Severe headache

[Janaki_Soumya]

I have got a very bad headache most of the times. It pains a lot even with the slightest of touch above the ear on both sides of the head. These days i also feel my legs getting heavy, specially during the nights and so do not feel like getting down from the bed. Can someone assist in explaining what could be wrong and what to do to be fine again?

[Janaki_Soumya]

Hello Dr Singh

Thanks a ton for your response. I shall definitely see a neurologist and a physician at the earliest. My only worry is that i have a 18 month old kid and was little worried if it is not a serious thing. Also, just to mention and not to forget, i was told that i have a water cyst on the left side of my head, which is not of much danger when i got a CT Scan done in September 2010, but the pain never got decreased completely.

[Dr J Singh]

Hello,
For the head pain and pain above the ears, cluster headaches, migraines and temporal arteritis are important possibilities to be ruled out. . Temporal arteritis is an inflammation of vasculitis of blood vessels of the large and medium arteries of the head especially the temporal artery tat branch off from the carotid artery in the neck.

You need certain investigations like blood tests especially ESR and C reactive protein, a CT scan and MRI SCAN. If temporal arteritis is suspected then a biopsy of the vessel may need to be done for confirming the diagnosis. For the heaviness in legs, peripheral vascular disease should also be ruled out.
My opinion is to get yourself examined by a neurologist and a physician. After confirmatory diagnosis only, treatment can be started. I hope it helps. Take care and regards.