Temporal pain

Temporal pain can bother a person in different forms. It can affect the left temple, the right temple, or it can hurt on both sides of the head. The pain can be sharp or dull, short-term or long-term. In order to choose adequate treatment, it is important to know the causes of pain in the temples.

Causes temporal pain

Here are some possible causes of temporal pain. You should probably consult a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.

• Refractive errors
• Tension headache
• Migraine
• Cluster headaches
• Sinusitis
• Temporal arteritis
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• Hypertension

The causes of temporal pain can be simple, such as a head injury, but they can also be viral in nature. There are also tension headaches, which are localized in the temples, with additional symptoms such as pain around the entire head. Temporal pain can be accompanied by sensitivity to light or sound and nausea, which indicates a migraine. Pain in the temples with nasal congestion, fever and weakness are symptoms of a cold or flu.

Some headaches go away on their own, usually after sleep. Rest is very important for treating headaches, as is massage of the temple area and neck. This is very useful for getting rid of temple pain. If the pain still persists, there are medications to choose from, the most recommended are ibuprofen or Tylenol.

Pain in the temples and eyes is usually a symptom of various types of headaches. It is a very unpleasant sensation and sometimes requires medical intervention. The most common causes of this pain are dry pupil syndrome and sinusitis, but there are other causes of pain. For example, such as orbital inflammatory syndrome, cranial nerve palsies and optic neuritis.

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Epidemiology

Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common type of chronic periodic headache (temporal headache).

This is one of the most common medical conditions that requires a patient to see a doctor.

Temporal pain from overexertion is more common in women than in men (ratio 1.4 to 1).

Temporal pain is most common in young adults, with about 60% occurring in patients over 20 years of age. Onset after age 50 is unusual.

The prevalence of episodic temporal pain due to nervous system strain varies between 30% and 78%.

Caution should be exercised when diagnosing older adults, as they are more likely to experience secondary temporal pain that occurs in old age.

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Symptoms

Dry pupils are a very common problem. The eyes itch, burn, and the pain in the eyes and temples can be sharp and stabbing. Artificial tears (a special eye gel) are a good remedy for the treatment of so-called dry eyes. This gel can be found in any pharmacy or store and this medicine does not require a prescription.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The pain in the temples from this condition is usually sharp and severe, and gets worse with each movement of the head. Diagnosis is made with a computed tomography (CT) scan, but a doctor can usually diagnose it with careful testing. Treatment includes antibiotics.

Orbital inflammatory syndrome is a condition that affects the muscles of the eye socket. It is diagnosed by CT scan and treated with steroids. Orbital inflammatory syndrome is usually associated with another condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout. Symptoms include red eyes and pain in the temples.

Optic neuritis affects the nerves and muscles of the eye and is characterized by blurred vision and problems with color perception. Cranial nerves often become inflamed in patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition to temple pain and eye pain, symptoms include double vision.

If headache or eye pain persists, consultations with a neurologist and ophthalmologist should be carried out.

Regional pain syndrome

Regional pain syndrome is a condition that comes with chronic pain, particularly temporal pain. The pain is thought to be caused by dysfunction or malfunction of the central or peripheral nervous system. Patients suffering from unilateral regional pain syndrome typically complain of pain, swelling, and stiffness on the affected side of the body or limb. In most cases, the complex regional pain syndrome is associated with trauma. The amount of damage that the pain causes may be minor or, conversely, quite major.

Traumas can be triggers for nervous system disorders, which can result in intense heat in the affected area, as well as pain, particularly temporal pain.

This syndrome mainly affects people between the ages of 25 and 55. Chronic pain in the temples with regional pain syndrome affects women more than men. In the United States alone, approximately 3 to 6 million people suffer from this syndrome.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are one of the main causes of temporal pain. Tension of the nervous system in temporal pain is one of the main causes, causing the absence or impairment of the ability to work. The type of tension headache (TTH) is classified as a primary headache, according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders of the Nervous System. This is a very common form of headache and can be classified as follows

Episodic headaches (particularly temporal headaches) - 78% of the population is affected. May develop into chronic forms.

Chronic headaches (particularly pain in the temples) - 3% of the population suffers from them. This occurs for more than 15 days a month.

As with many headaches, a medical examination is necessary to ensure the patient receives a proper diagnosis. If diagnosed correctly, effective treatment and lifestyle recommendations can be offered.

Temporal pain character due to overexertion

Typically, the nature of temporal tension headaches is described as a pressure or grip on the temples or a whole band around the head. There is often a connection with neck pain, with pain below the neck. These pains can be relieved for a few hours, but lack the specific functions and associated symptoms of migraine (although photophobia and exacerbation with movement are common to many headaches). Compared to migraine, tension headaches localized in the temples manifest themselves as follows

• The pain in the temples is more gradual at first.
• Pain in the temples is more variable in duration (usually subsiding).
• The pain in the temples becomes more constant over time.

Diagnosis of tension headaches involves the following pain localization

• Bilateral or general, mild to moderate intensity (interferes with but does not impede activity).
• Fronto-occipital localization of pain.
• The pain in the temples does not get worse with regular physical activity.

Forms

Temple pain comes in many forms and in many different intensities. Some headaches can come from too much activity, or from something as innocent as exercising, coughing, or doing push-ups, for example. Other headaches are caused by too much caffeine in the body, or low blood sugar. But because temple pain is an experience, and because headaches come from many different causes, it can be helpful to look at the different types.

Temporal pain is divided into four different types

Inflammatory - Inflammatory temporal pain usually indicates more serious health conditions, such as infections (eg, meningitis and sinus infections).

Muscle Tightness - Approximately 75% of all headaches are tension headaches. Stress and poor posture can cause a stiff neck and scalp, which can result in pain in the temples. Noise and stuffy environments make these types of headaches worse. Women are more likely to suffer than men.

Vascular temporal pain – it can be disturbing due to the disruption of blood vessels. The most well-known type of vascular headaches localized in the temples is migraine, but cluster headaches (sharply expressed, up to suicide attempts) also belong to the category of vascular headaches.

Tension headaches usually indicate a very serious condition of the body and occur when there is too much tension in the eye sockets and forehead, lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days.

Temporal arteritis

Temporal arteritis is a severe pain in the temples that most often affects people after 50 years of age. These pains are so severe that a person can even go completely blind. They are combined with insomnia, severe weight loss, pain in the neck and shoulders, redness spreading across the scalp.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA or temporal arteritis or cranial arteritis) or Horton's disease is an inflammatory disease of the blood vessels - it occurs most often involving the large and medium-sized arteries of the head, predominantly in the area of the external carotid artery. It is a form of vasculitis.

Giant cell arteritis is a type of inflammatory cell involved in the temporal arteries and is easily seen on biopsy. When a person presses their fingers to their temples, they can clearly feel the pulsation in the hair-bearing part of their head. Inflamed arteries cause poor oxygen and blood flow to the optic nerves, causing nerve cell death, temple pain, and eventually blindness.

Temporal arteritis is often treated with steroids (steroid hormones), which help relieve inflammation of the arteries and pain in the temples.

To better understand your headache, it is important to understand the differences in symptoms for each type of pain. This can put you on the right track to choosing the right treatment. To learn more about the symptoms of temporal pain, read specialized literature on the subject and consult with your primary care physician, ophthalmologist, and neurologist.

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Diagnostics temporal pain

In addition to your medical history, your doctor may recommend several tests to determine whether the pain is the result of an infection, tumor or abscess, aneurysms, abnormal brain neurons, etc. Temporal pain can result from specific physical conditions, so one or more tests may allow your doctor to determine the cause. These tests, combined with your medical history and a physical and neurological exam, should enable your doctor to determine the cause.

CT (computed tomography) scan This test provides 3-D images of the brain, allowing doctors to determine the cause of physical problems (such as tumors).

EEG (electroencephalogram) This test measures brain activity by recording the movement of neurons in the brain. Although it cannot always diagnose the cause of a headache, an EEG can tell the doctor if there is a malfunction in the neurons.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Like CT, MRI provides a view of the body's internal functions, but with greater contrast than other types of imaging. It can be useful for detecting brain tumors or the condition of blood vessels.

Additionally, if doctors suspect that you are susceptible to infections that have entered the body, they will recommend additional diagnostics. For example, suspected meningitis causing temporal pain may require a puncture, and headaches caused by a sinus infection may require a nasal endoscopy.

Your doctor will be able to prescribe treatment and make recommendations based on your medical history and test results. But how can you treat your temple pain? And can you realistically expect your temple pain to go away completely? To learn more about temple pain relief, we've got more information.

Medical examination

The first step to diagnosing temporal pain is an examination by your family doctor. Your family doctor will ask you questions to better understand the causes of your temporal pain (due to light? Noise? During exercise? Due to stress?) and how often it occurs. In addition, some types of temporal pain may be caused by genetics (for example, this applies to migraines). Also, if you have ever had a head injury, untreated dental problems, eye disease, etc., this information will be very relevant to your doctor.

If your primary care physician deems it necessary, he or she may refer you to a neurologist or internist. This referral may be necessary if conventional treatments are ineffective. Or, you may want to see a specialist if you have a severe type of temporal pain. For example, if you are experiencing a migraine-like headache condition in which severe pain lasts for 72 hours or more and requires hospitalization, you may want to see a neurologist.

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Treatment temporal pain

Early diagnosis can help you begin treating your temple pain immediately, and you will begin to feel better much faster than with delayed treatment. The goal of treatment is to reduce the intensity and frequency of your temple pain, or, in the case of an infection associated with headaches, to eliminate the underlying cause. Let's look at a few different treatments

Alternative practices

Aromatherapy, vitamin and mineral supplements, chiropractors, and herbs may have some effect on your temple pain. However, always check with your doctor about alternative practices and the safety of their use. Many alternative practices may not be sufficiently supported by scientific research, documentation of their effectiveness. However, personal testimonials from patients who have been cured by a particular method may be a strong enough basis for a specific treatment.

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Changing your diet

Some headaches are caused by low blood sugar. For example, people suffering from migraines noticed that when they could not eat regularly, they experienced headaches localized in the temples. This can be corrected by reducing portions but eating more frequently (up to 5-6) during the day.

Other headaches may be caused by certain foods. Once you eliminate these foods from your diet, your temple pain may decrease or disappear completely – but this is only an accompaniment to treatment.

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Lifestyle change

Sleep disruption and disturbance, smoking or other lifestyle that interferes with being healthy, bad habits can cause temporal pain. Just one measure – restoring healthy sleep – can change your life, curing your temporal pain. Thus, restoring a healthy lifestyle and doing sports can be a simple solution for your headache. Patients with cluster headaches may experience pain in the temples as a result of smoking.

Smoking may be a habit that needs to be broken – and your temple pain will go away. If your headaches are caused by high-intensity exercise, changing the duration and intensity of the exercise may be helpful in relieving your temple pain.

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Medications for temple pain

Medications for the treatment of temporal pain can be purchased with or without a prescription. The medications are usually used when the temporal pain occurs, in an attempt to shorten its duration, or to reduce the intensity of the temporal pain.

Temple pain can occur if medications are taken in excessive doses or too often, and finding the right dosage is important if you have temple pain that occurs frequently. In general, use medications only as needed to relieve or prevent temple pain.

Preventive measures

Preventative medications may be used to reduce the likelihood of temple pain. Preventative medications are usually taken every day, regardless of whether a person experiences temple pain. It may take up to 4-6 weeks to prevent temple pain.

Because these medications are meant to be taken every day, you should always consult your doctor before you stop taking or reduce the dose of a medication you are prescribed.

Possible drug prescriptions include the following:

• antidepressants
• anticonvulsants
• Botulinum toxin type A preparations (Botox)
• cardiovascular drugs
• antispasmodics
• painkillers

Relaxation techniques to relieve temporal pain

Some temple pain can be caused by stress, and your doctor may recommend relaxation techniques to help you relax. Meditation can allow you to focus on your breathing, thereby allowing your shoulder and neck muscles to relax. Or you may choose to practice biofeedback techniques.

These practices may use visual imagery, breathing techniques, and mantras. Using these techniques, you can reduce anxiety, thereby reducing the chances of temple pain.

Temporal pain can come in many forms, and there are many different treatments available. Living a healthy life is just one strategy for recovering from temporal pain, and it is a very good one. However, if necessary, medications are also needed. By choosing from a variety of options, you will be able to live a more fulfilling life.