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What Causes Constant Neck Pain Radiating To The Back Of The Head?
Question: My son is 26 yrs old he has had a head ache for over a week now that starts in the back of his neck and radiates up the back side of his head, at times going to the forehead. Aneurisms run in my family quite heavily.
As does depression, he is having symptoms of that also. I have an appointment for him to see a counselor this evening, and a Medical Doctor Monday 1/23/17, He also has not ever been able to swallow pills. Do you feel this is serios enough for an ER visit?
As does depression, he is having symptoms of that also. I have an appointment for him to see a counselor this evening, and a Medical Doctor Monday 1/23/17, He also has not ever been able to swallow pills. Do you feel this is serios enough for an ER visit?
Brief Answer:
Can wait till the appointment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HealthcareMagic. I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging by that description I do not really see an indication of a brain lesion. An aneurysm causes headache generally only when it ruptures and in that case it is a very abrupt onset of a very very intense headache, even patients who have migraine or other types of headache describe it as the worst headache they have ever experienced. For that reason it's often called thunderclap headache.
As for other causes like stroke, infection, tumor usually they are associated with other symptoms like weakness or numbness of the limbs on one side, behavior changes, confusion, visual changes, balance and coordination issues, seizures, fever etc, rarely is headache an isolated phenomenon.
What it looks like most probably is tension type headache. It is the most common type of primary headache (primary meaning with no identifiable cause), commonly triggered by anxiety, depression etc. Ibuprofen is usually effective in alleviating it.
So I do not think this calls for a ER visit. It can wait till the 23/01 appointment. If the doctor on that appointment finds some other neurological sign you might have missed then he will require other tests like brain imaging. Also if pain persists growing in intensity over the next few weeks it would be another valid motive for imaging even in the absence of other signs.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Can wait till the appointment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HealthcareMagic. I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging by that description I do not really see an indication of a brain lesion. An aneurysm causes headache generally only when it ruptures and in that case it is a very abrupt onset of a very very intense headache, even patients who have migraine or other types of headache describe it as the worst headache they have ever experienced. For that reason it's often called thunderclap headache.
As for other causes like stroke, infection, tumor usually they are associated with other symptoms like weakness or numbness of the limbs on one side, behavior changes, confusion, visual changes, balance and coordination issues, seizures, fever etc, rarely is headache an isolated phenomenon.
What it looks like most probably is tension type headache. It is the most common type of primary headache (primary meaning with no identifiable cause), commonly triggered by anxiety, depression etc. Ibuprofen is usually effective in alleviating it.
So I do not think this calls for a ER visit. It can wait till the 23/01 appointment. If the doctor on that appointment finds some other neurological sign you might have missed then he will require other tests like brain imaging. Also if pain persists growing in intensity over the next few weeks it would be another valid motive for imaging even in the absence of other signs.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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