Headaches of left side of head back and top.?!
Question: Headaches of left side of head back and top..?
I've been getting headaches on the left side of my head and the top of my head since late August. The pains seem to come and go and they're not too bad. A couple days ago the pains started to come back but stronger than ever. I go to the chiropractor because my neck muscles are extremely tight. My neck has been bothering me a lot lately too. What could it be.? Could it be a tumor, stress, or just my neck bothering me.? I hate to admit this, but I also don't eat very well.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
The TYPE of pains would be helpful here.
Migraines are often only on one side or in one area. They are usually a deep throbbing type of pain, and are often accompanied by sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises, and some nausea.
Muscle-tension headaches could be associated with a neck problem. They are usually steady, dull, tooth-achey like pains; sometimes with sore areas to touch or press, or worse in certain positions or with certain motions.
Sinus headaches are the third most common pattern which could fit this--they are often the most specific to a localized region, much worse when bending over, with your head downward, or if you sneeze, or hold your breathe and bear down really hard with all your muscles in an isometric "squeeze." (Valsalva maneuver. Instantly raises the pressure in all closed body cavities.) Sometimes tender to the touch, or to a tapping of the bone over the sinus cavity. Might be a history of cold or allergy symptoms prior to headaches. May even have increased warmth, redness, or swelling in area of the pains.
The fact that they are SO brief, makes it likely that they are a form of what is called "Cluster Headaches." These are almost never found to have any known cause, they often respond to certain forms of migraine medications for prevention. (since they are too short-lived to treat AFTER onset.)
One last category is inflamation of the facial nerve: "trigeminal neuralgia." The cause of this is usually impossible to determine, but the pain is always located only in the areas serviced by those nerve fibers.
Tumor headaches are very rare. First look at these OTHER causes, and consult a doctor, before getting convinced it's a brain tumor or aneurysm. Do you have any numbness, weakness, changes in sensation, confusion, difficulty with speech or swallowing, dizziness, or other strange symptoms since these headaches began.?
If it were related to diet, low blood sugar, or stress, you would have a more symmetrical pattern of pain on both sides.
Headaches are VERY treatable--see a good doc if it's getting worse.Health Question & Answer
Migraines are often only on one side or in one area. They are usually a deep throbbing type of pain, and are often accompanied by sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises, and some nausea.
Muscle-tension headaches could be associated with a neck problem. They are usually steady, dull, tooth-achey like pains; sometimes with sore areas to touch or press, or worse in certain positions or with certain motions.
Sinus headaches are the third most common pattern which could fit this--they are often the most specific to a localized region, much worse when bending over, with your head downward, or if you sneeze, or hold your breathe and bear down really hard with all your muscles in an isometric "squeeze." (Valsalva maneuver. Instantly raises the pressure in all closed body cavities.) Sometimes tender to the touch, or to a tapping of the bone over the sinus cavity. Might be a history of cold or allergy symptoms prior to headaches. May even have increased warmth, redness, or swelling in area of the pains.
The fact that they are SO brief, makes it likely that they are a form of what is called "Cluster Headaches." These are almost never found to have any known cause, they often respond to certain forms of migraine medications for prevention. (since they are too short-lived to treat AFTER onset.)
One last category is inflamation of the facial nerve: "trigeminal neuralgia." The cause of this is usually impossible to determine, but the pain is always located only in the areas serviced by those nerve fibers.
Tumor headaches are very rare. First look at these OTHER causes, and consult a doctor, before getting convinced it's a brain tumor or aneurysm. Do you have any numbness, weakness, changes in sensation, confusion, difficulty with speech or swallowing, dizziness, or other strange symptoms since these headaches began.?
If it were related to diet, low blood sugar, or stress, you would have a more symmetrical pattern of pain on both sides.
Headaches are VERY treatable--see a good doc if it's getting worse.Health Question & Answer
omg, ive been having the same thing happening to me, and im soo affraid its like a tumor or something.
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