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What Causes Pain Behind The Skull, Fever And Headache?
Question: My symptoms are a pain in the back of my right side of skull about 2.5 inches from ear. Seems to radiate or "move" in the evening. Some fever no swelling, have had headache. Symptoms started 3 days ago.
Brief Answer:
Medication Overuse Headache
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your question. If your pain is being treated with such high dose ibuprofen and the instruction is to allow you to use "as needed" and if you are using 15+ DOSES of this dose monthly then, you may be causing more and worsening head pains simply based upon OVERUSING the analgesic.
As a headache specialist I ask all my patients to keep track of all their episodes on a headache diary and after 1 month we assess what is going on and how often they are actually getting their headaches. If they are having 2+ headaches per week then, they are considered eligible for PROPHYLACTIC or preventative therapy and we try very hard to limit acute abortive therapy to no more than TWICE WEEKLY so that patients don't risk overtreating themselves.
If you primary doctor is not comfortable with managing these types of details (and most probably will not be very well versed in the proper approach to these headaches) then, the best thing for you may be to see either a neurologist or better yet a headache specialist since this is a very common type of problem.
If in fact these are chronic daily headaches on a background of medication overuse the "movement" component you refer to doesn't add anything to the diagnosis nor does it have any clinical importance as far as we can tell.
If I've adequately answered your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and being sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating if you feel my answers/suggestions have helped? Again, many thanks for posing your questions and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 22 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Medication Overuse Headache
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your question. If your pain is being treated with such high dose ibuprofen and the instruction is to allow you to use "as needed" and if you are using 15+ DOSES of this dose monthly then, you may be causing more and worsening head pains simply based upon OVERUSING the analgesic.
As a headache specialist I ask all my patients to keep track of all their episodes on a headache diary and after 1 month we assess what is going on and how often they are actually getting their headaches. If they are having 2+ headaches per week then, they are considered eligible for PROPHYLACTIC or preventative therapy and we try very hard to limit acute abortive therapy to no more than TWICE WEEKLY so that patients don't risk overtreating themselves.
If you primary doctor is not comfortable with managing these types of details (and most probably will not be very well versed in the proper approach to these headaches) then, the best thing for you may be to see either a neurologist or better yet a headache specialist since this is a very common type of problem.
If in fact these are chronic daily headaches on a background of medication overuse the "movement" component you refer to doesn't add anything to the diagnosis nor does it have any clinical importance as far as we can tell.
If I've adequately answered your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and being sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating if you feel my answers/suggestions have helped? Again, many thanks for posing your questions and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 22 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I do not nor have I in the past taken ibuprofen or any other medications on a regular basis. I am concerned as maternal & paternal side of family has history of hypertension, strokes, heart attacks/issues.
Maternal also has breast, thyroid and uterine cancer. Diabetes also along with osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, and migraine headaches mostly suffered by the women.
My mother had 2 TIA's around the age of 50. She is concerned that I may be suffering from similar issues. Do you feel, your opinion, that I may need to see a doctor (specialist) for these concerns and or have at least blood work and some type of scan?
Also, the doctor never explained why I needed to take 6-10mg of prednisone all at once.
Thank you,
Maternal also has breast, thyroid and uterine cancer. Diabetes also along with osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, and migraine headaches mostly suffered by the women.
My mother had 2 TIA's around the age of 50. She is concerned that I may be suffering from similar issues. Do you feel, your opinion, that I may need to see a doctor (specialist) for these concerns and or have at least blood work and some type of scan?
Also, the doctor never explained why I needed to take 6-10mg of prednisone all at once.
Thank you,
Brief Answer:
The treatment sounds as if you're being treated for HEADACHE
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the clarification. You will excuse my not knowing exactly how you were either taking or instructed to take the Ibuprofen since all it says in your statement is that it should be taken "as needed." Very often that type of instruction is translated by patients as meaning, "whenever they feel they need it" and it turns into an excessive situation. However, I now understand how you've been taking the medications and your other concerns. The pain you describe along with the radiation would not be related to any of the concerns you raise. We do not really understand what pains in the head that radiate the way you describe mean clinically but they do not appear related in any consistent fashion to the things you mention.
However, if you are concerned for TIA's since your mother has suffered a pair then, I agree that a NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT by a neurologist be done to see exactly what your other risk factors may be for vascular disease of the brain and/or heart since age 50 is very young for your mother to have suffered these things notwithstanding her or her family's medical history.
If headaches are coming on cyclically in some fashion then, a headache diary could be filled out and taken to a headache specialist for analysis. They will then, assess whether or not there are any triggers or risk factors for these headaches that should be further looked into including the utility of head imaging studies as well as blood work. Then, a better decision can be made as to whether or not you require medications and if so whether they should be with the idea of ABORTING headaches when they appear or PREVENTING or PROPHYLAXING them before they get started. Sometimes a combination of both strategies is employed.
Again, I'd be grateful to you for CLOSING THE QUERY and including some fine words of feedback if you feel my answers/suggestions have helped? Again, many thanks for posing your questions and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 36 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
The treatment sounds as if you're being treated for HEADACHE
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the clarification. You will excuse my not knowing exactly how you were either taking or instructed to take the Ibuprofen since all it says in your statement is that it should be taken "as needed." Very often that type of instruction is translated by patients as meaning, "whenever they feel they need it" and it turns into an excessive situation. However, I now understand how you've been taking the medications and your other concerns. The pain you describe along with the radiation would not be related to any of the concerns you raise. We do not really understand what pains in the head that radiate the way you describe mean clinically but they do not appear related in any consistent fashion to the things you mention.
However, if you are concerned for TIA's since your mother has suffered a pair then, I agree that a NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT by a neurologist be done to see exactly what your other risk factors may be for vascular disease of the brain and/or heart since age 50 is very young for your mother to have suffered these things notwithstanding her or her family's medical history.
If headaches are coming on cyclically in some fashion then, a headache diary could be filled out and taken to a headache specialist for analysis. They will then, assess whether or not there are any triggers or risk factors for these headaches that should be further looked into including the utility of head imaging studies as well as blood work. Then, a better decision can be made as to whether or not you require medications and if so whether they should be with the idea of ABORTING headaches when they appear or PREVENTING or PROPHYLAXING them before they get started. Sometimes a combination of both strategies is employed.
Again, I'd be grateful to you for CLOSING THE QUERY and including some fine words of feedback if you feel my answers/suggestions have helped? Again, many thanks for posing your questions and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 36 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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