Hello. Thanks for asking from HCM. I can understand your concern. Your boyfriend is having persistent headache which is not responding to painkiller along with nausea and photophobia ( fear from light ). This type of headache usually due to significant head injury. You can also observe other signs of significant head injury : bleed through nose/ear/throat : onset of new focal deficit : loss of consciousness for more than 5 min or decreasing consciousness : fits Presence of any of above signs, you must consult ER as soon as possible. If no above signs, you should consult ER as he is having painkiller resistant headache along with nausea. The doctor will evaluate him and may advise CT scan of head to rule out fracture or brain bleed. Further management will be decided after it. At home, you can : Ask him to keep at head at higher level than chest : Avoid pressure at injury site : Avoid painkillers which can cause sedation like opioids : Apply icepacks at injury site : For nausea, you can give him Pantoprazole-Domperidone combination after proper prescription Hope it will help you. Take care. Thanks.