Headaches and numbness of the face

[Mzegar]

Hi there im 27 year old female and i have been getting a lot of headaches lately. They start off at around my left eye and the left side of my head. I have also noticed a bump on my head on the left side and it hurts sometimes. I also get numbness on half my face and then when the headaches get really bad it feels like someone is squeezing my head. I sometimes vomit from the pain. Please help im really worried because of the bump and since ive never had to take painkillers for headaches before.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Can you elaborate on the CT scan result? If it is referring to cerebral atrophy, which is a common feature of many of the diseases that affect the brain, it describes the  loss of neurons and the connections between them. Atrophy can be generalized or it can be focal. This results to a decrease of the functions that area of the brain controls.The pattern and rate of progression of cerebral atrophy depends on the disease involved such as infection, stroke, traumatic injury, and many others. It is best that you discuss the results with the specialist for proper evaluation. Try not to freak out and stay positive always. Take care and regards.

[Mzegar]

Hi there. I finally got the results of the CT scan and I was told that my brain is shrinking. I'm freaking out because all my doctor said was she was going to refer to a specialist. She doesn't want to say anything until I've seen the specialist. What could be causing it and is there a way to reverse it?

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Thanks for the update. How was the CT scan? Do you still have headaches and numbness in your face? Headache is a common result of head injury and it might persist for months or years following even mild head trauma. However, the frequency and severity of the headache usually diminishes with the passage of time. If it has been 17 years, the cause may be attributed to other issues that need to be evaluated further. Take care and hope to hear from you soon. Best regards.

[Mzegar]

Thanks for your reply. I cant recall any head trauma except one when i was 10 when I hit my head on the metal corner of the window at school and my head bled. I have a CT scan scheduled for tomorrow and I'm hoping it comes out well :) fingers crossed...

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Was there a previous trauma in your head that could have lead to the bump? The headaches could be due to primary headaches such as migraine, tension or cluster headaches. Migraine usually presents with one-sided throbbing headaches associated with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sounds. Other types of migraine such as hemiplegic migraines may have other symptoms such as numbness. If pain medications do not help, it is best that you have this checked by your doctor or be referred to a neurologist for proper evaluation. A complete neurological and physical examination and imaging studies such as MRI may also be done. Take care and do keep us posted.