Pain in the Right Side of Head

There are a variety of conditions including migraines that can lead to pain in the right side of the head. Those that suffer from this condition will notice a sudden, debilitating pain on the right side of their heads. You should contact your doctor immediately to determine a proper course of treatments so you can seek relief as quickly as possible.

Migraine

Migraines often begin to appear between childhood and early adulthood. These headaches begin with the prodrome period 1-2 days before the headache as symptoms start to take hold.

Symptoms

• Food cravings
• Constipation
• Depression
• Hyperactivity
• Uncontrollable yawning
• Neck stiffness
• Irritability

The aura will then occur just before or as the headache takes on. These may include motor, sensory, visual or verbal disturbances that build up over time, often lasting for 2-60 minutes.

• Vision loss
• Visual phenomena such as seeing flashes of light, spots or shapes
• Language or speech problems
• Pins and needles sensations in the legs and arms

If these symptoms are not treated a migraine can take hold. These can last for up to 72 hours but the severity of the symptoms will vary from person to person.

• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain on one or both sides of the head
• Blurred vision
• Throbbing or pulsating pain
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Sensitivity to smells, light or sounds

Treatments

• Pain relieving medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen will reduce discomfort once a migraine has started.
• Triptans or ergots are commonly prescribed to help manage a migraine.
• Your doctor may prescribe opioid medications that contain ingredients like codeine if other medications are ineffective.

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Tension Headache

Tension headaches can appear periodically with pain varying in intensity throughout the day.

Symptoms

• Irritability
• General muscle aches
• Mild sensitivity to noise or light
• Difficulty staying or falling asleep
• Chronic fatigue
• Mild to moderate pain in the front, top or side of the head

Treatments

Symptoms are often more manageable when they first appear before they become more serious.

• Take over the counter pain killers, some of which can also be administered for prevention of these headaches.
• Avoid triggers for your headaches such as stressors.
• Your doctor can also prescribe stronger pain management drugs or antidepressants and blood pressure medication if home remedies are ineffective.

Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches often strike quickly without much warning. The pain of a cluster headache is often described as a penetrating or burning sensation, such as that of someone placing a hot poker in the eye. A cluster period can last for 6-12 weeks with symptoms being consistent in the periods when they appear, while episodic cluster headaches can occur for a week up to a year with a period of remission in between.

Symptoms

• Pain on one side of the head
• Excruciating pain around the eye, face, neck, shoulders and head
• Restlessness
• Redness in the face or affected eye
• Stuffy nasal passages on one side of the face
• Excessive tearing
• Dropping eyelid
• Sweaty, pale skin
• Swelling around the affected eye

Treatments

• Take abortive medications such as imitrex or triptans that are inhaled through an oxygen mask.
• Try intranasal lidocaine or ergotamine.
• Preventative medications can be used to decrease the severity and appearance of these headaches, including divalproex, prednisone, verapamil, lithium or ergotamine tartrate.
• In some cases surgery may be performed to block trigeminal nerves.

Stroke

Symptoms

• Paralysis or numbness of the arm, leg or face
• Trouble walking, understanding or speaking
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Headache

Treatments

• If you are experiencing the signs of a stroke you should get emergency treatment right away.
• Taking aspirin may help to prevent blood clots which can prevent another stroke from occurring.
• You may be prescribed blood thinning drugs or an intravenous injection that will help to dissolve the blood clot quickly.
• Those that are at risk for stroke should maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet to keep their blood pressure down.
• Quit smoking and avoid foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
• If you have diabetes or sleep apnea, work to control your symptoms.

Brain Aneurysms

Brain aneurysms are a bulging blood vessel in the brain that can leak or rupture, leading to brain bleeding.

Symptoms

• A sudden, very severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred or double vision
• Drooping eyelid
• Seizure
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness

An unruptured aneurysm may cause:

• Numbness on one side of the face
• Pain above or behind the eye
• Dilated pupil
• Drooping eyelid
• Vision changes or double vision

Treatments

• Do not use recreational drugs, caffeine, or smoke.
• Follow a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise to keep the blood pressure low.
• Avoid performing activities that cause you to strain your body as this could cause a sudden increase in blood pressure.
• Be careful when using aspirin as this can inhibit blood clotting which can be dangerous if your aneurysm begins to bleed.
• Pain relievers or calcium channel blockers can be used to treat the pain of an aneurysm while lowering the risk that they will burst.
• Intravenous injections can be used to prevent a stroke caused by the aneurysm.
• In some cases anti-seizure medications may be prescribed.

Temporal Arthritis

Symptoms

• Fever
• General ill feeling
• Excessive sweating
• Jaw pain
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Pain and stiffness in the joints
• Throbbing headache on one side of the head
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Vision difficulties

Treatments

• Reducing tissue damage around the affected area can help to restore blood flow.
• You will likely be prescribed corticosteroids or aspirin over 1-2 years to manage these symptoms.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking.
• Increase your intake of vitamin D and calcium and monitory your bone mineral density to keep on top of these conditions.
• Perform weight bearing exercise or take a walk.