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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Right Side Migraine-like Headache
I ve been suffering with a chronic right side migraine-like headache on/off abt 2 yrs. Pressure above & behind right eye, behind & in front of right ear--radiates to cheek, jaw, forehead & back of head behind ear. Have had this headache now non-stop day/night for over 4 months and completely run-down. Sometimes feels hot, swollen & throbs inside my ear. Sometimes hard to swallow like theres a lump on the right side of my throat. Been to doc several times, eye dr, dentist. My latest diagnosis was trigeminal neuralgia, but nothing I take relieves the pain & its so bad it keeps me awake/wakes me up at night. Currently taking Atenolol (have for 10+ yrs) for heart disrhythmia, Paxil & Neurontin for fibromyalgia & night time PLMD/seizures. Also supplements: fish oil, magnesium, potassium (presc by dr for heart cond) & iron for anemia due to severe fibroids/dysmenorrha (full hyst 2 yrs ago). Do you have ANY IDEA what this is? She s tried treating me with antibiotics, muscle relaxants, etc etc. Nothing touches the pain & it never goes away. Please help! I run my own business & have to keep pushing on every day & the pain is driving me crazy!!!!
Fri, 30 Nov 2018
Hello,
Trigeminal neuralgia is a very strong pain of the upper or lower half of the face, but that lasts only for seconds. It's a stabbing pain, like an electric shock, that repeats from less than once daily to hundreds time a day. It triggers from touching the face, chewing, swallowing, contact with cold air etc. It does mostly respond to the treatment with carbamazepine.
The characteristics of your headache as you describe those, in my opinion, don't match with trigeminal neuralgia. I would suggest to consult a ENT doctor and maybe, since the headache is from so long present and without any result from medications, set an appointment for head MRI to exclude brain pathologies.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Olsi Taka,
Neurologist
Trigeminal neuralgia is a very strong pain of the upper or lower half of the face, but that lasts only for seconds. It's a stabbing pain, like an electric shock, that repeats from less than once daily to hundreds time a day. It triggers from touching the face, chewing, swallowing, contact with cold air etc. It does mostly respond to the treatment with carbamazepine.
The characteristics of your headache as you describe those, in my opinion, don't match with trigeminal neuralgia. I would suggest to consult a ENT doctor and maybe, since the headache is from so long present and without any result from medications, set an appointment for head MRI to exclude brain pathologies.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Olsi Taka,
Neurologist
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