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What Causes Pain In The Head Above The Right Eye When Suffering From Hypothyroidism?
Question: I am having hypothyroid problem for some years now. For the last week or so I have been getting a pain in the head above the right eye. It then proceeds to the back of the head on the right. By night the pain is unbearable. All through the day there is a heaviness in the head. I have had my eyes checked and there is no issue with them. I am at a loss to know what is causing the problem and how to get rid of it. Age is 42 yrs female.
Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism may itself be a cause for headache.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Madam
Welcome to Health care Magic
It seems from the history that you are having hypothyroidism and on treatment with Thyroxine.
The first thing to be ruled out in case of headache involving the eyes is thyroid eye disease causing problems like dry eyes, thyroid myopathy involving the muscles... Since you have got the eye check up done and with the examination being normal no need to worry.
The second problem to be considered is hypothyroidism itself. Headache is one of the symptom of hypothyroidism. Hence I advice you to get the thyroid hormone level estimation done to rule out hypothyroidism and to know whether there is need to increase the dose of thyroxine. If you are having other symptoms like sensitivity to cold, weakness, fatigue along with headache it indicates hypothyroidism as the probable cause.
The other causes need to be considered are migraine headache which is worsened by the presence of hypothyroidism and sinusitis related headache.
Hope the information helps.
Thank you
With regards
Hypothyroidism may itself be a cause for headache.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Madam
Welcome to Health care Magic
It seems from the history that you are having hypothyroidism and on treatment with Thyroxine.
The first thing to be ruled out in case of headache involving the eyes is thyroid eye disease causing problems like dry eyes, thyroid myopathy involving the muscles... Since you have got the eye check up done and with the examination being normal no need to worry.
The second problem to be considered is hypothyroidism itself. Headache is one of the symptom of hypothyroidism. Hence I advice you to get the thyroid hormone level estimation done to rule out hypothyroidism and to know whether there is need to increase the dose of thyroxine. If you are having other symptoms like sensitivity to cold, weakness, fatigue along with headache it indicates hypothyroidism as the probable cause.
The other causes need to be considered are migraine headache which is worsened by the presence of hypothyroidism and sinusitis related headache.
Hope the information helps.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Sinusitis related headache need to be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up query.
Since the thyroid levels are in the normal range, this rules out decreased levels of thyroid hormones as a cause for headache. Since the headache is only on right side and it typically increases by evening I would like to consider sinusitis related headache.
The headache caused by involvement of frontal sinus typically increases by the end of the day because of decreased drainage from the frontal sinus and is called as office headache as it becomes severe by evening.
Hence, I would advice you to consult your ENT doctor to rule out this. As of now you can use analgesic tablets for pain relief.
Hope, the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
With regards
Sinusitis related headache need to be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up query.
Since the thyroid levels are in the normal range, this rules out decreased levels of thyroid hormones as a cause for headache. Since the headache is only on right side and it typically increases by evening I would like to consider sinusitis related headache.
The headache caused by involvement of frontal sinus typically increases by the end of the day because of decreased drainage from the frontal sinus and is called as office headache as it becomes severe by evening.
Hence, I would advice you to consult your ENT doctor to rule out this. As of now you can use analgesic tablets for pain relief.
Hope, the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
That was very useful, Many thanks. Last query... there are no other symptoms of sinusitis. Like no runny nose, no green flem etc so could it still be a sinusitis problem?
Brief Answer:
Sinusitis is possible even without these symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Madam
Welcome to Health care Magic
Thank you for the follow up question.
Acute sinusitis will cause symptoms of running nose, phlegm, post nasal drip...., but a chronic one or subacute one may not cause these acute symptoms. Since the type of headache you are having typically resembles a head ache of frontal sinusitis with characteristic pattern of increasing in the evening, I suspect frontal sinusitis as a cause for headache.
Hence I advice you to get ENT doctor consultation to rule out frontal sinusitis as a cause for headache.
The last option is primary headaches like cluster headache or tension headache which are to be considered last after ruling out sinusitis.
Hope, the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
With regards
Sinusitis is possible even without these symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Madam
Welcome to Health care Magic
Thank you for the follow up question.
Acute sinusitis will cause symptoms of running nose, phlegm, post nasal drip...., but a chronic one or subacute one may not cause these acute symptoms. Since the type of headache you are having typically resembles a head ache of frontal sinusitis with characteristic pattern of increasing in the evening, I suspect frontal sinusitis as a cause for headache.
Hence I advice you to get ENT doctor consultation to rule out frontal sinusitis as a cause for headache.
The last option is primary headaches like cluster headache or tension headache which are to be considered last after ruling out sinusitis.
Hope, the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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