Persistent Localized Head Pain for Two Years

[PuffMama]

I have had suffered from a mild head pain for the past two years.  It doesn't disrupt my life, but it has me very worried because it is localized and it is always there.  It is more of a dull ache vs. a sharp pain and started out on the top left side of my head during the first year.  During the initial onset, it felt like something in my head was going to pop....and then as time progressed, it just became a persistent dull sensation.  For the past year, the pain has moved to the back of my head (still on the left) and always in the same spot.  The feeling is a persistent dull sensation.  Over the past week however, it is now in the back of my head and in my left temple....and now more of a pulsating ache.  It does not get worse with movement.  The pain is on the left side of my head 95% of the time and I've felt similar sensations on the right but very infrequently.  I went to a doctor in Nov. 07 who suggested I take Motrin because it was probably just stress and tension headaches.  However, the pain does not resemble what I'v read about tension headaches.  Any suggestions on how I should proceed?  I am seeing a doctor in two weeks.  

[PuffMama]

doctornee medical, thank you so much for your reply.  i will make sure I explore this with the doctor and i won't ignore it for another two years!  while the pain has not gotten more severe over the past two years, it has gotten more persistent (which worries me even more!).  

i work from home and I'm on a laptop for about 6-8 hours a day.  i often sit on the sofa or at the dining room table...so my posture is definitely not good in that regard.

I think my blood pressure is fine.  I had a baby 3 months ago and my blood pressure was normal throughout the pregnancy.  i never talked to my ob doctor about the pain however.  

i had worried myself thinking I had a tumor....but I don't have any coordination problems, vision problems, nausea, vomiting, etc.  but i'm still worried of course.  thanks so much for your reply and I'll post an update after my doctor's visit.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
There are a few possibilities that you should explore. The pain could be due to compression of a n upper cervical nerve. This is common in people who have neck strain due to computer use or prolong reading in one posture.
The second possibility is temporal arteritis. Though this headache is felt in temporal region, it is often diffuse over other regions.
The thirds possibility is high blood pressure.
Please discuss this with your doctor. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!