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What Causes Radiating Headache Towards The Right Ear And Hairline?
Question: I have been experiencing low-grade headaches for a few days. This morning I woke up with a splitting headache that seems to start near the base of the right side of my head and radiate upwards behind my right ear and worsen as it reaches my right temple and hairline. Massaging doesn't help. What should I do?
Brief Answer:
Several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
That type of headache may be due to many causes.
High blood pressure is one possibility to be considered, for that purpose a measurement is needed.
Arthritis of the upper neck levels may also commonly manifest with headache in the back of the head and radiating forward. Tension type headache, the most common type of headache, often related to stress, anxiety and muscle spasm is another possible cause.
The other cause which is more worrying is a brain lesion such as a hemorrhage given the abrupt onset.
So the first step would be blood pressure measurement. If not excessively high I would try using Ibuprofen (Advil) instead of Tylenol as it would be more effective in pain related to arthritis or muscle spasms.
If Ibuprofen is not effective, then given the abrupt onset of a high intensity pain, especially if you've had no such headaches in the past, I would request a visit as soon as possible, even in the emergency room to check for neurological signs and necessity of imaging.
Several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
That type of headache may be due to many causes.
High blood pressure is one possibility to be considered, for that purpose a measurement is needed.
Arthritis of the upper neck levels may also commonly manifest with headache in the back of the head and radiating forward. Tension type headache, the most common type of headache, often related to stress, anxiety and muscle spasm is another possible cause.
The other cause which is more worrying is a brain lesion such as a hemorrhage given the abrupt onset.
So the first step would be blood pressure measurement. If not excessively high I would try using Ibuprofen (Advil) instead of Tylenol as it would be more effective in pain related to arthritis or muscle spasms.
If Ibuprofen is not effective, then given the abrupt onset of a high intensity pain, especially if you've had no such headaches in the past, I would request a visit as soon as possible, even in the emergency room to check for neurological signs and necessity of imaging.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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