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What Causes Sharp Pain Above The Eye?
Question: Sharp pain above my right eye should i be concerned about it being something serious. It is consistent for the last month. The pain can sometimes be ice pic in the temples to where it freezes me. Ct scan was clear but is that enough?
Brief Answer:
Sometimes an MRI is needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for using HCM to post your question.
I read it carefully and I understand your concern.
In general the CT scan is enough. Sometimes when it is not enough to see the soft tissues, it is recommended to do an MRI.
Your headache should not worry you about, if your getting better with analgesics (eg. Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Naproxen etc.), if it is not constant, if it is not growing in intensity and if you have already done a neurological exam and it is normal.
Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.
Regards,
Dr.Papaqako
Sometimes an MRI is needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for using HCM to post your question.
I read it carefully and I understand your concern.
In general the CT scan is enough. Sometimes when it is not enough to see the soft tissues, it is recommended to do an MRI.
Your headache should not worry you about, if your getting better with analgesics (eg. Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Naproxen etc.), if it is not constant, if it is not growing in intensity and if you have already done a neurological exam and it is normal.
Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.
Regards,
Dr.Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
The headace isnt progressively worse but i havent had one day wirhout the pains. Sometimes worse then others. Today i have a burning aching top of my head (almost like hair hurting type feeling) but a bit worse. Then i lifted something and got a sharp stinging burning almost moist feeling in that lovation.
Also have a tender painful left temple at times. Almost aching to the touch. But the shocking zap pains make me concerned that it is something imminently dangerous and it has been going on for a month now .
Also have a tender painful left temple at times. Almost aching to the touch. But the shocking zap pains make me concerned that it is something imminently dangerous and it has been going on for a month now .
Brief Answer:
More questions and information needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow-up question.
Usual headaches can come every day and can be with severe pain, but a pain from a tumor would be there every moment and never stop, even if mild.
Also, yours can be a cluster headache, which comes in clusters and is very severe. Did you have tearing from that eye? Do you have vision changes?
Please tell me also if an Ibuprofen or paracetamol removes the pain? This is important because would indicate me if it is a bad pain.
Did you had more stress then usual the last month? Changed your job, or anything important happened in your life? Quit smoking or quit caffee intake (or other things that contain caffeine)?
Regards,
More questions and information needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow-up question.
Usual headaches can come every day and can be with severe pain, but a pain from a tumor would be there every moment and never stop, even if mild.
Also, yours can be a cluster headache, which comes in clusters and is very severe. Did you have tearing from that eye? Do you have vision changes?
Please tell me also if an Ibuprofen or paracetamol removes the pain? This is important because would indicate me if it is a bad pain.
Did you had more stress then usual the last month? Changed your job, or anything important happened in your life? Quit smoking or quit caffee intake (or other things that contain caffeine)?
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
I wouldnt say it is constant above my eye but it always always if heavy movement eg stomp my foot or climb stairs. Head is always heavy feeling.
The more consistent pain is the burning at the top of my head like i explained. I am familiar with migraines as i have suffered from them since in my early teens. Clusters no they dont pulsate or make me in severe pain for long durations. The burning pain is bearable but just wont go away almost 75% of the day.
My vision has changed i dont know if its due to anxiety sometimes i just feel faint a lot so i thouhht that is the reason sometimes its blurred and i have to calm down and focus again
The more consistent pain is the burning at the top of my head like i explained. I am familiar with migraines as i have suffered from them since in my early teens. Clusters no they dont pulsate or make me in severe pain for long durations. The burning pain is bearable but just wont go away almost 75% of the day.
My vision has changed i dont know if its due to anxiety sometimes i just feel faint a lot so i thouhht that is the reason sometimes its blurred and i have to calm down and focus again
Brief Answer:
To be ruled out a temporal arteritis Horton
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
One other possible diagnoses, which is ruled out with biopsy of Temoral artery, is Arteritis Horton. It is an inflammation of the temporal artery, comes with tenderness in the temporal area, and should be treated with oral steroids. The main symptom it has is loss of vision, and it is irreversible. So this is an emergency because you can lose your eyesight, and thats why I would recommend you to talk about this with your doctors so they can rule it out, check your vision and so on.
If the above it is not the case, then as last test to finally reassure you is the MRI. I would say that the CT scan is a rather good test to rule out a tumor, but since you still are worried, then a MRI would confirm your concern 100%. And hopefully it will result normal.
Regards,
Dr.Papaqako
To be ruled out a temporal arteritis Horton
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
One other possible diagnoses, which is ruled out with biopsy of Temoral artery, is Arteritis Horton. It is an inflammation of the temporal artery, comes with tenderness in the temporal area, and should be treated with oral steroids. The main symptom it has is loss of vision, and it is irreversible. So this is an emergency because you can lose your eyesight, and thats why I would recommend you to talk about this with your doctors so they can rule it out, check your vision and so on.
If the above it is not the case, then as last test to finally reassure you is the MRI. I would say that the CT scan is a rather good test to rule out a tumor, but since you still are worried, then a MRI would confirm your concern 100%. And hopefully it will result normal.
Regards,
Dr.Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Ok thank you, this could be the case for the burning head pain as well?
Most of the time my vision is fine. Just sometimes looking at a phone or something is when it gets fuzzy but i an usually anxious .
Most of the time my vision is fine. Just sometimes looking at a phone or something is when it gets fuzzy but i an usually anxious .
Brief Answer:
Can be an option of the cause that needs to be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
It could be and option that it is important to be ruled out. But, it gives a vision loss not like you are describing, but at once.
If the MRI comes out normal, then the burning sensation can be a random tensive headache too, or a sinusitis, or a skin lesion. Of course, all these are ruled out by a good physical or neurological exam.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Can be an option of the cause that needs to be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
It could be and option that it is important to be ruled out. But, it gives a vision loss not like you are describing, but at once.
If the MRI comes out normal, then the burning sensation can be a random tensive headache too, or a sinusitis, or a skin lesion. Of course, all these are ruled out by a good physical or neurological exam.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I also forgot to answer one of your questions earlier. Yes i have way more stress was diagnosed with GAD and PTSD due to a loss in the family 3 months ago. But the headaches only started about a month ago. I think thats why ppl write them off as stress.
I do have some clicking in my nose tandomly upon breathing and the pain can happen when doing a strong movement stomping my foot or something.
Also i notice the pain goes away significantly when laying down flat. Still there randomly but not as consistent. I just fear and unruptured aneurys or something imminent mostly that it is now hard for me to sleep withour worrying
Advil does not really help much i have not tried ibuprofen. My neck is constantly hurting as well.
Any further thoughts based on this?
I do have some clicking in my nose tandomly upon breathing and the pain can happen when doing a strong movement stomping my foot or something.
Also i notice the pain goes away significantly when laying down flat. Still there randomly but not as consistent. I just fear and unruptured aneurys or something imminent mostly that it is now hard for me to sleep withour worrying
Advil does not really help much i have not tried ibuprofen. My neck is constantly hurting as well.
Any further thoughts based on this?
Brief Answer:
If tests like the CT come normal, the possibility is an anxiety headache
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am sorry for your loss. It is very legitimate to diagnose this situation as headache because of stress because it is not like any other headaches and also has happened after this loss. In these cases, the anxiety symptoms do not appear immediately but for up to 6 months after.
The fact that it changes when you change position, makes me think of a possible sinus infection pain. The inflamed sinuses, accumulate fluids which move when people move the head and cause pain or relieve.
But in both cases, either in a sinus infection headache, or in the case of an aneurism, the CT scan would have showed them.
So when all the tests come normal, the most possible diagnoses is a headache from anxiety/stress.
Hope this makes sense and answers your question.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
If tests like the CT come normal, the possibility is an anxiety headache
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am sorry for your loss. It is very legitimate to diagnose this situation as headache because of stress because it is not like any other headaches and also has happened after this loss. In these cases, the anxiety symptoms do not appear immediately but for up to 6 months after.
The fact that it changes when you change position, makes me think of a possible sinus infection pain. The inflamed sinuses, accumulate fluids which move when people move the head and cause pain or relieve.
But in both cases, either in a sinus infection headache, or in the case of an aneurism, the CT scan would have showed them.
So when all the tests come normal, the most possible diagnoses is a headache from anxiety/stress.
Hope this makes sense and answers your question.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you. You have been very helpful. Yes it seems like right above my eyebrow or behind my eyes is where the pain is upon movement sometimes.
Is there anything i can do to see if it clears up sinus? Nasal spray or something to see if that helps?
Is there anything i can do to see if it clears up sinus? Nasal spray or something to see if that helps?
Brief Answer:
Glad to have been of help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, you can do nose lavages with saline solution every morning, make sure your nose is not blocked during the day. It should drain by itself in 1-2 weeks and feel better. Decongestant nasal sprays are not very helpful.
Glad to have been of help.
Take care,
Dr.Papaqako
Glad to have been of help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, you can do nose lavages with saline solution every morning, make sure your nose is not blocked during the day. It should drain by itself in 1-2 weeks and feel better. Decongestant nasal sprays are not very helpful.
Glad to have been of help.
Take care,
Dr.Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you for all your help. I do have a couple more things if you have time that i was wondering.
I just woke up and immediately upon waking i have slght pain above my right eye near my nose. It has heen like that that for a few weeks. Also happens when i take a deep breath sometimes and is in the exact same location. Sometimes feels like that eye is swollen but when i look in the mirror it is not.
I have been on my anxiety medicine for 5 days now and have calmed down a lot but these dont go away. Is that some
I just woke up and immediately upon waking i have slght pain above my right eye near my nose. It has heen like that that for a few weeks. Also happens when i take a deep breath sometimes and is in the exact same location. Sometimes feels like that eye is swollen but when i look in the mirror it is not.
I have been on my anxiety medicine for 5 days now and have calmed down a lot but these dont go away. Is that some
Brief Answer:
The medicine needs more time to take full action.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You can ask as many questions as you wish. I am here to help you.
Ok, so I read carefully your description of this pain.
The location is not specific for any particular organic pain.
Whenever we have pains that do not math the organic pattern and when the exams are normal (like in your case) then we diagnose these pains as anxiety pains.
So, I agree with your doctor for giving you an anxiety medicine. It will need around 3 weeks to fully have effect. So you will be getting better and better, and if after 3 weeks you still have these pains (which I doubt) then you might need an increase of the dose of medicine.
But, the fact that the medicines are working, means that you are in the right path of finding the right diagnose.
Hope this helps to reassure you a bit.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
The medicine needs more time to take full action.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You can ask as many questions as you wish. I am here to help you.
Ok, so I read carefully your description of this pain.
The location is not specific for any particular organic pain.
Whenever we have pains that do not math the organic pattern and when the exams are normal (like in your case) then we diagnose these pains as anxiety pains.
So, I agree with your doctor for giving you an anxiety medicine. It will need around 3 weeks to fully have effect. So you will be getting better and better, and if after 3 weeks you still have these pains (which I doubt) then you might need an increase of the dose of medicine.
But, the fact that the medicines are working, means that you are in the right path of finding the right diagnose.
Hope this helps to reassure you a bit.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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