Recurring, localized headache?

Have you been to the dentist lately as it could be reffered dental pain. I had an infection in a wisdom tooth and the pain presented exactly as you described.

Well Shilolo is crafting so why am I bothering??? I have had a similar thing for ten years on my right side just as you described. Mine are hormone related migraines. I have been to numerous drs. and just take meds for them as needed. Also, massage and accupuncture help.

Wildflower. How long have these headaches been going on for? You say “every so often”, but its not clear if this is for the past month or past few years. For chronic severe headaches, there are several possible explanations, including tension headaches and migraines. What you describe sounds most like migraine. Do you have an “aura”? For example, can you feel the headache coming on before it happens? Do bright lights or sounds bother you?
I always encourage people to get a full medical evaluation for headaches. However, in the interim, you can try caffeine, tylenol and aspirin (in the US, those are the components of excedrin migraine, an over the counter medicine). As thebeadholder said, migraine can be prevented and treated with other medicines, but also with accupuncture.

I get these headaches every so often.
I don’t know what it is, but I can tell you how I fix it.
There’s this lovely pill sold over-the-counter in Canada that is unfortunately illegal in the United States. It’s called a 222, and it’s part aspirin, part caffeine, and part codeine (thus the illegality here). I don’t know how much help that is, because I don’t know if you’d be able to get your hands on those pills. I stock up when I vacation in Ontario every year.

Thanks for advice (all of you). I haven’t been to the dentist in over a year, but no toothache, although I do grind my teeth in my sleep sometimes.
It’s been coming on for the last 6 months to a year. Sometimes it seems to have all the symptoms of a migraine (sensitive to light and sound, etc), but other times it just hurts and the best I can do is hold my hand over my eye (the vision seems to get a bit affected by it)
As for the caffeine, I get my daily doze of that! I do enjoy my coffee :)
I also have both codein and aspirin in the cupboard, but not a fan of taking them.
I probably will speak to my GP soon (it’s overdue anyway) but right now this is just really bugging me.

Wildflower. Sounds most consistent with migraine. That said, it never hurts to get a medical evaluation (to rule out other causes of headache). There a lot of useful websites dealing with migraines. One of the best things you can do is try to figure out a trigger (i.e. for some it is hormonal, others sleep deprivation, others caffeine withdrawal or chocolate overload, etc.) If you can do that, then you might be able to prevent the migraines from occurring, which would be ideal. Otherwise, I recommend you try whatever local concoction you can get your hands on that has caffeine, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Lefteh suggested 222, but one downside of opioid containing medicines is that while the opioid can alleviate the pain temporarily, those medicines often lead to rebound headaches which can set off a vicious cycle of headache, medicine, headache, medicine, etc.

If those things don’t work, there are stronger migraine medicines (see your doctor), or you can try accupuncture and massage (works for my pregnant wife, who cannot take the migraine meds during pregnancy).

Sounds like a migraine to me. Most of the time mine just hurts (throbbing, constant pain). Just as Shilolo said, there are prescription meds out there and talking to your GP is a good place to start. If you don’t like to take meds, there are all kinds of alternative things you can do. As a matter of fact, I have the same thing going on right now and just got back from the GP. I am off to lay down and try to sleep it off while I have the chance. PM me if you have any questions as I have been dealing with this for over ten years and done it all (or at least it feels that way)!

I got the same problem, my doctor thinks it could be a tumor or an aneurysm, or I’m just stressed, got a bunch of pending exams, I guess I just don’t wanna know what’s going on with me… anyway, talk to your neurologist :) I’m sure is nothing

Your doctor suspects a tumor or aneurysm, but didn’t run tests?? I’d switch doctors if I were you!

@Wild. I think flameboi wrote “got a bunch of pending exams”. That could be interpreted as medical tests, or, academic tests. Plus, flameboi says “I guess I just don’t wanna know what’s going on with me”, with the operative word being I. Sounds more like denial to me… (Although in truth, tumors and aneurysms are rare relative to migraines).

I hope you’re right shilolo. I read pending exams as college type thing.

Me too, but if flameboi’s doctor did recommend some tests (which would be an absolute must if the doctor suspected something serious), and flameboi is ignoring the tests, then much of the onus is on flamboi. The doctor should still follow-up to make sure the tests are done. However, this type of situation is all too common (assuming there is something, which by probability is unlikely). A patient skips multiple tests, and then, eventually, comes around. Hopefully, it is not too late by then.

@wildflower & shilolo
Yes, you are right :S

Update: Went to the doctor, couldn’t see anything odd in my eye, but referred me to a specialist for an exam, seemed to write the headache off as migraine, but did establish my blood pressure has bounced up again and prescribed Diovan – apparently the new way to treat hypertension. I’m a little worried about taking it since it says it can cause dizziness and rare side-effects include depression…..but, it’s what the doctor ordered!
Thanks again for all the advice.

@Wild. Great news. Diovan is not that new, and is a very good choice for blood pressure control. Its in a class of drugs known as angiotensin receptor antagonists, and is a very effective and well studied medicine. Almost all meds for high blood pressure can cause dizziness, because if they lower your blood pressure too much, then you would feel dizzy and lightheaded. Good luck,

Thanks shilolo!.....it almost feels wrong that I pay my GP 50 euros just to talk to her and you nothing :)

50 euros! Really? What happened to nationalized medicine? In any event, I can’t prescribe medicines in Europe. Come to San Francisco for a check-up and we can work out a discount ;-)

Haha….it’s a deal!
And no, the Irish health care system isn’t that great. If you end up spending more than x amount you can claim back from social security or insurance. Considering this was my first visit in over a year, I doubt I’ll be claiming anything..,