Headache/odd symptoms

[Cory830]

I'm not sure if this is sinus-related or not (I have had sinus problems in the past so it could be). Over the past couple of weeks I have had off and on headaches, usually unilateral in the right side, though there has been some pain in the left side.

Most of the pain is relatively minor, though there are some times where it feels like pins and needles and others when the pain is sort of burning. The other symptoms include muscle twitches all over my face, including above my right ear (where it seems to happen most), around both my eyes (usually in the right) and starting today, on my chin. There has been some minor tightness (best word I can describe it, but not terrible) in my neck again on the right side, though again this could just be from posture. Also there are some times when I exercise - mostly walking up hill in a hurry to get to class - where the pain starts throbbing a bit in my right side.

Anyway, about an hour ago, I felt some twitching above and directly behind by right ear (I was laying in an awkward position), and then a few minutes later there was some numbness around my right ear that spread up my head and down my cheek. While I can still feel when I touch my face and can move everything fine, whenever I touch the areas that feel weird I get a couple-second sensation.

For some background info:

I am 22, male, overweight first-year law student (though I haven't been particularly nervous). I have been in the sun quite a bit over the past two days - tailgating Saturday and five hours of softball Sunday. I have had a bit too much caffeine today as well in case that could be problems as well. If anyone has any ideas, I would be much appreciative. I plan on going to my campus health center tomorrow after class to see if they think I need to look into this further.

[Cory830]

I went to the doctor today and said there is a possible chance at cluster headaches since I have had somewhat similar headaches in the past, but he thinks it is sinus related, or at least a chance of a sinus infection so he has me on antibiotics for a week to see if it helps and if it doesn't by Monday to see him again.

I will say the muscle twitching has seemed to happen more and more in the past couple of days, but the pain has been pretty much the same off and on with little to no severity.

I don't think it's migraines, and if it is, I don't have any other symptoms that would relate to migraines - other than headaches and the tingling sensation/muscle twitch.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Going by your symptoms,it looks like migraine headache to me. Migraine headaches usually are described as an intense, throbbing or pounding pain that involves temples or forehead and change sides from one attack to the next. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, facial pallor, cold hands, cold feet,tingling sensation and sensitivity to light and sound commonly accompany migraine headaches.

Treatment of migraine involves using a cold compress to the area of pain, resting in a room with little or no sensory stimulation (light, sound, and odors), withdrawing from stressful surroundings and sleeping. You can also try over the counter pain killers like aspirin or acetaminophen. If still the symptoms persist, then please consult a physician for specific anti-migraine therapy(triptans and ergot preparations).

For your muscle twitches,pls get your potassium levels estimated. When the potassium level becomes low, it results in muscle malfunction and muscle twitchings. The normal potassium level in the blood is 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L (milliequivalent per liter).

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.