Chronic Pain - Right Side of Head next to Ear

Have been experiencing chronic head pain on right side of head - even with the right ear. It is going on exactly a month now (started 4/16/06). Have been through the prednisone, and three other prescriptions, with no success. Movement of any kind, especially standing and walking, worsens the problem. Pain may go away late at night or morning, but always returns in the exact same spot. CT scan last week showed nothing abnormal. Doctor says probable cluster headache, although, everything I read about clusters mentions intense pain centered around the eye, which I do not experience. I am 44, and have never had a history of headaches. Mother and sister suffer from migraines, and mother is sensitive to MSG. I am to start Lithium prescription tomorrow, but am nervous about it because I have read it affects the thyroid. If it is a cluster, does it eventually go away on it's own? After living with this pain 24/7 for 4 weeks striaght now, I am already starting to lose hope.

hi rick, can i ask you to describe in more detail the pain you are experiencing, my husband suffers with cluster headaches, so i may be able to answer some of your questions (hopefully!!)

unfortunately clusters generally don't go away, but you get some pf time in between cycles, please feel free to e mail me if you want to ask me anything

tc

sandra xx

Thank you, Sandra. The pain is always in the right side of the head, just slightly above the ear. It's a sharp pain, that for some reason, seems to be especially sensitive to movement. Especially, to getting up from a sitting position and walking. As my circulation increases, so does the pain. Except for brief hourly periods of relief, the pain has been constant since 4/16/06. I am scheduled to see a neurologist on 6/12. I guess, once you have clusters, they're here to stay, but I wish I could find a way to keep it away for a week or more at a time. As it is now, I find it hard to function at work and impossible to run at the gym like I used to. Mornings are usually relatively pain free, with the pain progressing through the day. Bending down, doing chores, and movement up and down seems to really irritate the condition. It would seem to me that my circulation is permanently constricted on the right side of my head. Not sure if the CT Scan I had would show any problems with clots or circulation. Everything I have read on clusters so far has indicated an intense pain centered around the eye and a pain that comes and goes in bouts during the day. These don't seem to match my symptoms.

hi rick sorry i didn't get back to you sooner, no you are right it doesn't sound like clusters, will have a toot around and see if i can get any more info for you


tc

sandra xxx

Hi, I am also experiencing a pain in the right side of my head near to my ear. The pain is sudden and then goes off, if I move my head quickly it can ache. Not sure if this is sinus or inner ear problem. My jaw is crunching a little bit. I was wondering if clenching your jaw can cause such headaches. I have had this pain before and it seems to come in a bunch of pains then it disappears for a few weeks or so. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

My tension headaches were caused by me clenching my jaws at night. It works the muscles around your ears until they're sore - causing the headaches. I also had an uneven bite, which is why my headaches were always on the left side. I got a bite splint from the dentist to help that. Also, getting on an antianxiety med really helped as well.

Some people's headaches are caused by blood pressure issues - so beta blockers are another avenue to look into with your doctor.

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Hi Hopeful82, I think I have a habit of clenching my jaw most of the time which is probably the reason for the pains. I dont realise I am doing it. I will book a trip to the denist just to check that my teeth are ok. Thanks for the reply. Orange

Hi rick,
i got the same problem that you got.So if u find what your problem is plz let me know,im a 19year old student.Im really woried about this.Any i'll consult a neurologoist as soon as possible and i'll let u knw whats happening.

With Regards
Aj

Hi ajth,

Welcome to Healing Well. Sorry to hear you are suffering. Please feel free to email me as I work on a Helpline for sufferers with Cluster Headache, and I may be able to help you work out what is going on for you!!

take care

Ann

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Co-Moderator of the Migraine/Headache Forum

The problem actually sounds more like TMJ to me. I had the exact same symptoms, on the left side primarily. I got a bite splint and some pain medicine. I really don't think it's cluster headaches. I would look up TMJ or TMJD online and review the symptoms to see if you have them. I for one was very surprised at all the symptoms TMJ can cause. Good luck!!

Hello,

Hi Brenda!

I sympathize w th you your symptoms do not sound like they would be associated with a migraine.  I have suffered from migraines since puberty and then they started up in menopause experiencing them every day.The lights you see around you is called an 'aura'.  I sometimes get that as well, then it is a sign that the migraine is coming.  The calmed down when put on HRT and now have started up again since I had to come off of HRT.  Oh joy being in menopause, so I can certainly sympathize.  I was on Topiramax for a year and it seem to decrease the severity of the migraine but then the medication was not working anymore.  My neurologist has put me on neurotin for about 7 months now and it seems to be helping.  I go in spurts when they may come every second wk or every day..that is brutal when you are trying to work.  Have you ever thought of seeing a neurologist..I am sure they might be able to figure out the problem.

Anyway, my prayers are with you and hope you find some answers.

Minnie

OK I had really bad migraines that I inheritated from my Mom.  I got them as a teenager and they lasted until I went through the change.  I had a total hystrorectomy in 1989 and was put on HRT which did nothing for the migraines.  I gave my self shots and the pain lasted 8 days a month and was always within one day or another.  Always on the left side of the head, neck and shoilder blade.  Very hard to function but had to. Finally when Zomig came alone it took the pain away.  It was a wonder drug.  One pill and lay still for awhile and you were pain free for the day. But I always woke up with it again the next day.  Finally when I went through the change they stopped.  As did my Mom's.  I never got the aura before with the pain.  Only years after they stopped.  This new right ear pain is totally different that anything I've ever had.  It was bad last night and I had to press on it to get to sleep.  This morning it's not has bad.  I wear a fem ring now to help with hotflashes and it does great. 

for three months now I have suffered with intense ear pain in my left ear and the whole left side of my head. many times it spreads to my right ear also. I have seen so many doctors with no results yet. Will a MRI pick up the cause? It sometimes is a shooting sharp pain.

has anyone experienced sharp debilitating pain in the top of skull, almost directly above the right ear.  The ear sometimes gets super sharp pains as well.   

Hi Broward

Hi...
about one month ago I started getting really bad headaches. A week later my ears started plugging up everytime I stood or sit up. The pressure from my ears being plugged causes more headaches in the back of my head and on the right side. I've been to the doctors office several times, I've seen the neurologist and I've had a CT scan and an MRI and each time I visit the doctors I get a different explaination. First they said I have calcium deposits on the back on my brain but not to worry about it. Then they said that some areas of my brain no longer have blood flow but not to worry about it. Then they said I had an ear infection in both ears. Gave me antibiotics and a lot of pain killers. The antibiotics never worked, I still have plugged ears everytime I stand up. Then another doctor said I have allergies, causing fluid in the tube that connects my ears with my sinus and to take a decongestant - which doesnt seem to be helping either! When I'm laying down my ears seem to be fine. But while standing or sitting up its so painful and uncomfortable - especially having to work while suffering with this. Does anyone have any advice for me, I dont have faith in my doctors anymore!

I am so glad that I actually found people posting with the same issues I'm having! I have had pain in the right side of my head/ear for the last 2+ weeks and the pain gets worse as time goes on....to make a long story short I went to the Dr. 2+ wks ago thinking that I had my first ear infection??? I was given amoxicillin and told the pain would be better in about 3 days. Well it got worse! Went back to the Dr. and was given cipro for the so called ear infection and told again it would be better in about 3 days. 3 days later the pain was at time unbearable! I went back to the Dr. and the was told that he didn't believe it was an ear infection at all but possibly nerve damage??? I asked what might cause that and he said possibly a viral infection. He sent me to an ENT Dr. which I saw last Friday. He at first thought it might be related to some sort of migraine I told him that I have had headaches off and on for years and that IT WASN'T a HEADACHE! He did a CT scan and said it wasn't related to my ears or sinuses. He also said he thought possibly nerve damage or TMJ but I didn't really have the other problems associated w/TMJ. He sent me for an MRI yesterday, I will have my follow up appt. tomorrow to find out those results. I'm just really worried that I'm not going to be albe to get answers to what is causing this weird/horrible pain. I was prescribed Darvocet--(I don't like taking meds so I requested something mild) Well, the darvocet does NOTHING but make me drowsy and I do fall asleep at night but am constantly waking up due to the pain. So I just don't know what it could be???? I have ready many other posts and it seems that a lot of people end up not getting any answers. I'm concerned about that. The pain strangely gets worse at night and at times my right side of my head/face/ear feels slightly tender. I noticed last night while trying to sleep that no matter how I laid it seemed that I had alot of pressure in that side??? I just don't know! Is anyone else going through this or been through this??? Can anyone help me with some input/answers???
Thanks so much
Kendra

HI ALL-

I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...IT STARTED about 4 WEEKS AGO AND WAS A TERRIBLE HEADACHE THAT HAS NOT GONE AWAY. I DO HAVE A HISTORY OF MIGRANES AND TMJ. I WENT TO THE NEUROLOGIST about 2 WEEKS AGO AND HE PUT ME ON VERAPIMIL (WHICH IS A CALCIUM CONNECTOR BLOCKER). THIS HAS BEEN WORKING PRETTY WELL SO FAR. THERE ARE A FEW SIDE AFFECTS...NAMELY CONSTIPATION AND THE FEELING OF BEING FLUSHED. BUT ALL MANAGABLE.

THESE HEADACHE ARE ATTRIBUTED TO TENSION AND STRESS. FOR ME PERSONALLY I HAVE BEEN STUDY FOR A MAJOR TEST, AS WELL AS BEEN DEALING WITH SOME PERSONAL ISSUES. MY PROBLEMS AND STRESS SHOULD BE ENDING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS SO I AM HOPEFULL THAT THE COMBINATION OF LESS STRESS AND THE MEDICATION MY HEAD WILL BE BETTER. I HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A MEDICATION THAT HAS BEEN WORKING TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR about VERAPAMIL.

I HOPE THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS USEFUL.

GOOD LUCK.

You may be experiencing ocipital neuralgia.  Mine started with pain on the left side of my face----teeth and all.  After CT's, MRI's. and a brain angiogram (which reveaked 3 very small anuerysms non-related), most of the Drs including neurologists, neorosurgeons, etc. think it is ocipital neuralgia.  The pain goes in a horseshoe pattern around my left ear and sometimes radiates into my collarbone.  This causes a little bit of fleeting nausea.  Mine has been going on since December.  I have gotten some relief from ultrasound treatment done at the chiropractor.  You might want to ask your Dr. if this could be your case.

If you press into your neck all around and find tender spots, that is a signal for needing a chiropractor adjustment AND medical massage. SOmetimes the muscles can get so tight and inflamed, they actually press against the nerves sending wierd signals to your body. I for instance, had numbness and pain in my lower right arm for two weeks, I went to my chiropractor and medical massage appointment and then I was fixed, I was super duper duper inflamed, and they had to relax my muscles.

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Hi Everyone...new to this site. I have been having extreme headaches/migraines/cluster headaches for about 4 yrs now...the docs have all called it soooo many diff things that I have lost count. However, I did get to some conclusion on the possible condition I may have. It's called pseudo tumor cerebri. To explain what I feel is almost impossible but to put it lightly I honestly have day's were I would much rather END IT ALL......the pain is sooo unbearable that I cannot function for days at a time.


What happens in my situation is that I begin to feel lots of pressure on the right side of my head. Its always the right side of my head...then it begins to have shotting pains and I become very sensitive to sounds and light. Then it moves to my ear and my jaw and my eye feels like its going to explode. It is the worst pain I have been thorough. I have had 2 C-Sections...one time I got staff and had to be re cut and packed for over a month and that will never compare to this pain in my head.

I went to many docs and finally my Family practitioner said one day lets get you to an eye doc since you keep saying it hurts in your eye and sure enough after 2 hours of exams they came to me and said that I could possibly have a condition known as pseudo tumor cerebri. Its an enlargement in the main blood vessel in your eye and what happens is the spinal fluid that runs from you spin through your head and back gets lots of pressure and when it cant be relieved it puts pressure on blood vessels and it caused my main blood vessel in my eye to become enlarged and now when I do something simple all of the sudden it just happens and theres no taking it back. They will last for days or even a month at at a time. Then just disappear and before you know it the pain is back. I was taking diovan for it but that made me so depressed I couldn't stand to take it anymore. So, all I really take is liquid Advil like 2 or three time every 4-6 hrs until they stop. I cannot take major pain pills I am extremely sensitive and I have two little ones to raise so I cant afford to be knocked out.


If there is anyone else with this particular condition or feels like theres could be it let me know. I feel so alone sometimes when I have theses headaches and I feel no one understand how bad they truly hurt

I am also waiting for my MRI results. In Oct. 07 I started getting terrible headaches, always in the same spot on the lower right back side of my head. It was almost a constant dull ache, with occasional sharp pains. I never really head any problems with headaches before. I went to the neurologist, had an MRI, everything looked okay. He started me on Topamax, it worked only for a while. So I just take Aleve when I feel a "twinge" coming on. It's really painful, I was diagnosed with migraines...I don't get nausea or have extreme sensitivity to light, although darkness does help. At that time I was wearing glasses for distance, especially driving at night. My left eye has astigmatism. SInce then my eyes have gotten much worse. Two weeks ago I went to the eye doctor for a routine check-up, so I could hopefully get a stronger prescription - it's been a couple years since my last visit. The doctor found that both my optic nerves are swollen, and wanted to refer me to a specialist for an MRI - a neuro opthomologist confirmed this and I had my MRI Tuesday, will go back for my results next week. He mentioned the possibility of pseudotumor cerebri, especially because it is more common in females, 3rd decade of life, that are overweight. I did research and evidently this can be controlled with meds and weight loss/diet. I have no idea if the headaches I am having are related to this...but I would love some relief too, I get them almost daily. I don't have sinus problems, but I do clench/gring my teeth at night sometimes...although the pain is not by my ear. When it flares up, my head is even tender to touch. Anyway, the MRI was ordered to find out what's causing intracranial pressure. I have been slowly losing weight recently and no matter what I will continue, I hate that this is a problem that could have been avoided if I was healthier. Hopefully I can finally get a new pair of glasses, too!

Hang in there, jhnsn807.

Look up 'trigeminal neuralgia'. and 'Cluster-tic syndrome'.

You might need an oral-facial pain specialist, or an othopedic surgeon or ENT more than a neurologist. There is a surgery that is like carpal-tunnel surgery on the wrist than can decompress crimped nerves.

Remember, if you are good at using a hammer then everything that has a problem starts to look like a nail. Specialists are reluctant to 'punt', so if it isn't working out after a couple of tries, try a specialist in a related field. Don't give up! And don't relax if you are on narcotics, they won't last so use the time they buy you to find a new fresh look!