Constant throbbing in rt side of head

[susanna977]

I am 34 years old.  About two years ago I started having a headache to the rt side of my head.  I visit the doctor and was told it was migraine.  I was given medication for migraine it didnt help.  Later on my rt ear was blocked, and I felt a throbbing sensation in the rt ear.  I visited the ENT specialist who gave me steroids, still didnt work.  Been to another doctor who gave me meds, still didnt work.  It got worst, I sometimes feel nauseated, the block ear is no longer, but the throbbing is there 24/7, it never stops.  I did an CT scan and MRI, the doctors couldnt see anything.  So I am still here with a constant throbbing on the rt side of my head and sometimes way inside my rt ear.  I really don't know what to do again.  I am not trying natural meds, garlic, parsley and aloe.  

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

MRA is known as magnetic resonance angiography which generates images of the blood vessels to evaluate them for abnormal dilatations or narrowing or blockade.
MRI on the other hand is a medical imaging technique which is used to visualize soft tissues and internal structures in the body. MRI will show the changes the soft tissues caused by changes in the blood vessels. MRI is for specifically looking at the blood vessels.

Thanks

[susanna977]

What is the difference in an MRA and MRI?  If there was something wrong, the MRI would not have picked it up?

[susanna977]

I have visited an ENT Specialist....who said it was eustachian tube dysfunction.  He gave me some meds, steroids included, that didnt help at all.  I notice the throbbing is more at nights. When I wake up on mornings, it is not as bad.  I have started to chart what I eat for the day to try to see if it has to do with my diet.

I really dont want to do an MRA.  Too much radiation.  I have already done MRI and CTscan.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Yes stress and anxiety can cause throbbing pain in the ear. The best course of action would be to consult your ENT specialist to rule out other causes apart from vascular disorders like Eustachian tube dysfunction, chronic infection in the middle ear and muscle spasms within the ears.
Hope this helps!

[susanna977]

This souds so scary.  I am hoping it's not an aneursym.  If it is, what can be done? If it is a blood vessel problem, what can be done also?  

Can this be stress related also?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

It is difficult to give an opinion without clinical exam but vascular causes need to be excluded. Abnormal blood vessel in the area or an aneurysm can cause persistent throbbing in the ear. A MRA test of the head will help if vascular cause is suspected.
I would suggest you to consult an experienced neurologist in your area.

Hope this helps!