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Suggest Remedy For Tenderness In The Right Temple Area And Migraines
Question: I have had tenderness on my right temple area , painful to touch. For week now, it has , not a migranne by any means, the area seems to get a little bigger at times, and once in a while I get a sharp pain in that area?
YYYY@YYYY
YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Possibility of Temporal Arteritis
Detailed Answer:
What you are describing could be a variety of headaches including a common tension headache but it could also be Temporal Arteritis, and for that reason I advise that you get checked by a doctor promptly.
IF YOU HAVE A THROBBING HEADACHE OR ANY VISUAL CHANGES - GO TO THE ER IMMEDIATELY.
TA is inflammation of the mid sized arteries, usually of the temple of the head, but can affect other parts of the body too. An artery of the temple/scalp becomes inflamed, swollen, and tender. The scalp is often sensitive to touch
There may be a tender, thick artery on one side of the head, most often over one or both temples.
The cause of TA (also called Giant Cell Arteritis or Cranial Arteritis) is not entirely known but a an abnormal immune response may contribute to it. It usually occurs in people over 50 yrs old.
Some people have flu like symptoms with this too (fever, feeling ill, aches and pains, weak and tired).
Your doctor will examine you and likely order the following blood tests
Complete blood count with hemoglobin/hematocrit
Liver function tests
Sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (to assess amount of inflammation)
If your doctor thinks there is a high chance of this being Temporal Arteritis, you will need to have a biopsy (tissue sample) from the involved artery. The biopsy is done as an out patient. The biopsy will confirm whether this is temporal arteritis or not. Other tests may include an ultrasound, MRI, or PET scan.
Getting treated immediately if there is a throbbing headache and/or visual changes is extremely important for preventing the possibility of blindness from Temporal Arteritis.
Treatment is usually oral corticosteroids pills such as prednisone, to stop the inflammatory process.
Most people begin to feel better within a few days after starting treatment.
It's important not to smoke at all or drink a lot of alcohol as this can make it worse.
Some doctors recommend extra calcium and vitamin D during treatment with prednisone.
Most people make a full recovery, but treatment may need to go on for 1-2 yrs.
Again, what you have may just be a simple headache, but it has enough of the characteristics of temporal arteritis that I think you need to be evaluated by a doctor for this in person, very soon, and IMMEDIATELY if you have any visual changes or throbbing headache.
Possibility of Temporal Arteritis
Detailed Answer:
What you are describing could be a variety of headaches including a common tension headache but it could also be Temporal Arteritis, and for that reason I advise that you get checked by a doctor promptly.
IF YOU HAVE A THROBBING HEADACHE OR ANY VISUAL CHANGES - GO TO THE ER IMMEDIATELY.
TA is inflammation of the mid sized arteries, usually of the temple of the head, but can affect other parts of the body too. An artery of the temple/scalp becomes inflamed, swollen, and tender. The scalp is often sensitive to touch
There may be a tender, thick artery on one side of the head, most often over one or both temples.
The cause of TA (also called Giant Cell Arteritis or Cranial Arteritis) is not entirely known but a an abnormal immune response may contribute to it. It usually occurs in people over 50 yrs old.
Some people have flu like symptoms with this too (fever, feeling ill, aches and pains, weak and tired).
Your doctor will examine you and likely order the following blood tests
Complete blood count with hemoglobin/hematocrit
Liver function tests
Sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (to assess amount of inflammation)
If your doctor thinks there is a high chance of this being Temporal Arteritis, you will need to have a biopsy (tissue sample) from the involved artery. The biopsy is done as an out patient. The biopsy will confirm whether this is temporal arteritis or not. Other tests may include an ultrasound, MRI, or PET scan.
Getting treated immediately if there is a throbbing headache and/or visual changes is extremely important for preventing the possibility of blindness from Temporal Arteritis.
Treatment is usually oral corticosteroids pills such as prednisone, to stop the inflammatory process.
Most people begin to feel better within a few days after starting treatment.
It's important not to smoke at all or drink a lot of alcohol as this can make it worse.
Some doctors recommend extra calcium and vitamin D during treatment with prednisone.
Most people make a full recovery, but treatment may need to go on for 1-2 yrs.
Again, what you have may just be a simple headache, but it has enough of the characteristics of temporal arteritis that I think you need to be evaluated by a doctor for this in person, very soon, and IMMEDIATELY if you have any visual changes or throbbing headache.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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