Headache Help

buckeyechik

I'm hoping someone might be able to give me insight on this headache and what it might be....  It started yesterday morning and I'm still experiencing it today.  It's just above my left temple and it is a sharp pain for maybe 5-10 seconds, then goes away, but comes back every 5 minutes or so (sometimes longer in between).  It's awful.  It hurts badly enough that I shut my eye each time.  I've been Googling and keep finding all sort of scary information...so I thought I'd turn to y'all for some possible personal experience...  TIA!

Mrs.SabrinaM

Honestly if it's just above your left temple don't forget that all of your jaw muscles attach to close to that area If you have been clenching your jaw in your sleep or just unconciously it could give you a headache in that area.  I get headaches from that kind of thing all the time.  Usually a little bit of heat in my jaw/cheek area usually helps relax everything and really helps the headache.

I also have some perscription muscle relaxers that if the heat doesn't help I can use, but I don't know of an OTC muscle relaxer of any sort. 

Good Luck I hope you feel better!

OUAmanda927

I'd make an appt with your doc. It could be cluster headaches, which are similar to migraines, but come on strongly and targeted in one area and then go away for a bit before they return again. A friend of mine had them and they went away when he went on a medication (not sure what though). GL and hope you're feeling better soon!

OSUfish123

I don't have any advice, but wanted to let you know that I hope you feel better soon.  Headaches are no fun.  Definitely schedule an appt. with your Dr. if you are concerned.

mbrooke

What have you taken or done for it so far? Did you do anything out of the ordinary on Saturday - as in go to bed really late, work a lot through the day, etc.? Are you able to go home and try to sleep/relax it off? I know you have bad allergies, could it be related to that? Have you ever had a sinus headache?

Things that work for me (I have chronic daily headaches/migraines & sadly know of hundreds of remedies, hopefully one works for you):
- caffenie (Coke or coffee) & salty foods
- gel sticky pads - you can buy them at CVS type stores in the pain aisle. Cold wash cloth also works.
- caffenie + your pain medicine of choice.
- aromatherapy (lavender, mint, sandalwood). The roll on gel "Head On" seriously helps me at times, esp. in combination with other remedies.
- accupressure
- deep breathing (when you exhale think about sending the pain out - I know it sounds new agey but it works at times)
- try to keep your body relaxed, I know it's easier said than done. But tensing up your facial muscles will contribute to your headache - relax your jaw esp.

Stop reading Google! I highly doubt it is a cluster headache, those are on the floor, wish you were dead, would pound your head against the wall to make it go away headaches. To me it sounds like a sinus or tension headache.

JenOSU03

I hope you feel better soon.  I know what you are going through.  I had awful headaches for several days a few weeks ago.  I drank some coke and took Excerdin for Migraines and it took the headache away.  A co-worker told me that there is a virus going around that causes headache so maybe you have the virus.

k&d2006

My general guess from the info: sinus headache.

buckeyechik

Thanks for the info and thoughts, ladies!

I've had sinus headaches, but they're usually a bit more constant for me, but I'm definitely not ruling it out with my stupid allergies!  We were actually at my ILs this weekend, so there are all kinds of triggers there--smoke, weird sleeping conditions (in a basement on a futon), a dog....   So it's possible it could have been any of that stuff.  I just thought once I removed myself from the situation, it would have gotten better. 

I haven't tried drugs yet because I figure it just takes away the pain, but doesn't really do anything for the root cause, which is really what I'm hoping to get to with this weird headache.

I have had problems with my jaw before and hadn't really thought about that...I've gotten some good information from the chair massage lady about doing some self-massage on my sternocleidomastoid (the muscle that runs alongside the jaw).  I did a bit of that and it seems to feel a bit better.

I was going to try the Excedrin, but have been off of caffeine for over 3 months now and didn't really want to turn to that if at all possible.  If it comes back soon, though, I'm going to call the doctor and take some ibuprofen, at least.

And Brooke, the breathing doesn't sound too new-agey for me--if I can do it without drugs, I'm happy!   

Thanks so much (and if anyone has other thoughts, feel free to leave them!!!)