One sided headache with neck pain

Question

Hi All,

I am experiencing with one sided headache for the last 10 years. In earlier stage i used to get head aches once in a month and i used to had Analgesic tablets when ever i am suffering form headache and got relief in one hour. But now a days , analgesic tablets also not curing my headache. 15 Months before there was water dripping from my nose if i bend or during sleep. I consulted a neurologist doctor and he suggested for MRI & CT Scan.  After seeing the results doctor provided me the Medication for migraine headache and the water dripping from nose was stopped. But my headache still continuing.......
I have consulted the same doctor again for headache. He provided me medicines for another two months for Migraine headache. But after medication period i started getting headache again. Now a days i am getting one sided headache with neck pain..
Please refer the MRI results below:-
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IMPRESSION:-
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1. There is evidence of bright signal area noticed in bi parietal subcortial region [Un-identified bright object / Migraneous bright object (UBO - MBO)].
2. No obvious defect seen in anterior skull base including cribriform plate and fovea ethmoidalis.
3. At present no evidence of CSF rhinorrhea seen.
4. DNS is seen towards right side with normal nasal mucosa and hypertrophied turbinates.
5. Minimal mucosal thickening of both maxilary antra and ethmoidal sinuses seen.

If necessary CT cisternogram can be recommended.

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Now a days i am feeling very depressed due to this head ache, It affects my normal life. I am not feeling comfortable in my work as well as in home......
Please advise me to lead a happy life.........
Thank you in Advance....

ggreg · Accepted Answer

Gosh, I know how you feel about headaches!  I'm on a medication I must take right now, and it gives me terrible day-long headaches, I just HATE it, so painful!  But soon it will be over and unlike you, I can carry on.  I think I would take your CT report and possibly the pictures put on a disk, and take those to a new neurologist for a second opinion.  I do not have any idea what your MRI report means.  But I will say that there is a possibility that since your nose was dripping during all this and the migraine drugs stopped it, it could be you have a sinus problem, where they can get all stopped up and hurt like the devil, so in addition to getting a second opinon from a neuro, you should also see an ear nose throat ENT doctor, to help you further along with this whole thing.  A couple other things come to mind, aside from any brain problem that the second neuro may see on yoru scans, and that is if you tear up the spine in your neck somewhat, to where you have, say, a bulging disc or degenerative changes from aging, or even just wrenched the muscles all out of shape in a minor car accident, any of those things can give you a headache and make your neck sore.  A scan of your cervical spine will reveal anything serious going on, which surgery can fix it, altho docs usually do what they're doing now, which is provide you with medication, but also they can put you in physical therapy and give you a neck brace, until the pain works itself out.  I hope you can find some help from a new neuro, an ENT doctor, and perhaps a new scan of your cervical spine and if indicated perhaps physical therapy.  Keep at it, it is IMPOSSIBLE to be all of who you are when you are constantly bothered with a terrible headache.

stuart2011 · Answer

Hi ggreg

Thank you for your advise and suggestion.

I visited an ENT Specialist today, He said no sinuses are seen and my brain also healthy as per MRI Report. 
Doctor said i have problem with my Jaws and this problem is due to I am chewing food only one side of my jaw. He suggested some advise as below.

1. He gave medication for 2 months and 2 weeks. Gel to apply near jaws.
2. Suggested me to put cotton in ears, when the climate is cold.
3. Not to eat hard food for next two months.
4. Chew food simultaneously, slowly and consciously on both sides of the jaws.
5. He said my headache is caused due to this jaw problem.

Also, he said if you don't follow the above instructions strictly. then you have to take 6 injection's for 6 weeks in your JAW.

ggreg · Answer

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but did you try visiting an ear nose throat ENT doc?  It could be you had sinus trouble and an infection has set up shop perhaps in your ears, even, and this might need "washing out," where the ENT can clear your nose and ears out with a special insrument that safely blasts lukewarm solution into the sinus and ear cavities, which the nose and ears are all connected up.  He can also give you drops and medicines to help clear any infection.

But I think it is very interesting that your heart rate was fast, and this suggests that you COULD have some sort of blockage or injury to a vessel that goes to the brain, and this abnormality is giving you a headache.  I'm not too familiar with cardiology issues, but your regular doc can check your cholesterol levels, that's what will form plaques inside the vessel lining and cause problems, and he can run a simple EKG tape to see how your heart is pumping, and he can perhaps give you some sort of medicine, maybe beta blockers, to slow down that heart rate, plus it relaxes the vessels.  I'll bet if you have a circulatory problem, then that could very well be causing your headaches!  So, visit your doc and let him look at your headaches from that view.  Also, if you DO have migraines, there are special medicines to treat that with some success, your regular doc will know about that, too.

You also said you noticed you have neck pain with this headache on the same side.  Again, could be you wrenched some muscles around in your neck, this is often the cause of headaches, and so you might want to visit a massage therapist for a few visits, see if them rubbing your shoulders, neck, and head out real good helps, might be one available at the gym you are going to.

stuart2011 · Answer

Dr Sharma thank you for your advise and suggestion.

Now a days, my headache is accompanied with neck pain on the same side. Also, my headache transforms from one side to other side. For example, if i get headache on my right side and if i have analgesic it will be cured in right side. But i will get headache on my left side by same day or next day. I took my MRI report for second opinion to a neurologist. He said my pulse rating is high and he suggested me to go to GYM, Last 3 months i am going to GYM. But there is no much improvement. Also, I have checked my eyes and Eyes are OK. Doctor told spectacle is not required and Eyes are healthy.
I am worried much about my head ache. Because it completely spoils my life and Work.
Please advise, Waiting for your suggestion

DrSharma · Answer

Hi there. These headaches could be due to stress, anxiety, migraines or tension headaches, sinus headaches radiating to the ear, headache usually front of head, on one or both the sides of temples along with nausea, vomiting, irritability, low blood pressure, sensitivity to lights, sound, etc. aura associated with migraines could include blind spots, blindness in half of your visual field, paresthesia, weakness or visual hallucinations. Your vision needs detailed testing by an ophthalmologist. Hypertension and hypotension need to be checked. An MRI brain is warranted to rule out any intracranial lesion particularly aneurysm and MRI spine for ruling out cervical spondylosis and degenerative disc disease. Temporal tendinitis mimics migraines including TMJ pain temporal headaches, tooth sensitivity, neck and shoulder pain. Treatment includes injecting local anesthetics and other medicines, moist heat muscle relaxants and NSAIDs along with physiotherapy. Multiple sclerosis would also need to be excluded. Treatment for migraines include drugs that prevent the attack like anti convulsants and drugs which treat an attack like triptans, ergots etc your queries should pertain to all these possible differential diagnoses. Trigeminal neuralgia needs to be considered. If the neurologist and radiologist are suspecting a cerebral aneurysm, they can confirm with cerebral angiography and clipping of the aneurysm could be done. MRI brain in your case shows suggestion of migraines. Hope this helps. Take care.

stuart2011 · Answer

HI... Thank you very much for your suggestion and advise..

ggreg · Answer

One more thing I completely forgot to say, and that is ifyou have a dental problem on the side where your headache is, THAT can give you a headache, so a visit to the dentist might prove helpful, unless you already go on a yearly basis.  If you think it might be pain from a tooth in the back, to tide you over until you can see a dentist, get some "ora jel" tube, run some of the ointment on your tooth and gum, stops pain for a couple hours, and so does putting a whole clove on the hurting area in your mouth, holding it there for a full five minutes, stops pain for twice as long.