Persistent headache inflamed artery

[jatiro]

Please help!! I have been suffering from a persistent headache now for 2 months and cant shift it, I have seen various GPs and a neuro and they believe it is a vascular problem. This is after the GPs have tried me on a variety of meds and given me dx from tension headache to cluster headache to spinal problem. I have had two CT scans that came back clear. The headache has usually always been located in my temple region on the left hand side of my head and is so intensity on days it reduces me to tears. The artery infront of my left ear (suoperfdacial temporal artery) is also inflammed and can be clearly felt throbbing and is raised. I am 22. After seen the neuro i am now taking indomethacin and sodium valproate. Has anyone had success on these. I have also had a 3 week period were i took nothing as was concerned it may have been a rebound headache as first month involved alot of pain killer meds on prescription.

Has anyone else had a very one sided throbbing headache with pain behind the eye and is the inflammed artery anything to worry about. The meds i am on are having no affect and am not seeing the neuro for another 2 months ( good old NHS)?

Other symptom include
Weight loss, Fever (on and off from 35.6 to 38.4 C)

Should i be pushing for an MRA to discover why this artery is raised and why this headache which is a 8/10  24/7 will not go away

Any help and advice will be gratly recieved?

[gweshen]

A related discussion, constant/severe head pain right side was started.

[jed9999]

A related discussion, Is Temporal Arteritis found with MS? was started.

[gina81]

A related discussion, will i be put to sleep during temporal arteritis surgery was started.

[kvw]

I have been experiencing "headaches" starting 2 weeks before christmas.  When they began i felt a throbbing pain, always in the right side of my head.  I was able to take a few asprin here and there to relieve the pain.  As time progressed, the headache became more localized to my right temple and the pain turned into more of a burning sensation.  The headaches have basically taken over my life.  I wake up each morning with the same intense feeling in my temple, and now by the end of the day the sensation will to the back of my skull almost where my head meets my neck and also occurs behind my ear. I suspect I have TMJ considering my jaw consistently cracks, so i have begun sleeping with a splint.  The morning after I sleep with the bulky piece of plastic, the headaches are a bit worse possibly from tension.  I have noticed that my ear aches and my bottom molar is sensitive (may have a cavity there).  Mind you all problems are on the right side of my head. I am 22, too young in my opinion to be experiencing such persistent pain.  I have been tested for tempral arthritis and had my first MRI on saturday and am still waiting for results.  I have started taking Zomig but find that not even this powerful medicine can aleviate my pain.  I am so cranky by the end of the day, have lost 15 lbs since the problem began, and am very afraid that my problem is only going to get worse.  I am a very busy person who is attempting to juggle working, interning and attending classes.  I partially blame my headaches on stress, however they began way before i took on all of this responsibility.  I can not continue to take the amount of pain medication that i take daily as i am afraid of damaging my liver, however i am unable to function without it.  I must mention that I had a history of headaches as a pre teen and thought that i have since overcome this issue.  Before, I would get intense migranes accompanied by halo's in the eye, now the pain is like i said... Constant burning.  When i touch the affected parts of my skull, it feels bruised and sore.  I am not sure of how to research this and would like any feedback anyone can provide.  I am freaking out here and am ultimately causing my head to hurt worse.  Im a wreck!!!

[Jaiz]

Anybody has a solution for this headache? I have the same problem. Im having the same headache now, It started when i took energy drink (whey and amino acids) 3 days ago, same symptoms headache(its just mild now) on my left eye and head, i noticed my heartbeat is louder too. My blood pressure is 151/75 and its been like that, im 33 yrs old.

3 months ago i exprienced that same headache plus i was seeing blank spots (...scarry i thought i was going blind) and heatwave like on my periperal. my doctor said its migraine w/ hypertension then he just told me to exercise and quit drinking coffee. So i did that, I did some running exercise, Quit coffee, iced tea and any caffeine, no energy supplement. I tried eating healthy too, like less salt and fat.  Although my blood pressure remain on borderline, My headache and poor vision went away after a week.

Now im having the same problem, i will try that same lifestyle that i did 3 mos ago. Let you know after a week or so...

Thanks for the info guys...I know we can surpass this...

God Bless us all !

[Eddie E]

I found this site when I googled "pulse in left temple". My problem may seem minor compared to the others I have read in this thread but it has me a little concerned. I don't have a headache at this time but I had them recently for about 3 days. About 10 day ago early one morning it felt like something snapped on the left side of my head in the temple area. Soon afterward I had a headache that came and went for about 3 days. The headache was not intense and I didn't even bother to take pain medication. The headaches went away but on my left temple I can feel what seems like my pulse beating strongly. It's fairly constant and I don't feel the same sensation on the right side. I first noticed this a few mornings ago while my head was resting on the pillow. I mostly feel it when I touch the area with my hand or lay with the left side of my head rested on the pillow. It's not like an even beat. It's very erratic. Sometimes fast sometimes slow. I take medication for high blood pressure and I also noticed my pressure is higher than normal even on the medication it's about 170/89. I made an appointment with my GP but it will be almost a week before I'll see him. Does my symptoms sound familiar to anyone? Thanks.

eddie