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Undiagnosed Headaches
My case sounds like so many others I am reading here but unique. It has been 16 months of a 24/7 headache that is, at least till now, untreatable. It always hurts behind my left ear - a dull, grating, ache - that is challenging when mixed with another headache, especially a hormonal or sinus headache. The 2 or 3 headache days are nearly impossible. I have been to the ER (3 times), ear doctor(2), eye doctor, gynecologist, acupuncturist, chiropractor(3), alternative medicine doctors(2), neurologists(5) - everyone has a different opinion but no relief or solution. I have had 2 MRI's, 2 MRA's, a full brain CT, and a scan of the temporal bones. All come back "unremarkable" except "high signal intensity is seen within the left mastoid air cells on the T2 weighted images, this finding is present previously as well and suggests some fluid within the left mastoid air cells." I have been told the fluid is normal and not the cause of my headache. The headache is psychological ..... yeah, right! Looking for input as to what/who to ask to try to solve this unsolved mystery. I never went to the doctor's for anything prior to this headache except for yearly female exams ..... and it gets old always having a headache and being told to live with it. I am only 38!
Do the breathing techniques I suggested on Feb 12, 2008 and the headache will go away gradually.Come back to report your progress.
I have been suffering this same headache over my mastoid left side for a few years. I have been told everything to menopause to stress. I'm on my third day of a painful headache run. I've had all the scans and tests nothing remarkable. Write if you come up with anything. I haven't found any sure fire pain relief. Hope we get better. This really is tiresome. let me know . Pam in Nevada
Hi,
If you still check this forum, I would like to know how you are doing now. My son seems to have the same symptoms as you and would like to see if it might be the same thing. I do hope you are doing better.
If you still check this forum, I would like to know how you are doing now. My son seems to have the same symptoms as you and would like to see if it might be the same thing. I do hope you are doing better.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
I see that you have had a complete ENT assessment and I do agree that a mastoidectomy may be more risky than beneficial at this point since there is no clear indication.
A blood test for thyroid hormone levels, calcium levels, and coagulation tests may be able to fill in some important points.At this point, we can not exactly tell what causes the headcahes.It wuld be just as well to have a complete test done.
Going back to the day of headache onset ( 2006) , were there any unique event on that day? Like an infection, a fever, an allergic reaction?
Do you have any allergies?
I see that you have had a complete ENT assessment and I do agree that a mastoidectomy may be more risky than beneficial at this point since there is no clear indication.
A blood test for thyroid hormone levels, calcium levels, and coagulation tests may be able to fill in some important points.At this point, we can not exactly tell what causes the headcahes.It wuld be just as well to have a complete test done.
Going back to the day of headache onset ( 2006) , were there any unique event on that day? Like an infection, a fever, an allergic reaction?
Do you have any allergies?
The headache has been 24 hours a day/7 days a week for the past 16 months, not 6. It never goes away and there is no relief. Believe me, I have tried. Icing my head and intense physical activity with my heart rate really working (aerobics) are the only things that seem to help sometimes for a little while. I have been given a wide range of pain meds, antidepressant type drugs, and currently on topomax to see if it helps.
When I have a sinus headache or a hormonal one - especially the few days leading up to and during my period - are the absolute worst. But the "behind the left ear" headache is always there so I have some days with 2 and 3 headache days - stress, hormones, a cold, etc.
I have been to 3 different ear/nose/throat doctors and each say the fluid is "garden variety" and not related to my headache. I have been given this analogy with my ears - it is like a house on fire. You can look and see when it is on fire. I have been told I have healthy ears. They all feel that the mastoid air cells is irrelevant, which it might be, but that is where it hurts. That is where it hurt 6 weeks before the first scan that said that something was not the same on that side as on the other. It is just hard to believe there is no connection but I have been told there is none. One ENT was willing to do a mastoidectomy (spelling?) but he felt there were more serious risks that possible solutions to do it.
You ask about hormone levels. How would they have been determined? I don't know if it has been checked - probably not since I have to ask the question? Who would check it? I have been taken off birth control pills - which I was put on years ago to reduce my menstrual headaches. It was thought the pills may be causing the headache. I have been birth control pill free since July with no change in the headache. Ironically I had an IUD put in as an alternate form of birth control and it had to be removed in an emergency surgery 6 weeks later when I had a routine checkup because it had moved to my abdomen on its own. I thought the cramps were normal.
I don't believe I have something "awful" wrong with me but something caused this headache to start the first week of October 2006 and something is maintaining it, no matter how many different approaches I have taken to get rid of it. However, I am open to all and any viable suggestions. I have been told to "live with it" - the approach I am not yet ready to accept. I am willing to travel anywhere in the country - I live in upstate NY - or outside of the country to get relief, ideally in a way that doesn't require a maintenance drug.
Thank you for taking the time to respond and give your suggestions. Questions are great, as it helps to think through things. Your involvement is truly appreciated!
Kathryn
When I have a sinus headache or a hormonal one - especially the few days leading up to and during my period - are the absolute worst. But the "behind the left ear" headache is always there so I have some days with 2 and 3 headache days - stress, hormones, a cold, etc.
I have been to 3 different ear/nose/throat doctors and each say the fluid is "garden variety" and not related to my headache. I have been given this analogy with my ears - it is like a house on fire. You can look and see when it is on fire. I have been told I have healthy ears. They all feel that the mastoid air cells is irrelevant, which it might be, but that is where it hurts. That is where it hurt 6 weeks before the first scan that said that something was not the same on that side as on the other. It is just hard to believe there is no connection but I have been told there is none. One ENT was willing to do a mastoidectomy (spelling?) but he felt there were more serious risks that possible solutions to do it.
You ask about hormone levels. How would they have been determined? I don't know if it has been checked - probably not since I have to ask the question? Who would check it? I have been taken off birth control pills - which I was put on years ago to reduce my menstrual headaches. It was thought the pills may be causing the headache. I have been birth control pill free since July with no change in the headache. Ironically I had an IUD put in as an alternate form of birth control and it had to be removed in an emergency surgery 6 weeks later when I had a routine checkup because it had moved to my abdomen on its own. I thought the cramps were normal.
I don't believe I have something "awful" wrong with me but something caused this headache to start the first week of October 2006 and something is maintaining it, no matter how many different approaches I have taken to get rid of it. However, I am open to all and any viable suggestions. I have been told to "live with it" - the approach I am not yet ready to accept. I am willing to travel anywhere in the country - I live in upstate NY - or outside of the country to get relief, ideally in a way that doesn't require a maintenance drug.
Thank you for taking the time to respond and give your suggestions. Questions are great, as it helps to think through things. Your involvement is truly appreciated!
Kathryn
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
With the ear doctor, was anything noted? Was a complete assessment of the ears, sinuses and nasal passages done?Were hormone levels determined?
This headache has been happening everyday for the past 6 months. What aggravates it and what relieves it?
This may be difficult to assess given that all other diagnostic tests have been done and they came out normal.This air in the mastoid cells may be an insignficant finding. Have you sought second opinion for this?
With the ear doctor, was anything noted? Was a complete assessment of the ears, sinuses and nasal passages done?Were hormone levels determined?
This headache has been happening everyday for the past 6 months. What aggravates it and what relieves it?
This may be difficult to assess given that all other diagnostic tests have been done and they came out normal.This air in the mastoid cells may be an insignficant finding. Have you sought second opinion for this?
Do these exercises and after 2 weeks the headache will start to disappear.It may take upto 6 months for it to be cured.Within days you will feel generally better.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for upto 15 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom - Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep breaths into the lungs.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 15 times
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for upto 15 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom - Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep breaths into the lungs.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 15 times
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