What causes pain in the left eye socket. How can eye pain be diagnosed and treated effectively. What are the common symptoms of eye socket discomfort. When should you seek medical attention for eye pain.

Understanding the Anatomy of the Eye Socket

The eye socket, also known as the orbital cavity, is a complex structure that houses and protects the eyeball. It consists of several bones, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels that work together to support eye function and movement. Understanding this anatomy is crucial for identifying the potential causes of eye socket pain.

The orbital cavity is formed by seven bones:

• Frontal bone
• Maxillary bone
• Zygomatic bone
• Sphenoid bone
• Ethmoid bone
• Lacrimal bone
• Palatine bone

These bones create a protective enclosure for the eye and its associated structures. Within this bony framework, several important components reside:

• Extraocular muscles: Control eye movement
• Optic nerve: Transmits visual information to the brain
• Blood vessels: Supply oxygen and nutrients to the eye
• Fat pads: Provide cushioning and support
• Lacrimal gland: Produces tears to lubricate the eye

When pain occurs in the left eye socket, it can originate from any of these structures or the surrounding tissues. This complex anatomy makes accurate diagnosis crucial for effective treatment.

Common Causes of Left Eye Socket Pain

Pain in the left eye socket can stem from various sources, ranging from minor irritations to more serious medical conditions. Understanding these potential causes can help in seeking appropriate treatment and relief.

Sinus Infections and Pressure

One of the most common causes of eye socket pain is sinusitis. The sinuses are air-filled cavities located near the eye sockets, and when they become inflamed or infected, the pressure can radiate to the surrounding areas, including the eye socket. Symptoms often include facial pain, headache, and a feeling of fullness or pressure behind the eyes.

Orbital Cellulitis

This serious bacterial infection affects the tissues within the eye socket. It can cause severe pain, swelling, redness, and potentially vision problems if left untreated. Orbital cellulitis requires immediate medical attention to prevent complications.

Optic Neuritis

Inflammation of the optic nerve can cause pain in the eye socket, especially when moving the eye. This condition is often associated with autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis and can lead to temporary vision loss if not addressed promptly.

Cluster Headaches

These intense headaches typically affect one side of the head and can cause severe pain around and behind the eye. They often occur in cyclical patterns or clusters, hence the name.

Glaucoma

While not always painful in its early stages, acute angle-closure glaucoma can cause sudden and severe eye pain, often accompanied by nausea, blurred vision, and halos around lights.

Trauma or Injury

Direct impact to the eye or surrounding area can cause pain in the eye socket. This can range from minor bruising to more serious fractures or damage to the orbital bones.

Diagnosing Eye Socket Pain: What to Expect

When experiencing persistent or severe pain in the left eye socket, seeking medical attention is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The diagnostic process typically involves several steps:

Medical History Assessment

Your healthcare provider will begin by asking detailed questions about your symptoms, including:

• When did the pain start?
• Is the pain constant or intermittent?
• Are there any associated symptoms like vision changes or headaches?
• Have you experienced any recent injuries or infections?

Physical Examination

A thorough examination of the eye and surrounding structures will be conducted. This may include:

• Visual acuity tests
• Pupil reactivity checks
• Evaluation of eye movement and alignment
• Examination of the eyelids and surrounding skin

Imaging Studies

Depending on the suspected cause, your doctor may order imaging tests such as:

• CT scan: Provides detailed images of the eye socket and surrounding bones
• MRI: Offers high-resolution images of soft tissues and can detect inflammation or tumors
• X-rays: May be used to identify fractures or foreign bodies

Specialized Tests

In some cases, additional tests may be necessary:

• Tonometry: Measures intraocular pressure to check for glaucoma
• Slit-lamp examination: Allows for detailed visualization of the eye’s structures
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT): Provides cross-sectional images of the retina and optic nerve

By combining these diagnostic tools, healthcare providers can accurately identify the underlying cause of eye socket pain and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatment Options for Left Eye Socket Pain

The treatment for left eye socket pain varies depending on the underlying cause. Once a diagnosis has been made, your healthcare provider will recommend a tailored treatment plan. Here are some common approaches:

Conservative Management

For mild cases or those related to minor injuries or strain:

• Rest and cold compresses to reduce inflammation
• Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Artificial tears to lubricate the eye and reduce irritation

Medications

Depending on the cause, prescribed medications may include:

• Antibiotics for bacterial infections (e.g., orbital cellulitis)
• Antiviral drugs for viral infections
• Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation (e.g., in cases of optic neuritis)
• Eye drops to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma

Surgical Interventions

In some cases, surgery may be necessary:

• Drainage of abscesses in severe infections
• Repair of orbital fractures
• Removal of tumors or foreign bodies

Specialized Treatments

For specific conditions:

• Oxygen therapy for cluster headaches
• Immunomodulating drugs for autoimmune-related optic neuritis
• Laser treatments or drainage implants for certain types of glaucoma

Lifestyle Modifications

In addition to medical treatments, lifestyle changes can help manage and prevent eye socket pain:

• Proper eye hygiene and regular breaks during screen time
• Stress reduction techniques for tension-related pain
• Avoiding known triggers for conditions like cluster headaches

It’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations closely and report any changes in symptoms or new concerns promptly.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

While many causes of left eye socket pain can be managed with conservative treatments or outpatient care, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Recognizing these red flags can help prevent serious complications and protect your vision.

Severe or Sudden Pain

If you experience intense, sudden pain in your eye socket, especially if accompanied by vision changes, seek emergency care. This could indicate conditions like acute angle-closure glaucoma, which requires prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.

Visual Disturbances

Immediate attention is necessary if you notice:

• Sudden vision loss or blurring
• Double vision
• Flashes of light or new floaters in your vision

These symptoms could indicate retinal detachment, optic nerve issues, or other serious conditions that require urgent intervention.

Signs of Infection

If you observe the following symptoms, seek medical care promptly:

• Redness and swelling around the eye
• Fever accompanying eye pain
• Discharge from the eye
• Difficulty moving the eye

These could be signs of orbital cellulitis or other severe infections that can spread rapidly if left untreated.

Trauma or Injury

Any direct injury to the eye or surrounding area, especially if it results in bleeding, severe pain, or vision changes, requires immediate evaluation. This includes chemical exposures or foreign bodies in the eye.

Neurological Symptoms

If eye socket pain is accompanied by:

• Severe headache
• Confusion or altered mental state
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body

These could indicate more serious neurological issues, such as stroke or intracranial pressure, and require emergency evaluation.

Remember, when in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention. Timely intervention can often prevent more serious complications and protect your vision and overall health.

Prevention Strategies for Eye Socket Pain

While not all causes of eye socket pain are preventable, there are several strategies you can employ to reduce your risk and maintain overall eye health:

Maintain Good Eye Hygiene

Proper eye care can prevent many infections and irritations:

• Wash your hands regularly, especially before touching your eyes or applying eye drops
• Remove eye makeup thoroughly before sleeping
• Replace eye cosmetics every 3-6 months to prevent bacterial growth
• If you wear contact lenses, follow proper cleaning and wearing guidelines

Protect Your Eyes

Safeguarding your eyes from injury is crucial:

• Wear protective eyewear during sports or hazardous activities
• Use safety glasses when working with chemicals or in dusty environments
• Wear sunglasses to protect against UV radiation

Practice Healthy Screen Habits

Reduce eye strain from digital devices:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
• Adjust screen brightness and contrast for comfort
• Position your screen at arm’s length and slightly below eye level
• Use artificial tears to keep your eyes lubricated during extended screen time

Manage Underlying Health Conditions

Some systemic health issues can contribute to eye problems:

• Keep diabetes well-controlled to prevent diabetic eye disease
• Manage high blood pressure to reduce the risk of eye complications
• Treat allergies promptly to prevent eye irritation

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Overall health habits can impact eye health:

• Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins A, C, E, and omega-3 fatty acids
• Stay hydrated to maintain proper eye lubrication
• Get regular exercise to improve circulation, including to the eyes
• Avoid smoking, which can increase the risk of various eye problems

Regular Eye Exams

Routine check-ups can catch issues early:

• Schedule comprehensive eye exams as recommended by your eye care professional
• Don’t ignore changes in vision or new eye symptoms
• Update your eyeglass or contact lens prescription regularly

By incorporating these preventive measures into your daily routine, you can significantly reduce the risk of eye socket pain and maintain optimal eye health. Remember, early detection and prompt treatment of eye issues are key to preventing more serious complications.

Long-term Management and Prognosis

Managing eye socket pain often extends beyond immediate treatment, especially for chronic conditions or recurrent issues. Understanding the long-term outlook and management strategies is crucial for maintaining eye health and quality of life.

Follow-up Care

Regular follow-up appointments with your eye care professional are essential:

• Monitor the effectiveness of treatments
• Adjust medications or therapies as needed
• Detect any new developments or complications early

Chronic Condition Management

For ongoing conditions like glaucoma or recurrent sinusitis:

• Adhere strictly to prescribed medication regimens
• Attend regular check-ups to monitor disease progression
• Learn to recognize early signs of flare-ups or complications

Lifestyle Adaptations

Some conditions may require long-term lifestyle changes:

• Modify work environments to reduce eye strain
• Adjust diet or exercise routines to support eye health
• Learn stress management techniques for conditions exacerbated by stress

Patient Education

Empowering yourself with knowledge is crucial:

• Understand your condition and its potential long-term effects
• Stay informed about new treatments or research developments
• Join support groups or patient organizations for additional resources and support

Prognosis Considerations

The long-term outlook for eye socket pain varies widely depending on the underlying cause:

• Many acute conditions, like minor injuries or infections, resolve completely with proper treatment
• Chronic conditions may require ongoing management but can often be controlled effectively
• Some conditions may have a progressive nature, requiring vigilant monitoring and treatment adjustments

Your healthcare provider can offer more specific information about the expected prognosis for your particular condition. Open communication about your symptoms, concerns, and treatment effectiveness is key to achieving the best possible outcome.

Remember, while dealing with eye socket pain can be challenging, advances in medical treatments and management strategies continue to improve outcomes for many conditions. With proper care, most individuals can maintain good eye health and quality of life, even when managing chronic eye conditions.

What Is Causing The Pain Behind Your Eyeball?

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Daily Health Tips From Physical Therapist Shaina Clemons…”

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Shaina Clemons | July 14, 2020

So many people complain of headaches, tension in the neck and shoulder joints, BUT when you start to have pain that radiates to your eyeball, you start to wonder what is going on?!

Do you have pain along your neck that shoots across your face or on top of your head, but eventually you feel behind your eyes? Are you wondering how to get rid of this pain and what it is in the first place? Do you just want to reach behind your eye and try to touch, but so far nothing has made any difference in what you are feeling?

All of those symptoms above are consistent with the condition Greater Occipital Neuralgia. This is a condition, commonly diagnosed by your ophthalmologist, where pressure is put on the greater occipital nerve as it exits out of the skull and that pressure causes the classic EYE PAIN!

So what can be done about this unrelenting eye pain that you can’t physically touch and can’t get it to reduce OR figure out what caused it to start? Well sometimes a fall, neck tension or pain along the neck can cause this condition to start and NOT stop!

Here are some things to get started on today if you are feeling this way:

• Start putting heat along the back of your neck to reduce any tension, pain and stress that these muscles are putting along your nerves to cause this discomfort
• tart a stretching program where you put one hand on top of your shoulder and the other on top of your head as you gently move your nose towards your armpit – Hold this position for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times on each side
• Another stretch is to bring one arm behind your back and then bring your ear to the opposite shoulder (you can put the other hand on top of your head to gently feel the stretch) – Hold this position for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times on each side
• Make the decision to come and see a skilled physical therapist who has experience treating this condition:

1. 1

   They will check out the alignment of your neck

2. 2

   Check on muscle tension along your neck and shoulders

3. 3

   Look at your range of motion to see how limited you are along your neck (to make sure you can safely turn your head for driving and other activities)

4. 4

   Check your strength of your upper body

5. 5

   Provide you a plan to relieve this aching eye pain that can be unrelenting

Why wait when you can get the change that you are seeking TODAY? Don’t suffer with eye pain and wonder what’s going on… take control of your health and make the decision to get better now! We only get one body and two eyes that we need to take care of to make sure we can see all the beautiful things in life

If you would like to talk more with one of our skilled physical therapists, call our office at 410-782-3152 to set-up a free phone consultation or a free Breakthrough visit where you can come in and meet our team. This is a great opportunity to ask all your questions and further your understanding of what is going on with your neck pain and eye pain!

We look forward to meeting you soon and getting you back to doing all the activities that you love!

Shaina Clemons, DPT

• Bio

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Shaina is the founder and owner of Breakaway Physical Therapy.  She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland Baltimore, along with a Bachelor’s degree from Towson University.  

Shaina is an Ironman triathlete, with a love of all sports. Exercise is her passion, which plays an important role in both her personal and professional life.  In her free time, Shaina enjoys spending time with her husband and three young children.  Shaina’s love of snowboarding led her to her career choice many years ago. 

What’s the Sharp Pain in my Eye? — Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center

Eye pain resulting from a traumatic event, a chemical burn, or sudden vision loss requires immediate emergency medical attention. However, if you experience discomfort in or around your eye, there is usually no cause for alarm. If you have been struggling with eye discomfort, you are not alone. Many people experience sore eyes for a variety of reasons. Let’s explore some of the common causes of this discomfort.

pain in your eye? Eye doctors define the two categories of eye pain — orbital eye pain and ocular eye pain. Here are some common causes of eye pain – see if any of them apply to you:

• Abrasions (scratches) of the cornea: Corneal abrasions can happen from rubbing the eye when there’s a foreign body present, wearing contact lenses too long, being hit in the eye with an object, or if the eye comes in contact with something like a grain of sand. An abrasion of the cornea can feel like there’s something under the eyelid or in the eye.

• Chemical burns: Did you perhaps get a household chemical such as cleaning products, fertilizer, drain cleaner, nail polish remover, or vinegar in your eye? Rinse the eye with saline solution or allow water from the shower to irrigate the eye for at least 10 minutes, and then seek emergency help.

• Conjunctivitis: Also known as “pink eye,” conjunctivitis can be a bacterial, viral infection, or an allergic reaction that causes inflammation of the membrane that protects the white of the eye and lines the eyelid. The inflammation makes blood vessels in the membrane more visible, which makes the eyes look red or pink.

• Contact lens problems: Wearing contact lenses for too long, wearing them when the eyes are too dry, sleeping in lenses that are not appropriate for sleep, or rubbing the eyes with the lenses in can cause corneal abrasions.

• Dry eyes (including Sjogren’s syndrome): This condition occurs when the lacrimal glands don’t produce enough tears – or the right kind of tears – to keep the eyes properly lubricated. It can be temporary, due to dry environments or poor air quality, or it may be ongoing; it can also be a symptom of Sjogren’s Syndrome. When the eyes get too dry, corneal nerves become irritated, sensitive, and painful. Eye drops are often prescribed to help the eyes produce more tears, improve the quality of the tear and in turn improve symptoms, but can take several weeks to take full effect for some people.

• Glaucoma: The most common type of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, does not cause pain in most cases. But the sudden pressure change in acute-angle-closure glaucoma, sometimes called narrow-angle glaucoma, can cause severe pain, nausea and vomiting, redness, and blurred vision. This condition requires immediate attention.

• Headaches (including cluster, “ice pick,” or migraine): Pain that seems to radiate from the eye can be a symptom of severe headaches; the pain from a migraine, for instance, is often located behind one eye; the pain from cluster headaches can be excruciatingly occurring around one eye on one side of the head; and “ice pick” headaches often produce stabbing pains around the eye or temple region typically lasting seconds.

• Infection: Infections of the eye are often viral or bacterial and if not treated can progress in severity. An infection can be the result of an injury or sometimes from contact lenses that were not properly cleaned. Sinusitis, while not an infection of the eye, is an infection of the sinus cavities, that can cause a pressure sensation behind the eyes can make the entire area achy and tender. Untreated infections can worsen and spread to common areas leading to further complications.

• Inflammation: Inflammation can be a source of pain in different areas of the eye. A few of the more common types of inflammation that lead to pain include:
  • Blepharitis involves the eyelids, especially at the lid margin where the eyelashes grow.
  • Iritis involves the iris, the colored part of the eye.
  • Keratitis involves the cornea, the front surface of your eye.
  • Scleritis involves the white part of the eye and can be so painful that it wakes you at night.

• Map-dot fingerprint dystrophy: In this disorder, cellular abnormalities from beneath the cornea can resemble the topography of a map or the curves of a fingerprint. As a result, the layers of the cornea don’t adhere to each other as well, and the outermost layer can be sloughed off, even as a patient sleeps (and especially in REM sleep, where the eyes move rapidly). The areas where the surface layer has sloughed off expose nerves, which can cause searing pain. Over time, the condition can cause corneal erosions.

What should I do next?

Get checked out by a professional. If you have stabbing eye pain or are looking for a specialist for general eye health, experts in ophthalmology like Barnet Dulaney Perkins are able to help you. Contact your eye specialist.

Be prepared to answer the following questions about your eye pain:

• Description: Is it mild, intense, dull, sharp, throbbing, or stabbing?
• Location: Does the pain feel like it’s behind your eye, in your eye, or on the surface? Is it in one or both eyes?
• Appearance: Is there any redness in or around your eye? Is your eye-watering? Any swelling?
• When: Does it hurt more at certain times of day – for instance, right when you wake up?
• Duration: How long does the pain last – 5 seconds, 5 minutes, or longer?
• Recurrence: How often do you feel pain? Once a week, once a day, many times a day?

In the meantime… follow these eye pain tips

• DO: Rinse your eye with saline drops or tap water. If an abrasive or chemical liquid comes in contact with the eyes, rinse for at least 10 minutes, and then call your eye doctor. If a foreign body sensation is present, don’t try to remove it by yourself. Let your eyes tear as much as they will as the tears may wash out the irritant.
• DON’T: Rub your eye. If there’s a foreign object in it or you have a corneal abrasion, you can make it worse.
• DON’T: Put any sort of bandage or patch over your eye. If you feel that you need to put something over the eye to keep you (or a child) from touching it, loosely tape the bottom of a paper cup over the eye.
• DON’T: Put any ointment or other medicine in your eye without a doctor’s instructions.

If you experience eye pain resulting from a traumatic event, a chemical burn, or a sudden loss of vision, you should seek emergency medical assistance right away.

Did you find this information valuable? Hopefully, this article helps you identify and relieve the pain in your eye. Let us know! We appreciate your feedback.

For more advice on common eye problems, follow us on Facebook or at GoodEyesAZ on Twitter. For videos by our eye surgeons, subscribe to our YouTube channel – you’ll find in-depth answers to important questions.

Headache above the eyebrow. Causes of a headache in the eyebrow area.

Headache above the eyebrow. Causes of a headache in the eyebrow area.

Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich
Neurologist, neurophysiologist, experience – 33 years;
Professor of Neurology, MD;
Clinic for Rehabilitation Neurology. About the author

Publication date: March 16, 2021

Updated: January 31, 2023

Headache is a common occurrence, but by its localization, concentration in a certain place, an experienced doctor will be able to quickly determine what is the root of the problem.

Normally this is not dangerous fatigue. However, in some cases, urgent medical attention is required. Let’s take a closer look at what and when.

The reason that the head hurts and presses over the right or left eyebrow in the forehead area may be a disease that is dangerous for a further full life. Therefore, if such symptoms occur on a regular basis, you need to seek help from the clinic and undergo examinations.

Article content:

• 1 Reasons
  • 1.1 Reasons to see a doctor
• 2 Diagnosis
• 3 Treatment
• 4 Prevention
• 5 References

Causes

With a single manifestation of symptoms, the problem may lie in some temporary external factor . For example, traumatic cosmetic procedures, fatigue or too strong odors become a problem.

However, if your head hurts every day above the eyebrow in the forehead, then the cause may be serious.

Reasons to see a doctor

1. Sinusitis, damage to the cavities in the upper jaw (1). Inflamed sinuses do not give rest, mainly in the cool season. When the head is tilted, the discomfort increases. Additional symptoms are a runny nose, nasal congestion on one or both sides. A severe variant proceeds with fever, a feeling of aching muscles and increased fatigue.

1. Migraine, hemicrania. Common among women, but men also suffer from seizures. A characteristic sign is an extremely severe pain in the head above the left eyebrow. It interferes with sleep, thinking, perceiving the environment. Symptoms are aggravated in bright light, against the background of extraneous noise. Traditional painkillers cannot cope with an attack, but monoclonal antibodies are effective. A number of patients with refractory migraines benefit from surgery (2).

1. Diseases of the eyes and poor eyesight also contribute to discomfort in the forehead area. After treatment and selection of suitable glasses, the problem is solved by itself.

1. Neoplasms, benign and malignant tumors. Localization of pain in the region of the eyebrows occurs when the pathology begins to grow in the frontal lobes of the brain, the facial region of the skull. You need a thorough examination by a neurologist, a check for poor quality and an operation to remove it.

1. Tension pains. As a result of muscle strain or a long stay in one position, unpleasant pressure sensations occur in the forehead area. You can solve the problem with rest and self-massage, which helps to relax.

1. Head injuries of varying severity. Sometimes pain and discomfort begin to appear after a while, even a month, after complete healing.

1. Pathologies of the cardiovascular system. A sharp change in pressure, characteristic of diseases of this type, often causes pain in the back of the head and nausea. It can also lead to discomfort in the supraorbital region. In such cases, dizziness, flies before the eyes are not excluded.

Oncology is fortunately one of the rare causes of the symptoms in question. Nevertheless, the survey algorithm includes the search for and exclusion of such processes.

Unpleasant sensations in this area can provoke everyday things, a wrong way of life. 2-4 hours in an unventilated room or alcohol abuse, often lead to the appearance of pain.

Diagnosis

A simple and correct answer to the question: “What should I do if my head hurts in the forehead, above the left or right eyebrow, or where they converge above the bridge of the nose?” – there will be an appeal to the clinic. It is especially important to do this if the attacks have become regular, albeit not very pronounced.

Medical advice is required for acute pain. Such as supraorbital neuralgia [3].

It is better to start finding out the reason with a visit to a therapist. The doctor will establish a preliminary diagnosis by analyzing the information obtained during the examination.

He is interested in:

• How often the symptoms appear.
• When the first time happened.
• Intensity and specificity of pain.
• Additional symptoms.
• Features of your lifestyle.

After analyzing the received information, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialized doctor. Or prescribe additional tests if necessary: ​​

• complete blood count;
• x-ray of the head to determine the condition of the sinuses;
• CT or MRI examination of the brain;
• electroencephalogram.

After analyzing the results of the research, you can make an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

When choosing a method of treatment, many factors are taken into account. Necessarily – how exactly the head hurts above the eyebrows and eyes, where it gives off, at what time of the day it manifests itself with unpleasant sensations.

To temporarily relieve an attack, it may be enough to take an anesthetic.

But remember that analgesics are a temporary way to numb the symptom. Only treating the cause of the pain can get rid of the problem.

Depending on the identified disease, the doctor selects an effective therapy. The scheme may include several components:

• Drug treatment, selected strictly for a particular patient. Not only the current disease is taken into account, but also other features of health. This explains why doctors prescribe different medicines for the same symptoms. It is dangerous to choose drugs on your own or use the advice of people in this case [4].

• Physiotherapeutic methods and reflexology. Depending on the specific identified disease, the most effective procedures are selected. They help the patient recover, improve well-being.

• Surgical intervention is rarely used and only if the conservative does not give the desired effect. As a rule, patients who have neoplasms in the frontal areas of the skull and brain are sent for surgery. In this case, after the procedure, patients expect a long recovery.

Prevention

Headache above the eyebrows in the forehead can also be the result of an incorrect, traumatic daily routine. With this option, the doctor will tell you what measures to take to avoid worsening the condition.

As a rule, following several principles helps:

• Avoid physical and mental overwork, try to periodically give yourself a little rest in the process of work.

• Change your diet to include more fresh fruits or vegetables and eliminate canned foods.

• Regularly spend time in the fresh air and ventilate the room in which you have to stay.

• When you lead a sedentary lifestyle, do not forget about regular physical activity.

• Organize sessions of acupuncture, acupuncture [5].

Some patients are indicated for preventive procedures of EHF – extremely high frequencies.

References

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Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich

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Pain in the left side of the head

Pain in the left side of the head is observed in migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania, hypnic and cluster headache, vertebrobasilar insufficiency. It is detected at the initial stage of brain tumors, with limited arachnoiditis, Horton’s disease, some ENT diseases and pathologies of the cervical spine. It can be acute, dull, prolonged, paroxysmal, pressing, bursting, breaking, pulsating. The cause is established on the basis of complaints, interview data, neurological examination, additional studies. As part of therapeutic measures, NSAIDs, triptans, steroids, caffeine preparations, and physiotherapy are prescribed. Sometimes operations are performed.

General characteristics

Pain in half of the head (hemicrania) is a symptom typical of some primary cephalalgias. Sometimes provoked by other neurological, rheumatological and otolaryngological diseases. In some cases, it is preceded by an aura, combined with dizziness, vegetative manifestations, and other disorders. Both the left and right half of the head can hurt, but there are pathologies in which the defeat of a certain side predominates.

Why does the left side of the head hurt

Physiological causes

Pain in half of the head under certain circumstances can occur in a healthy person. Features of the pain syndrome are episodic, rapid disappearance after rest or taking an analgesic. The symptom is observed in the following cases:

• Intense physical activity . Perhaps a combination with darkening in the eyes, dizziness, shortness of breath, palpitations and tingling in the region of the heart.
• Stressful situations . The left or right half of the head hurts against the background of the release of stress hormones, which provokes vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure. There is marked emotional stress.
• Mental fatigue . Pain is caused by significant intellectual stress, as well as the need for prolonged concentration of attention and tension when staying in one position, for example, when preparing for an exam or working at a computer.
• Bad habits . The symptom sometimes appears with the abuse of tonic drinks (coffee, strong tea, energy drinks), smoking and drinking alcohol. The reason is changes in vascular tone, the entry of toxic substances into the body.

Cluster headache

Develops in people of a certain type – predominantly tall men of athletic build, ambitious, but indecisive. The pain syndrome develops acutely, reaches a peak within a few minutes, lasts from 15 minutes to 3 hours. Pain often occurs in the left side of the head. It is most pronounced in the orbit, burning, stitching, intolerable, resembling a “rupture” or “gouging out” of the eye. Cluster headache is accompanied by autonomic disorders. It decreases with movement, so patients rush about, hit the wall with their fists.

Migraine

The left half of the head with migraine hurts somewhat less often than the right. The pain is pressing, throbbing, with an epicenter in the temple, forehead or eye. Sometimes painful sensations arise in the back of the head, and from there spread to the entire half of the head. A typical sign of pathology is the periodic change of the affected side. Manifestations vary somewhat depending on the type of migraine:

• Simple migraine. Diagnosed in 80% of cases. Aura is missing. Possible prodrome in the form of drowsiness, mood deterioration, decreased performance. Hemicrania is combined with nausea and vomiting, aggravated by movements, the action of auditory and sound stimuli. It lasts from 4 hours to 2-3 days.
• Migraine with aura. The attack itself proceeds in the same way as in a simple migraine. The difference lies in the presence of an aura – visual disturbances, transient sensory disturbances, ringing in the ears, the appearance of unusual smells or sounds, impaired speech. Migraine in children is often preceded by “Alice’s syndrome” – a visual distortion of objects, visual hallucinations. Lasts from several hours to 4 days.
• Eye migraine. Typically loss of certain areas of the visual field, the presence of paracentral or central scotomas, flickering before the eyes. The headache is throbbing, occurs in the forehead, passes into the orbit. The duration of visual disturbances is 10-20 minutes, an attack of cephalalgia is 30-120 minutes.
• Vestibular migraine. Manifests a prodrome, which is subsequently joined by dizziness, sometimes in combination with other variants of the aura. Then half of the patients develop pain in the left or right half of the head, lasting no more than 3 days. Dizziness stops with the onset of hemicrania, persists throughout the entire pain attack, or becomes its only manifestation (painless paroxysms).

If a symptom persists for more than 3 days or a series of continuous paroxysms during this time, they speak of migraine status. The pain is very intense, undulating. Pallor, adynamia, severe weakness, inability to eat and take medications due to repeated vomiting, and increasing dehydration are observed. Severe condition.

Pain in the left side of the head

Paroxysmal hemicrania

One-sided pain, paroxysmal, very severe. It can be aching, throbbing, burning, boring, stabbing, or fist-like. It is localized mainly in the temple or eye socket, less often in the area of ​​the forehead, occiput or crown. Associated with damage to the trigeminal nerve. An attack of paroxysmal hemicrania lasts from 5 to 45 minutes; from 1 to 40 episodes can be observed per day during an exacerbation. Complemented by vegetative symptoms, eyelid drooping, pupil constriction, photophobia.

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency

Left-sided or right-sided headache occurs in spondylogenic form of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. It develops suddenly on movement. From the neck and the back of the head it spreads to the forehead, temple and eye socket, extends into the hand. A clear relationship is revealed between the intensity of cephalalgia and the position of the cervical spine. The pain syndrome is supplemented by unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, visual disturbances, cerebellar disorders and autonomic reactions.

Hypnic headache

Observed in people over 50 years of age, chronic. It always develops during sleep, in 40% of cases it occurs only in the left or right half, in other cases it spreads to the entire head. An attack of hypnic headache forces the patient to wake up. On average, it lasts 30-60 minutes, repeats from 1 time per week to several paroxysms throughout the night. Painful sensations are dull, moderately pronounced, less often intense. There may be mild nausea, increased sensitivity to sounds and bright lights.

Cerebral tumors

Local pain in the left half of the head becomes an early symptom of left-sided tumors. Deep, bursting, quite intense, often proceeding in the form of paroxysms. With the progression of neoplasia, hemicrania is supplemented by increasing focal symptoms. Then join the cerebral manifestations caused by edema and intracranial hypertension. The pain becomes diffuse, diffuse, bilateral, complemented by dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

Arachnoiditis

The left side of the head can hurt with limited arachnoiditis that developed in the long-term period after TBI, inflammatory and infectious diseases. Symptoms increase gradually. The pains are bursting, more disturbing in the mornings, combined with emotional instability, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances. Subsequently, it is possible to attach focal symptoms, spread the process with diffuse headaches, liquorodynamic crises.

Other causes

Pain in the left side of the head is provoked by some rheumatic and otolaryngological pathologies, diseases of the spine. The symptom is caused by:

• Horton’s disease. Pain on one or both sides, dull, throbbing, with an epicenter in the temple area, aggravated at night, increasing over several weeks. Fever, anorexia, myalgia, arthralgia, induration and tenderness of the temporal and parietal arteries are noted.
• Sinusitis. Left-sided hemicrania accompanies unilateral frontal sinusitis and sinusitis with damage to the left paranasal sinus. Pulsating, bursting, localized in the brow and forehead, radiating to the temple. Complemented by general hyperthermia, intoxication, nasal discharge.
• Mastoiditis. Develops against the background of purulent otitis media. It is accompanied by intense pain in the ear and behind the ear, which spreads to the crown, temple, eye socket and upper jaw, sometimes covering the entire half of the head. Febrile temperature, intoxication, profuse suppuration from the ear are observed.
• Pathologies of the spine . Unilateral compression of blood vessels and nerves in osteochondrosis, protrusion, hernia and some other diseases of the cervical region causes pain in the left half of the head. Complemented by pain in the neck, sometimes – numbness and weakness of the upper limb.

Diagnosis

A neurologist is engaged in establishing the nature of the disease that provokes pain in the left half of the head. According to indications, a rheumatologist, oncologist, otolaryngologist are involved. Primary cephalgia (migraine, cluster and hypnic headache, paroxysmal hemicrania) are diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms, auxiliary methods are prescribed to exclude organic pathology.

In other cases, the diagnosis is based on both objective data and the results of imaging and laboratory techniques. The examination program includes the following procedures:

• Echoencephalography. Produced to measure intracranial pressure, helps to exclude conditions accompanied by intracranial hypertension. Despite the possibility of detecting volumetric processes, in the early stages of tumors it may be uninformative due to the small size of the formations.
• Cerebral blood flow assessment . Includes duplex scanning, ultrasound of the vessels of the head and neck. As part of the differential diagnosis, it allows to detect hemodynamic disorders characteristic of atherosclerosis and other diseases. Recommended for patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency to clarify the nature and structure of stenosis.
• Radiography . On standard images of the cervical spine, signs of hernia, osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spinal column are revealed. To confirm extravasal compression of the vertebral artery, radiographs are taken with functional tests. With sinusitis, x-rays of the paranasal sinuses are performed, with mastoiditis – of the temporal bone.
• Tomography . An MRI of the brain is prescribed for suspected neoplasms and arachnoiditis. In the angiography mode, it provides comprehensive information about the state of the main arteries. If a vertebrogenic etiology of pain is suspected, MRI and CT of the cervical region are performed. For sinusitis, an MRI of the sinuses is sometimes performed.

Consultation of a neurologist

Treatment

Conservative therapy

Treatment tactics are determined taking into account the cause of the symptom. The basis is drugs, which in some cases are supplemented by non-pharmacological methods:

• Migraine . The attack is stopped with the help of non-narcotic analgesics, caffeine-containing drugs. Sometimes therapeutic blockades are carried out. Very intense pain, prolonged attacks are an indication for the use of triptans. With repeated vomiting, medications are administered subcutaneously, used in the form of sprays or rectal suppositories.
• Cluster headache . To eliminate the paroxysm, triptans are prescribed, oxygen inhalations are carried out, and local anesthetics are applied to the nasal mucosa. As part of the prevention, calcium channel blockers are recommended, in case of intolerance – antiepileptic drugs or glucocorticosteroids.
• Paroxysmal hemicrania . The effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sometimes steroids, calcium channel blockers, is noted. Due to prolonged use of painkillers, damage to the gastric mucosa is possible, so patients are additionally prescribed antacids and proton pump blockers.
• Hypnic headache . There is no single treatment regimen. It is possible to use lithium and melatonin preparations, hypnotics, benzodiazepines, NSAIDs, steroid and caffeine-containing drugs.
• Vertebrobasilar system syndrome . The treatment regimen includes drugs with vascular, hypotensive and neuroprotective effects, anticoagulants, antiaggregants, antidepressants. As part of non-drug therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, exercise therapy, vestibular gymnastics, massage, post-isometric relaxation, magnetic laser therapy are carried out.
• Arachnoiditis . Anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic, resolving, antiallergic and dehydration agents, metabolites, neuroprotectors, tranquilizers, antidepressants can be prescribed.
• ENT pathologies . Antibacterial therapy, antihistamine and vasoconstrictor drugs, immunocorrectors, UHF, diadynamic currents are shown. With sinusitis, punctures, sinus evacuation are performed, with mastoiditis – paracentesis of the tympanic membrane.

Surgical treatment

Patients with primary cephalgia do not require surgery. Surgical techniques can be used in the following cases:

• Insufficiency of vertebrobasilar blood flow : carotid-subclavian bypass, endarterectomy.
• Brain tumor : removal of neoplasm using microsurgical techniques or stereotactic radiosurgery techniques, bypass surgery for hydrocephalus.