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What Causes Persistent Headache Along With Swelling Behind Left Ear?

Posted on Mon, 17 Aug 2015

Question: Hi Doctor,

My wife is having frequent headache (approx once or twice a week). Sometimes this is accompanied by a little swelling behind left ear which causes pain when touched.
She had laser eye surgery to remove spectacles around 4 years back and we got her eye sight checked last week and she was having 0.25 number in one of the eyes. Not sure if this is related to headache in any sense but mentioned just for your information.

What could be the probable reason for this frequent headache and any medications/suggestions for this problem. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please tell a few details-

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

If your wife would have presented to me as an outpatient,I would have asked a few details to make a clinical impression-
1)Is the headache unilateral(on one side of head-left or right) or bilateral?
2)Is headache associated with nausea?
3)Does the headache increase on exposure to light or sound?
4)Does she have any vision abnormalities associated with the headache?
5)Does the headache improves or worsens when she talks to others?
6)History of loss of consciousness?

Please provide the above details so that I can answer this query well.Though,headache being episodic(once or twice a week) is unlikely due to eye sight issue(it is usually a constant headache in that case).

Waiting for your follow-up query.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (20 hours later)

Hi Doctor XXXXXXX

Thanks for your reply.
Here are the details related to my wife's headache problem.

1)Is the headache unilateral(on one side of head-left or right) or bilateral?
Bilateral
2)Is headache associated with nausea?
No
3)Does the headache increase on exposure to light or sound?
No, it doesn't increase with light or sound but she doesn't like light and sound when she has headache.
4)Does she have any vision abnormalities associated with the headache?
No
5)Does the headache improves or worsens when she talks to others?
No
6)History of loss of consciousness?
No

Thanks in advance.

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Tension type headache/Stress headache

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being in follow-up.

In background of further details you have provided,this headache appears to be the 'Tension type headache' or 'Stress headache'.
I would suggest that she should start doing regular mental relaxation exercises like meditation/yoga/pranayama and observe for the improvement.
Tab. amitriptyline 10 mg once a day at bedtime can be taken.It should prevent headache.(PLEASE TAKE ALL MEDICINES UNDER A PHYSICIAN'S GUIDANCE ONLY).

She should take an ophthalmologist's opinion as well for eyesight issues.
If inspite of above measures,headache persists,she can be taken up for a brain imaging like CT scan of head.

If you have any further question,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar