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What Causes Left-sided Headache?
Question: Hi, I am having head ache and numbness in my left side. I ve some allergy problem and doctor told it is sinusitis. But this headache ll be coming and going from -5 months and only on left side. I had an eye infection in left eye 6 years earlier which doctor called as toxoplasmosis and had given medication including steroids. Want to know if this headache (mild most of the times but uncomfortable) is manifestation of the sinusitis problem or is there anything else which might be causing it.
Brief Answer:
Unilateral headache-possible causes
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
Left sided localized headache particularly in the forehead can be due to left frontal sinusitis but there will also be tenderness over left frontal sinus on pressure.Headache due to sinusitis usually worsen when the affected person bends over.
You can take X-ray para nasal sinuses Water view to confirm it, as haziness of left frontal sinus will be corroborative.
Since you had left eye infection, you can undergo recheck by ophthalmologist to exclude any glaucoma since it is one of the complication of ocular toxoplasmosis and can cause one-sided headache.
Another possible cause of unilateral headache is migraine or cluster headache but it is usually associated with gastric symptoms like nausea,vomiting and watering of eyes.
Lastly it may be tension headache but it is usually bilateral.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Unilateral headache-possible causes
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
Left sided localized headache particularly in the forehead can be due to left frontal sinusitis but there will also be tenderness over left frontal sinus on pressure.Headache due to sinusitis usually worsen when the affected person bends over.
You can take X-ray para nasal sinuses Water view to confirm it, as haziness of left frontal sinus will be corroborative.
Since you had left eye infection, you can undergo recheck by ophthalmologist to exclude any glaucoma since it is one of the complication of ocular toxoplasmosis and can cause one-sided headache.
Another possible cause of unilateral headache is migraine or cluster headache but it is usually associated with gastric symptoms like nausea,vomiting and watering of eyes.
Lastly it may be tension headache but it is usually bilateral.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
The headache is above the left ear and just recently twitching of muscles (which i referred to as fluttering sensation) on the portion above left ear. And yea there is watering of left eye and itchiness now and then. I had got checked up by my opthalmologist 3 months back (however in hurry, as he was winding up) and he had suggested it to be migraine kind. So should i visit a neurologist to confirm it to be migraine/cluster headache and get proper diagnosis or can i wait for some time and see.
Brief Answer:
Migraine
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
There are certain diagnostic Criteria for Migraine
Repeated attacks of headache lasting 4–72 h in patients with a normal physical examination, no other reasonable cause for the headache, and:
At Least 2 of the following Features: Unilateral pain, Throbbing pain, Aggravation by movement, Moderate or severe intensity
Plus at Least 1 of the following Features: Nausea/vomiting, Photophobia and phonophobia during the attack.
Often there is the migraine aura, consisting of visual disturbances with flashing lights or zigzag lines moving across the visual field or of other neurologic symptoms. It can however also occur without any aura.
You can visit a neurologist, if it is troublesome.
Most patients with disabling headache probably have migraine.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Migraine
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
There are certain diagnostic Criteria for Migraine
Repeated attacks of headache lasting 4–72 h in patients with a normal physical examination, no other reasonable cause for the headache, and:
At Least 2 of the following Features: Unilateral pain, Throbbing pain, Aggravation by movement, Moderate or severe intensity
Plus at Least 1 of the following Features: Nausea/vomiting, Photophobia and phonophobia during the attack.
Often there is the migraine aura, consisting of visual disturbances with flashing lights or zigzag lines moving across the visual field or of other neurologic symptoms. It can however also occur without any aura.
You can visit a neurologist, if it is troublesome.
Most patients with disabling headache probably have migraine.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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