnosis, treatment and prevention of headache disorders, seek the help of a board certified headache specialist.