headache, ear, neck pain

[kashlee]

Hello,

I have been having right side headaches for over a year, I also have been having spasms on my eyelid the crease below the eyebrow.  I have been to the Dr many times, ruled out everything (sinus, migraine, etc)  I went to a neurologist a couple of weeks ago, he suggested a MRI and MRA  of the head (its scheduled for next week).  Last week my right jaw near the ear and ear started hurting still hurts,  (also head still hurts at times).  the pain fluctuates.  My question is will the MRI of the head show TMJ?  I have been reading about my symptoms and it sounds a lot like this, since the jaw and ear started hurting.  (plugged feeling in the ear)  Also right side neck pain for a few days a couple of weeks ago.  (I just assumed I slept on it wrong or something).  

Thanks,
Kathy

[DrNavneetMD]

Hello Dear,

Since how long you have been having these symptoms?

Ear pain associated with the swelling of proximal tissue is a typical symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder. This is also associated with the muscles of the temporomandibular joint.
Muscle pain can sometimes be associated with trigger points in muscle tissue.
Do you have a clicking sound associated while eating? Do you have a repetitive sliding of the jaw?
Whats your age?
MRI would reflect the strutral abnormalities in case if any.

Best
Take care

[melwrona]

talk to your doctor about     Trigeminal Neuralgia

for years I have been experience random stabbing pains near my ears, jaw, base of neck, my temples, above my eyes etc.  face and back of head areas.   The pain comes on suddenly without warning lasts a few seconds then goes away. sometimes I get them many times throughout the same day and sometimes I may not get them for months.      This past summer I woke up to get my girls off to school and when I got up and swallowed I had a shooting almost incapacitating pain in my temple.  It came on everytime I swallowed (which you don't realize how much you swallow until you have this thing)  I got my kids off to school and thought it would just go away.   It did not. I was able to drive to a med center near my home where the doctor used to be a head of an emergency room until he cut his schedule down and moved to a calmer med center setting.   He realized what it was and told me it was : Trigeminal Neuralgia     I was thankful that someone knew what I was talking about because everyone just thought I was crazy or making it more than it was.    I finally had relief.   He prescribed me a neuro block/pain med for it, an antibiotic, and a steroid.  Within about 1 hr the pain was just about gone, and within 24 hrs I was feeling back to normal and was able to stop taking the pain med.  It was wonderful.    I am not saying this is what you have but it sure sound similar.  Talk to him about it because it wont be seen on a scan.  Some people, (mostly women) get this while others just think we are crazy.  I hope that helps.           I still get the random pains like before but I hope I never get the swallowing one again because that was unbareable.