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What Causes Severe Headache And Pain In Right-sided Ear?
Question: When I touch to right side of the part above ear its showing bigger than the left side of the part. I am suffering from terrible headache problem since last 3.6 years. I met best neurologist, psychiatrist, councelling. I did yoga & meditation but medicine is not helping me & yoga & meditation too. I don't have any tension in my life so I don't know how headache is disturbing to me? it's very bad headache on top of the head, back side of head & left & right side of the head. It makes me cry everyday. Only last incident happened in my life is that my mom dropped a very hot oil in to right ear then only the problem started but none of the doctors believe on this. I am also sure that my right side of the part above ear its showing bigger than the left side of the part means both parts are not equals. please help me. One more question MRI of Brain can show if there is any abnormality in between right parts above an ear & left parts above an ear. I did CT scan of brain & MRI of brain but only retention cyst is showing in left maxillary sinus.
Brief Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Welcome to HCM
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Thanks for posting your query.
Based on the symptoms it looks like your are suffering from headache which shifts the side and is quite severe, not responding to medications. Every headache starts with a trigger and pouring hot oil was probably the trigger for your headache. Swelling over the right temple which is felt and not seen on MRI indicated edema due to activation of the nerve above the ear which we call it as autonomic changes triggered by pain along the distribution of the nerve. MRI and CT scan may not pick these changes.
If you have nausea, vomiting, pulsatile alternating headache lasting for few minutes to more than an hour, photophobia and phonophobia as a feature in your headache you are likely to be suffering from migraine. If your are not responding to medications like topiramate, propranolol and flunarizine you can try other medications like valproate, verapamil and even Botox injections. In addition you need to see if you have any triggers for migraine. If you do not avoid the triggers you may not responds to migraine medications.
So I personally feel you need to see a Neurologist who is specialized in treating headache disorders for detailed evaluation and optimal management. You need to differentiate your headache from trigeminal autonomic cephalgias, neuralgias and certain other primary headaches disorders for optimal management.
Wish you good health.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX Welcome to HCM
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Thanks for posting your query.
Based on the symptoms it looks like your are suffering from headache which shifts the side and is quite severe, not responding to medications. Every headache starts with a trigger and pouring hot oil was probably the trigger for your headache. Swelling over the right temple which is felt and not seen on MRI indicated edema due to activation of the nerve above the ear which we call it as autonomic changes triggered by pain along the distribution of the nerve. MRI and CT scan may not pick these changes.
If you have nausea, vomiting, pulsatile alternating headache lasting for few minutes to more than an hour, photophobia and phonophobia as a feature in your headache you are likely to be suffering from migraine. If your are not responding to medications like topiramate, propranolol and flunarizine you can try other medications like valproate, verapamil and even Botox injections. In addition you need to see if you have any triggers for migraine. If you do not avoid the triggers you may not responds to migraine medications.
So I personally feel you need to see a Neurologist who is specialized in treating headache disorders for detailed evaluation and optimal management. You need to differentiate your headache from trigeminal autonomic cephalgias, neuralgias and certain other primary headaches disorders for optimal management.
Wish you good health.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your revert ....!!!
I already met to best neurologist in XXXXXXX as I m basically from XXXXXXX I think there is no best neurologist left in XXXXXXX to whom I can meet because already met to many neurologist. Nobody is listening my words i.e. after very hot oil dropped in to my ear by my mom then the problem is started. hence they are not listening so I am not asking them to another question as almost 5 cm part of above of my right ear is bigger than left ear which was not earlier & I am very sure about this.
I am also sure that the headache which is happening to me due to this abnormality in the approximately 5 c.m. part above an ear. I think when I am touching to uppar part of right side of the ear so I think it is skull (hard) & I am touching to skull only & I feels its bigger than left side. I am also sure that there is some thing inside the skull like swelling or something else which may be happened due to that dropped very hot oil & its causing me the headache & pressure on the head.
I am very upset & getting tired to meet a doctor because in last 3.6 years I spent approximately 6 months in a doctor visit.
I need your advice / medication to remove the abnormality which I described above so atleast my right part of skull i.e. 5c.m. above the ear will become same as left part of the skull.
I think there is nothing outside of the skull because I am touching to hard part 5 c.m. above an ear i.e. I think skull only & I feels bigger than left part.
I am also 100% sure that if my this abnormality will go then my headache will automatically go.
Please suggest me on this.
Regards,
XXXXX
Contact No. 0000
Thanks for your revert ....!!!
I already met to best neurologist in XXXXXXX as I m basically from XXXXXXX I think there is no best neurologist left in XXXXXXX to whom I can meet because already met to many neurologist. Nobody is listening my words i.e. after very hot oil dropped in to my ear by my mom then the problem is started. hence they are not listening so I am not asking them to another question as almost 5 cm part of above of my right ear is bigger than left ear which was not earlier & I am very sure about this.
I am also sure that the headache which is happening to me due to this abnormality in the approximately 5 c.m. part above an ear. I think when I am touching to uppar part of right side of the ear so I think it is skull (hard) & I am touching to skull only & I feels its bigger than left side. I am also sure that there is some thing inside the skull like swelling or something else which may be happened due to that dropped very hot oil & its causing me the headache & pressure on the head.
I am very upset & getting tired to meet a doctor because in last 3.6 years I spent approximately 6 months in a doctor visit.
I need your advice / medication to remove the abnormality which I described above so atleast my right part of skull i.e. 5c.m. above the ear will become same as left part of the skull.
I think there is nothing outside of the skull because I am touching to hard part 5 c.m. above an ear i.e. I think skull only & I feels bigger than left part.
I am also 100% sure that if my this abnormality will go then my headache will automatically go.
Please suggest me on this.
Regards,
XXXXX
Contact No. 0000
Brief Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back to me.
I understand your concern about the headache, asymmetry of the skull above the right ear and your anxiety about the problem. I would like to re-assure you that these are not serious. MRI and CT scan of the brain has not revealed any abnormality inside the skull on the right side which is a good news for you. MRI is very sensitive and can pick up even small changes. Stop concerns about the swelling and continue medications for the headache. Meet a headache specialist Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX in XXXXXXX for needful.
Wish you good health.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back to me.
I understand your concern about the headache, asymmetry of the skull above the right ear and your anxiety about the problem. I would like to re-assure you that these are not serious. MRI and CT scan of the brain has not revealed any abnormality inside the skull on the right side which is a good news for you. MRI is very sensitive and can pick up even small changes. Stop concerns about the swelling and continue medications for the headache. Meet a headache specialist Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX in XXXXXXX for needful.
Wish you good health.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your immediate revert on this.
I have below queries. Please answered on this.
(1) Is MRI of brain can show if one side of the skull i.e. skull part behind the ear is bigger than other side of the skull.
(2) Is there any report which can I do for my satisfaction which can compare the left side of the head with right side of the head.
(3) Is MRI of brain can show the swelling of skull part which is behind the right ear.
(4) I forgot to mention here that I am not able to talk through XXXXXXX or unable to listen any songs by headphone through my right ear & if i do this I am getting headache.
(5) I am exactly getting the pain or pressure in between skull & scalp. so last time I visited hospital & they informed me its scalp dysesthesia & they injected injection on the part of greater occipital nerve. whether Is it right diagnosis? Because still I am suffering from terrible headache in between scalp & skull.
(6) I have also gone through sinus surgery two years back & doctor injected botox injection at fore head part locally. Also two of my sinuses are widened using balloons. After this surgery & after completion of two months from surgery once I started to get cough & cold after that I start to feel 70% better. but still there was 30% pain inside the scalp & skull so finally doctor diagnosed that its scalp dysesthesia.
(7) Is Retention cyst in left maxillary sinus can cause headache symptoms like my symptoms?
(8) I gone through Scalp dysesthesia over net & it was showing the same kind of symptoms which I was having 3.6 years ago. but right now symptoms are different then how doctor identified this disease is a scalp dysesthesia.
(9) In my CT screening of cervical spine, it shown bulge space in between c3-c4, c4-c5, c5-c6, c6-c7 7 thin synrix at c3,c4,c5,c6 levels. Is this the cause of my headache?
Thanks for your immediate revert on this.
I have below queries. Please answered on this.
(1) Is MRI of brain can show if one side of the skull i.e. skull part behind the ear is bigger than other side of the skull.
(2) Is there any report which can I do for my satisfaction which can compare the left side of the head with right side of the head.
(3) Is MRI of brain can show the swelling of skull part which is behind the right ear.
(4) I forgot to mention here that I am not able to talk through XXXXXXX or unable to listen any songs by headphone through my right ear & if i do this I am getting headache.
(5) I am exactly getting the pain or pressure in between skull & scalp. so last time I visited hospital & they informed me its scalp dysesthesia & they injected injection on the part of greater occipital nerve. whether Is it right diagnosis? Because still I am suffering from terrible headache in between scalp & skull.
(6) I have also gone through sinus surgery two years back & doctor injected botox injection at fore head part locally. Also two of my sinuses are widened using balloons. After this surgery & after completion of two months from surgery once I started to get cough & cold after that I start to feel 70% better. but still there was 30% pain inside the scalp & skull so finally doctor diagnosed that its scalp dysesthesia.
(7) Is Retention cyst in left maxillary sinus can cause headache symptoms like my symptoms?
(8) I gone through Scalp dysesthesia over net & it was showing the same kind of symptoms which I was having 3.6 years ago. but right now symptoms are different then how doctor identified this disease is a scalp dysesthesia.
(9) In my CT screening of cervical spine, it shown bulge space in between c3-c4, c4-c5, c5-c6, c6-c7 7 thin synrix at c3,c4,c5,c6 levels. Is this the cause of my headache?
Brief Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query again.
MRI and CT are very sensitive tests and can detect asymmetry in the skull and even shows abnormalities between scalp and skull. Normal CT and MRI in you have definitely ruled out structural problems over the right skull. No other test which is better than these at this point. Secondly you do have symptoms and sings of scalp neuralgia which can cause hearing problems, dysesthesias over the scalp and headache. Neuralgias which do not respond to medications require nerve blocks and some times botox which was tried in you earlier. Sinusitis does not cause symptoms over the temporal regions and more over retention cyst is on the left side.
Lastly bulges seen on the CT scan cannot cause symptoms over the scalp. You have a difficult problem and one has to try various options and see what works out better.
Wish you good health.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query again.
MRI and CT are very sensitive tests and can detect asymmetry in the skull and even shows abnormalities between scalp and skull. Normal CT and MRI in you have definitely ruled out structural problems over the right skull. No other test which is better than these at this point. Secondly you do have symptoms and sings of scalp neuralgia which can cause hearing problems, dysesthesias over the scalp and headache. Neuralgias which do not respond to medications require nerve blocks and some times botox which was tried in you earlier. Sinusitis does not cause symptoms over the temporal regions and more over retention cyst is on the left side.
Lastly bulges seen on the CT scan cannot cause symptoms over the scalp. You have a difficult problem and one has to try various options and see what works out better.
Wish you good health.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX
Thanks for your revert.
Coming to your first revert.
Swelling over the right temple which is felt and not seen on MRI indicated edema due to activation of the nerve above the ear which we call it as autonomic changes triggered by pain along the distribution of the nerve. MRI and CT scan may not pick these changes.
My query is : How to reduce the swelling so that my right & left temple will be equal in size. Please prescribe me the suitable medicine for this.
Is this swelling may be the root cause of my headache? because my headache triggered with very hot oil dropped into ear.
Another query is that what exactly comes in between hair scalp & temporal bone. Please describe in sequence wise.
Sometimes I am getting severe pain which triggered from back side of neck & some times from ear right / left temple side. Is this the root cause for my headache?
few days back, i.e. one weeks ago, doctor injected me medorol steroid in greater occipital nerves region. After that my headache is increased till the date. Is it real symptoms of steroid? If it is real then how long I will face this kind of headache.
Regards,
XXXXX
Thanks for your revert.
Coming to your first revert.
Swelling over the right temple which is felt and not seen on MRI indicated edema due to activation of the nerve above the ear which we call it as autonomic changes triggered by pain along the distribution of the nerve. MRI and CT scan may not pick these changes.
My query is : How to reduce the swelling so that my right & left temple will be equal in size. Please prescribe me the suitable medicine for this.
Is this swelling may be the root cause of my headache? because my headache triggered with very hot oil dropped into ear.
Another query is that what exactly comes in between hair scalp & temporal bone. Please describe in sequence wise.
Sometimes I am getting severe pain which triggered from back side of neck & some times from ear right / left temple side. Is this the root cause for my headache?
few days back, i.e. one weeks ago, doctor injected me medorol steroid in greater occipital nerves region. After that my headache is increased till the date. Is it real symptoms of steroid? If it is real then how long I will face this kind of headache.
Regards,
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Hello and welcome back to HCM
Detailed Answer:
Regarding the edema or swelling seen on the right temporal scalp, no medicines are of help. It gradually improves over a period of time. It is very difficult for any to say if headache is the the cause of swelling or effect of the swelling. We can try to control the headache with various medications including botox and steroids only by trial and error to see what works best for you.
Regarding the query of what lies between scalp and bone is a soft tissue, fat, blood vessels and muscle any of these can cause swelling. Pain usually travels along the nerves and hence pain along the back side of the neck and ear. Pain originating from the greater occipital nerve from the back can be treated with steroid injection. Steroids often don't increase the pain.
I personally feel your problem is complex and request you to see a pain and headache specialist for better management.
Wishing you good luck.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Hello and welcome back to HCM
Detailed Answer:
Regarding the edema or swelling seen on the right temporal scalp, no medicines are of help. It gradually improves over a period of time. It is very difficult for any to say if headache is the the cause of swelling or effect of the swelling. We can try to control the headache with various medications including botox and steroids only by trial and error to see what works best for you.
Regarding the query of what lies between scalp and bone is a soft tissue, fat, blood vessels and muscle any of these can cause swelling. Pain usually travels along the nerves and hence pain along the back side of the neck and ear. Pain originating from the greater occipital nerve from the back can be treated with steroid injection. Steroids often don't increase the pain.
I personally feel your problem is complex and request you to see a pain and headache specialist for better management.
Wishing you good luck.
I hope this helps you.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shiva Kumar R.
Consultant Neurologist & Epileptologist XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Answered by
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