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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Headaches?
Question: Hello Doctor! I suffer from a chronic headache that a specialist here on HealthCareMagic believed to be psychogenic headache. I will start with explaining the different symptoms:
1-I feel random sharp stings that can occur anywhere on my head at any time. They are most often mild but at some rare occasions they are stronger.
2-Sometimes I have a dull feeling at some places on my head. It is also pretty mild.
3-Often when I rise up fast from the chair, bed or sofa, I feel the pulse in my head. It does not hurt in any way, but still worry me. (Is this normal?)
4-This is the symptom I worry about the most: Pretty often when I bend down or do a similar movement, I feel pain on my right temple. This pain only last for short second and is also mild. Although it does not hurt that much it is still there and makes me worried. (Is it likely to be some kind of damage?)
Can psychogenic headache reveal itself in form of these symptoms? I want to add that the headache has always stayed on the same level as the day it started; it has not gotten worse over the months that have passed. Overall I would say that it has improved, but very little. Some days are better than others. I have no other symptoms than the headache.
I do have a history of hypochondria and similar psychological problems. When these symptoms started about 4 months ago it trapped me in a bad period of depression, strong anxiety with several anxiety attacks due to the pain. I am still in this period but have been trying to work my way out since the Psychiatrist stated that my pain is most likely psychogenic. The diagnose was a great relive.
But the fact that I feel my pulse when I get up (symptom 3), and that I often feel pain that is induced by bending down (symptom 4) brings back my worries that this could be an actual damage.
Should I be worried or should I calm down?
XXXX
1-I feel random sharp stings that can occur anywhere on my head at any time. They are most often mild but at some rare occasions they are stronger.
2-Sometimes I have a dull feeling at some places on my head. It is also pretty mild.
3-Often when I rise up fast from the chair, bed or sofa, I feel the pulse in my head. It does not hurt in any way, but still worry me. (Is this normal?)
4-This is the symptom I worry about the most: Pretty often when I bend down or do a similar movement, I feel pain on my right temple. This pain only last for short second and is also mild. Although it does not hurt that much it is still there and makes me worried. (Is it likely to be some kind of damage?)
Can psychogenic headache reveal itself in form of these symptoms? I want to add that the headache has always stayed on the same level as the day it started; it has not gotten worse over the months that have passed. Overall I would say that it has improved, but very little. Some days are better than others. I have no other symptoms than the headache.
I do have a history of hypochondria and similar psychological problems. When these symptoms started about 4 months ago it trapped me in a bad period of depression, strong anxiety with several anxiety attacks due to the pain. I am still in this period but have been trying to work my way out since the Psychiatrist stated that my pain is most likely psychogenic. The diagnose was a great relive.
But the fact that I feel my pulse when I get up (symptom 3), and that I often feel pain that is induced by bending down (symptom 4) brings back my worries that this could be an actual damage.
Should I be worried or should I calm down?
XXXX
Brief Answer:
First we should exclude major causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concerns.
There is a high possibility that your headache has a psychogenic nature or it might be a idiopathic headache like Tension headache.
This for two reasons:
-One because all the disease that cause headache also cause other signs and symptoms.It is very rare that a disease presents only with headache.
-Two because if your headache was caused by a serious disease it would get worse over time (and in your case the pain is the same).
But we can say it only after have excluded major causes of headache.
That's why you should consult a physician (possibly neurologist ) and get examined.
A complete evaluation is needed including a detailed medical history ,physical examination including a detailed neurological examination ,and some lab tests.
-A complete blood count
-Sugar blood test
-Measure of your blood pressure.
You also may need a CT-scan or MRI of the head to exclude major causes.
If these tests result normal your doctor may think of other possibilities like Primary headaches (without a cause) including Tension headache.
In this case your neurologist may prescribe you a medication for your chronic headache.
So I suggest to consult a neurologist and get examined.
Hope my answer has helped.
Feel free to ask if you have additional question or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to help.
Take care!
Dr.Rovena Murati
First we should exclude major causes.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concerns.
There is a high possibility that your headache has a psychogenic nature or it might be a idiopathic headache like Tension headache.
This for two reasons:
-One because all the disease that cause headache also cause other signs and symptoms.It is very rare that a disease presents only with headache.
-Two because if your headache was caused by a serious disease it would get worse over time (and in your case the pain is the same).
But we can say it only after have excluded major causes of headache.
That's why you should consult a physician (possibly neurologist ) and get examined.
A complete evaluation is needed including a detailed medical history ,physical examination including a detailed neurological examination ,and some lab tests.
-A complete blood count
-Sugar blood test
-Measure of your blood pressure.
You also may need a CT-scan or MRI of the head to exclude major causes.
If these tests result normal your doctor may think of other possibilities like Primary headaches (without a cause) including Tension headache.
In this case your neurologist may prescribe you a medication for your chronic headache.
So I suggest to consult a neurologist and get examined.
Hope my answer has helped.
Feel free to ask if you have additional question or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to help.
Take care!
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer!
Lastly I would just like to add that my headache usually feels better in the morning. If I have been awake for a long time, there is a greater possibility that I feel the headache more intrusive, and that it hurts when I do certain movements. If I go to bed for just a couple of hours, the headache most often "restarts" and when I wake up my head feels less sensitive once again.
Would this increase the possibility of tension-or-stress related headache?
Lastly I would just like to add that my headache usually feels better in the morning. If I have been awake for a long time, there is a greater possibility that I feel the headache more intrusive, and that it hurts when I do certain movements. If I go to bed for just a couple of hours, the headache most often "restarts" and when I wake up my head feels less sensitive once again.
Would this increase the possibility of tension-or-stress related headache?
Brief Answer:
It sounds like Tension - type headache!
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
It sounds like Tension -type headache.The headache usually comes on during the day, and gets worse as the day goes on.
Many tension-type headaches develop for no apparent reason. Some may be triggered by things such as:Emotional tension, anxiety, tiredness or stress.
I suggest to consult a physician and get examined to exclude major causes for your headache and because treatment often helps.
You also need to exclude problems with your eyes because it might be a possible cause.
If you squint to read because you cannot see well, this may tense your scalp muscles too.
Hope it helps.
Best wishes!
Dr.Rovena Murati
It sounds like Tension - type headache!
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
It sounds like Tension -type headache.The headache usually comes on during the day, and gets worse as the day goes on.
Many tension-type headaches develop for no apparent reason. Some may be triggered by things such as:Emotional tension, anxiety, tiredness or stress.
I suggest to consult a physician and get examined to exclude major causes for your headache and because treatment often helps.
You also need to exclude problems with your eyes because it might be a possible cause.
If you squint to read because you cannot see well, this may tense your scalp muscles too.
Hope it helps.
Best wishes!
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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