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Persistent headache inflamed artery
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MedHelp Member's Question

Persistent headache inflamed artery

by jatiro, Nov 05, 2005 12:00AM
Please help!! I have been suffering from a persistent headache now for 2 months and cant shift it, I have seen various GPs and a neuro and they believe it is a vascular problem. This is after the GPs have tried me on a variety of meds and given me dx from tension headache to cluster headache to spinal problem. I have had two CT scans that came back clear. The headache has usually always been located in my temple region on the left hand side of my head and is so intensity on days it reduces me to tears. The artery infront of my left ear (suoperfdacial temporal artery) is also inflammed and can be clearly felt throbbing and is raised. I am 22. After seen the neuro i am now taking indomethacin and sodium valproate. Has anyone had success on these. I have also had a 3 week period were i took nothing as was concerned it may have been a rebound headache as first month involved alot of pain killer meds on prescription.



Has anyone else had a very one sided throbbing headache with pain behind the eye and is the inflammed artery anything to worry about. The meds i am on are having no affect and am not seeing the neuro for another 2 months ( good old NHS)?



Other symptom include

Weight loss, Fever (on and off from 35.6 to 38.4 C)



Should i be pushing for an MRA to discover why this artery is raised and why this headache which is a 8/10  24/7 will not go away



Any help and advice will be gratly recieved?

Doctor's Answer

by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Nov 09, 2005 12:00AM
As you are 22 years old, there is no chance that this is Temporal arteritis - a similar story in an over 60 year old might suggest this (temporal arteritis can cause loss of vision)



However you may need more of an evaluation to ruleout a localized inflammatory process which can occur due to, for example, a viral herpes type infection, sarcoid, etc - some blood tests and perhaps a spinal fluid analysis may help. If the headache is persistant and localized as it is, an MRI of the brain may be indicated although will probably be of low yield. It may well be a kind of 'status migrainosis' - a self perpetuating migraine headache that needs powerful medication to stop it such as IV infusions of steroids, and DHE (dihydroergotamine). Hemicrania is a similar type of headache but is usually very responsive to indomethacin. Talk to your neurologist about more aggressively breaking the headache cycle.



Good luck
Member Comments (31)

by Citizen T, Nov 05, 2005 12:00AM
I'm not a doctor,   but I would probably want at least the following scans:     MRI and MRA of brain with and without contrast;    MRA of neck with and without;   and MRI of cervical spine.     I would also push for extensive blood tests such as Lupus, Lyme disease,  ANA,  thyroid, etc etc etc..  I would also suggest carefully monitoring your bp  and being seen at a major university hospital clinic.  Good luck

by jatiro, Nov 05, 2005 12:00AM
Have had blood tests done for thyroid, blood count, kidney and liver function and plasma C and these came back fine. What is an ANA? Have also seen n ostupath for 5 sessions and he believes that there is no more he can do!

by nosol, Nov 05, 2005 12:00AM
Have your doctors check you for vasculitis ASAP.  This is an inflammatory condition that may lead to strokes if left untreated.   Aside from that, try finding a neurologist who specializes in headaches.



Good luck!

by Citizen T, Nov 05, 2005 12:00AM
i agree about the vasculitis.  how old are you?  again, the MRA of the brain an neck.      ANA = auto-immune test

by jatiro, Nov 05, 2005 12:00AM
Im only 22 although i did find during the course of my research that i match the sypmtoms of temperal artitis (a type of vasculitis i think) exactly, although it says that it very rarely occurs in anyone under the age of 55 and GP said it was highly unlikely and that was that. I would have thought that the indomethacin (anti inflamatory) and the dicofenic (also an anti inflamatory) which was my previous medication would have helped although does not seemed to at all. The artery itself is raised from just in front of my left ear to about 1 1/4 inches up towards my temple. When i sit in a quite room i can hear the pulse in my head. However i do not understand why i sometimes get the headache on other side where there is no inflamation although hadache over left temple and left eye has been present since day one and never gone away.



P.s Thanks for posting by the way. Its good to be able to talk to people who can atleast understand how fraustrating a continous headache can be and to get some other suggestions and thoghts. My GP seems to treat me as if its a common cold and everyone has it!!! All suggestions and input are welcome and gratefully recieved

by jatiro, Nov 07, 2005 12:00AM
To: nosol
Could this inflammed artery just be the result of having this headache for so long or do you think that it is related or the cause of the headache. I have a GP appoint on wens to get blood work back and am now looking to get a private MRI of head and neck and also a MRA of head, all for £487 and one weeks wait

by concerenedmother, Nov 07, 2005 12:00AM
My son has been suffering from headaches in the back of his head where the head and neck