What Causes Tenderness On The Scalp?

I am having tenderness on my scalp. It starts at the top of my head, very near, if not right at the crown and runs down the left side of my head toward my ear. Very often there is a shooting pain, or throbbing pain that goes down my head toward my ear. It seems like I can feel it shoot down toward my ear. Now it seems like the left side of my throat is a little tender. Is this sinus (and is there a sinus cavity that runs from the top of your head?) or do you think it might be ear related, like an ear infection maybe (which I have never had in my life), I m a 59 year old female in good health, but a smoker. Thank you.