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What Causes Pressure And Discomfort On Left Side Of Head?
Question: Hi
I'm a 19 year old female. I've been experiencing preassure on the left side of head where my temples are. I can't say it's really hurting but it's very uncomfortable like somebody's pressing my head & nerves. And weeks back I felt facial numbness on the left side along with left arm and left leg numb. I underwent appendectomy but it's been more than a month now. I recently had my blood test done my liver & kidney function is all fine. I previously had anemia now no long. My vitamin D was quite low. My EKG was fine too & my primary doctor checked for stroke too but nothing of that sort. I discussed with my doctor she said that I'm all fine but i just don't get WHATS wrong I even asked if I need to see a neuro or if she'd refer me to a neuro but she insisted that there's nothing wrong.The pressure in my eyes was high but my eye doctor said that head pressure is not related to that..I took a painkiller : Ibrufen for the head pressure but it didn't really work. I feel fatigued when this happens. And today it's been happening since I woke up been 8 hours...I can go on doing daily chores, studying etc I'm able to focus, respond, move around etc all alert but it's just weird how it feels. I feel dizzy & lightheaded too...
I'm a 19 year old female. I've been experiencing preassure on the left side of head where my temples are. I can't say it's really hurting but it's very uncomfortable like somebody's pressing my head & nerves. And weeks back I felt facial numbness on the left side along with left arm and left leg numb. I underwent appendectomy but it's been more than a month now. I recently had my blood test done my liver & kidney function is all fine. I previously had anemia now no long. My vitamin D was quite low. My EKG was fine too & my primary doctor checked for stroke too but nothing of that sort. I discussed with my doctor she said that I'm all fine but i just don't get WHATS wrong I even asked if I need to see a neuro or if she'd refer me to a neuro but she insisted that there's nothing wrong.The pressure in my eyes was high but my eye doctor said that head pressure is not related to that..I took a painkiller : Ibrufen for the head pressure but it didn't really work. I feel fatigued when this happens. And today it's been happening since I woke up been 8 hours...I can go on doing daily chores, studying etc I'm able to focus, respond, move around etc all alert but it's just weird how it feels. I feel dizzy & lightheaded too...
Brief Answer:
Possible tension type headache
Detailed Answer:
Good evening. My name is Dr. Saghafi. I am a neurologist and Headache Specialist.
i've read your symptoms. One of the more likely diagnoses given your description of discomfort in your head might be tension type or stress headaches. You are 19 years old, female, student. This type of headache is very common even though you don't feel as a true "headache." Stress is the #1 trigger/exacerbator for ALL TYPES OF headaches. You've also mentioned being low in Vitamin D. How are your thyroid hormones? Are you on birth control. These are also other potential contributing types of items to take into consideration.
Having said that, as a neurologist I would also take into consideration the symptoms of numbness in the face, arm, and leg. To have all 3 of those numb at the same time could happen in a sensory stroke or due to a deep white matter process such as demyelinating disease, however, I would say that your recovery time was fairly rapid compared to what I would expect if demyelinating. And I take TIA out of the picture just because for that type of sensory deficit in the hemibody the location would have to be deep white matter and not cortex.
Bottom line...I think tension type of headache is a strong possibility but I would definitely recommend correcting the Vitamin D levels and push the numbers up to 60-80ng in serum, checking thyroid hormone levels, and be sure that your anemia is not the potential cause to anything.
Symptoms of dizziness, and lightheadedness again can be consistent with stress, anxiety, or could be due to medication or other metabolic derangements.
Therefore, I would correct any deficiences in Vit. D, check a CBC and correct any anemia aggressively (with diet preferably but if need be nutritional supplements such as iron and zinc). I would check serum T4 and TSH levels and I might even check random cortisol levels to see where things were at from there.
If everything is corrected, you're getting great sleep at night and not suffering from insomnia and still nothing changes then, I would consider an MRI of the brain with and without gadolinium contrast.
I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your question. If so, may I ask your favor of a HIGH STAR RATING with written feedback?
Also, if there are no other questions or comments, I'd appreciate it greatly if you would CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary.
Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at:
bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I would be honored to answer you and continue this discussion.
All the best.
The query has required a total of 14 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.
Possible tension type headache
Detailed Answer:
Good evening. My name is Dr. Saghafi. I am a neurologist and Headache Specialist.
i've read your symptoms. One of the more likely diagnoses given your description of discomfort in your head might be tension type or stress headaches. You are 19 years old, female, student. This type of headache is very common even though you don't feel as a true "headache." Stress is the #1 trigger/exacerbator for ALL TYPES OF headaches. You've also mentioned being low in Vitamin D. How are your thyroid hormones? Are you on birth control. These are also other potential contributing types of items to take into consideration.
Having said that, as a neurologist I would also take into consideration the symptoms of numbness in the face, arm, and leg. To have all 3 of those numb at the same time could happen in a sensory stroke or due to a deep white matter process such as demyelinating disease, however, I would say that your recovery time was fairly rapid compared to what I would expect if demyelinating. And I take TIA out of the picture just because for that type of sensory deficit in the hemibody the location would have to be deep white matter and not cortex.
Bottom line...I think tension type of headache is a strong possibility but I would definitely recommend correcting the Vitamin D levels and push the numbers up to 60-80ng in serum, checking thyroid hormone levels, and be sure that your anemia is not the potential cause to anything.
Symptoms of dizziness, and lightheadedness again can be consistent with stress, anxiety, or could be due to medication or other metabolic derangements.
Therefore, I would correct any deficiences in Vit. D, check a CBC and correct any anemia aggressively (with diet preferably but if need be nutritional supplements such as iron and zinc). I would check serum T4 and TSH levels and I might even check random cortisol levels to see where things were at from there.
If everything is corrected, you're getting great sleep at night and not suffering from insomnia and still nothing changes then, I would consider an MRI of the brain with and without gadolinium contrast.
I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your question. If so, may I ask your favor of a HIGH STAR RATING with written feedback?
Also, if there are no other questions or comments, I'd appreciate it greatly if you would CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary.
Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at:
bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I would be honored to answer you and continue this discussion.
All the best.
The query has required a total of 14 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My HB was 12.0 and I'm no longer anemic. Thyroid functions were fine I don't have thyroid my doctor told me. Urine was clear too. I'm not on birth control pills I am all single & a virgin. I was only told my vitamin D was low. I just get very panicked when I feel pressure the left side of head I don't know how to get rid of it. It's not some excruciating pain it's like I feel circulation there and pressure. Not sure if it's ear related because very seldom I feel pressure on ear with some fluid coming out of it but ear pressure doesn't bother as much as the head does.
Thanks doctor
Thanks doctor
Brief Answer:
May benefit from Headache Diary completion
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information. For a menstruating female, 12.0 is not bad but for as young and robust as your bone marrow is I wouldn't mind seeing you a little bit closer to 13 or even 13.5. Then, you'll have a very comfortable cushion against anemia as any possible contributor to anything you're feeling. In my patients I always like to see Vitamin D levels to at least 60 if not slightly higher. To get to that level replacement programs have to be fairly aggressive.
In my Headache Clinic patients, I ask them to fill out headache diaries for at least 2-4 weeks so that we get a good baseline picture of what their headaches are like, what symptoms are associated such as nausea, vomiting, flashing lights, sensitivity to sounds, lights, etc......or none of the above....which is typical in tension type or stress induced headaches.
If you seek out a Headache Specialist in your community they are very familiar with these types of logs and will help you understand how to fill them out so that a good diagnosis of what is bothering you can be made and an effective treatment option can be recommended.
Now, if you've got this left sided head pressure and fluid coming out of the left ear then, I think an appointment with an ENT specialist who might consider getting a CT scan of the left ear and related structures would be a great way of putting to sleep the idea of whether the ear is related to the left sided pressure.
It certainly is possible that if there's a chronic infection or allergy that the result could be mild head pressure over the temple area.
I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your question. If so, may I ask your favor of a HIGH STAR RATING with written feedback?
Also, if there are no other questions or comments, I'd appreciate it greatly if you would CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary.
Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at:
bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I would be honored to answer you and continue this discussion.
All the best.
The query has required a total of 54 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.
May benefit from Headache Diary completion
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information. For a menstruating female, 12.0 is not bad but for as young and robust as your bone marrow is I wouldn't mind seeing you a little bit closer to 13 or even 13.5. Then, you'll have a very comfortable cushion against anemia as any possible contributor to anything you're feeling. In my patients I always like to see Vitamin D levels to at least 60 if not slightly higher. To get to that level replacement programs have to be fairly aggressive.
In my Headache Clinic patients, I ask them to fill out headache diaries for at least 2-4 weeks so that we get a good baseline picture of what their headaches are like, what symptoms are associated such as nausea, vomiting, flashing lights, sensitivity to sounds, lights, etc......or none of the above....which is typical in tension type or stress induced headaches.
If you seek out a Headache Specialist in your community they are very familiar with these types of logs and will help you understand how to fill them out so that a good diagnosis of what is bothering you can be made and an effective treatment option can be recommended.
Now, if you've got this left sided head pressure and fluid coming out of the left ear then, I think an appointment with an ENT specialist who might consider getting a CT scan of the left ear and related structures would be a great way of putting to sleep the idea of whether the ear is related to the left sided pressure.
It certainly is possible that if there's a chronic infection or allergy that the result could be mild head pressure over the temple area.
I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your question. If so, may I ask your favor of a HIGH STAR RATING with written feedback?
Also, if there are no other questions or comments, I'd appreciate it greatly if you would CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary.
Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at:
bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I would be honored to answer you and continue this discussion.
All the best.
The query has required a total of 54 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So I went to my primary doctor today with all my concerns. She sent me to the ER. They did the CT scan of my brain which came out clear. But they recommended me to follow up with the neurologist I'm not sure if I should do that since I'm traveling in two days I've barely any time left. I was sent to the ER because my primary doctor was concerned about my swollen arm and I told her previously I had numbness and now it's better but I still feel some loss of sensation along with left sided head pressure. She said that to her everything seems fine and that it's because I'm deficient in vitamin D and I should take some Magnesuim and Calcium too but for my own satisfaction she thought that it'd be a good option if I get further tests done like a CT scan or MRI if it's neuro related. Well at the emergency only CT scan was done not sure if in the follow up what will neurologist check for and do MRI or not
Brief Answer:
CT clear is a good sign
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Since the CT of the head did not show anything of significance then, given your symptoms in my opinion an MRI of the brain is not likely to reveal anything of importance.
As far as the loss of some sensation in the arm I can't tell you if that's related to a neurological problem because I would need to examine you. That would be the utility of going to see a neurologist. If there was any suspicion on their part that something were causing the numbness that could be coming from the neck....or even the brain then, at their discretion they would probably go forward with the MRI.
You didn't say where you were traveling or why but if in my opinion your symptoms don't sound serious enough for you to cancel your trip so I think you should go about your business and when you get back you can make that appointment to see someone and get checked out. The neurologist may also order some other bloodwork that we typically look at when questions of numbness and tingling are raised such as B12, folate, thyroid function studies and so forth.
I've had many Vitamin D deficient patients improve vague symptoms of pain, numbness, and tingling by simply raising their levels to normal. You didn't say what the numbers were in your case but I would consider you equilibrated with respect to Vitamin D if you were anywhere in the vicinity of 40-60. If there were an actual neurological problem afoot then, I'd encourage my patient to be more in the 60-80 range as a baseline. I'm not sure why the calcium and magnesium were recommended unless your numbers were low there as well. If you boost your Vitamin D your calcium will be better absorbed from your diet and so long as you are eating healthily you should get plenty of calcium and magnesium.
The other thing I detect from your writing is an amount of stress and anxiety which can also contribute to your symptoms, especially the head pressure or headache- whatever you wish to call it so you need to address those issues at their core, whatever they may be. If your travel plans are for vacation purposes then, perhaps you can take this time to do a bit of relaxation and come back feeling better.
Then, if it were still necessary you could set up to see the neurologist. Otherwise, as things stand I don't see a great need to get the MRI of the brain at this time and would just work on getting your Vitamin D levels into a good range.
Bon Voyage!
I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your questions. If so, please rate these responses with a HIGH STAR RATING and provide some written feedback if you would be so kind.
I'd appreciate it greatly as well if you'd CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary.
Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at:
bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I'd be honored to answer you regarding this or any other discussion.
All the best.
The query has required a total of 72 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.
CT clear is a good sign
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Since the CT of the head did not show anything of significance then, given your symptoms in my opinion an MRI of the brain is not likely to reveal anything of importance.
As far as the loss of some sensation in the arm I can't tell you if that's related to a neurological problem because I would need to examine you. That would be the utility of going to see a neurologist. If there was any suspicion on their part that something were causing the numbness that could be coming from the neck....or even the brain then, at their discretion they would probably go forward with the MRI.
You didn't say where you were traveling or why but if in my opinion your symptoms don't sound serious enough for you to cancel your trip so I think you should go about your business and when you get back you can make that appointment to see someone and get checked out. The neurologist may also order some other bloodwork that we typically look at when questions of numbness and tingling are raised such as B12, folate, thyroid function studies and so forth.
I've had many Vitamin D deficient patients improve vague symptoms of pain, numbness, and tingling by simply raising their levels to normal. You didn't say what the numbers were in your case but I would consider you equilibrated with respect to Vitamin D if you were anywhere in the vicinity of 40-60. If there were an actual neurological problem afoot then, I'd encourage my patient to be more in the 60-80 range as a baseline. I'm not sure why the calcium and magnesium were recommended unless your numbers were low there as well. If you boost your Vitamin D your calcium will be better absorbed from your diet and so long as you are eating healthily you should get plenty of calcium and magnesium.
The other thing I detect from your writing is an amount of stress and anxiety which can also contribute to your symptoms, especially the head pressure or headache- whatever you wish to call it so you need to address those issues at their core, whatever they may be. If your travel plans are for vacation purposes then, perhaps you can take this time to do a bit of relaxation and come back feeling better.
Then, if it were still necessary you could set up to see the neurologist. Otherwise, as things stand I don't see a great need to get the MRI of the brain at this time and would just work on getting your Vitamin D levels into a good range.
Bon Voyage!
I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your questions. If so, please rate these responses with a HIGH STAR RATING and provide some written feedback if you would be so kind.
I'd appreciate it greatly as well if you'd CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary.
Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at:
bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I'd be honored to answer you regarding this or any other discussion.
All the best.
The query has required a total of 72 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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