Since my post below ("9 Years and Still No Diagnosis) I have seen another doctor. One of the possible diagnoses he mentioned was "temporal arteritis." I've noticed recently that my pain is mainly in the temporal area i.e. on the sides of my head. It does seem that there is a point on each side of my head that is actually physically tender to the touch. My other big symptom is excessive sleepiness.

From what I am reading on the net it is rare to have this condition so early in life (I am 31) but it seems like a possibility. Does anyone else out there suffer from chronic, daily headache with pain primarily in the sides of the head and with what diagnoses ?

-Thanks in Advance
darkstar

:wave:

YES!!! I am going through the same thing for past 5-6 months. I have had more tests than I can imagine & still come up with nothing. Ask your Doc to send you for ESR blood test (sedimentation rate for Temporal Arteritis). Mine came back fine.

I have been reading people's boards on other sites as well. When a possible cause is mention, I look it up. Here is what I found last week.
http://www.achenet.org/articles/6.php

I seem to fit right into this category. Needless to say, I went back to neuro right away & got him to perscribe Indomethacin. Just a few days on it & I am already feeling relief :D

I will keep you posted on progress....please do the same!

Seejay,
Thank you so much for posting that link!
The article discussing 'Hemicrania Continua' sounds so much like the daily headaches I have been experiencing for 3 weeks...

ie: head hurts all the time, mainly one side of the head, the pain
comes and goes, frequent sharp pains (jabs) that last seconds

I did go to the Dr last week, she prescribed a medicine because
the pressure test in one ear did not look right, but everything else
looked fine.
Until this morning, I have continued with the constant pains.
Don't know if the relief is temporary OR if the med is finally helping.

I am trying a trigger/elimination experiment....I have read on the net that
there could be something new that I am doing, eating, using that is
causing these headaches.
The week these chronic headaches began is the week I started using
the 'new blue antibacterial mouth rinse that is alcohol free'
(don't think we are supposed to name brands).
... I have been using that mouthwash when I brush my teeth
right before bed since I was thinking the other major brand
(with alcohol) may have been causing dry mouth though I continue to use
it in the mornings.

If the relief continues, I will try the mouthwash again in a few weeks to
see if the headaches return. Otherwise I will assume the relief is from
the medication. The Dr had told me to contact her if I wasn't
improved by midweek, so I hope today is the first day of real
recovery.
If I have to return to the Dr, I will mention 'Hemicrania Continua' .

Thank you, and I wish relief for all.

Hey Sesham: Share with me this trigger/elimination experiment as I am ALWAYS looking for other things to try in case the indomethacin does't work.
Thanks!

Seejay,
I started a new thread...did not want to
threadjack.
Thanks!

thanks you guys! this is great info!

This is my first post and I was actually searching this condition. I suffer migraines fairly regularly (one to three a month). This past month I have had head pain (mostly right side though it hurts so much I get to where it hurts all over.) that just won't go away. I finally saw my doctor and he told me that my occipital nerve was inflammed and recommended a nerve block. Since he does not give them, I went back today for the head doctor of the clinic for the shot:eek: . When I mentioned my head felt bruised and I had not hit it. After he examined it he said the artery on the side of the head may be inflamed and said I may have TA. He gave me the nerve block (Ow!) and ordered a blood test. He also put me on Mobic and a pediatric dose of Neurontin. I have also had extreme pain in my hip and shoulder on the same side which I thought was related to uric acid as I have uric acid kidney stones. After researching TA on the net I found out that 1. It affects mostly people over 50. 2. More women than men get it. 3. It is related to and found with Polymyalgia Rhuematica 50% of the time (causes joint pain.) Thanks for letting me unload.

PS: Doc. told me my migraine meds would not help either condition (Nerve or Artery) no wonder it wouldn't help