# A very strange headache **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125 "2003-07-09T00:49:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125/1 "2003-07-09T00:49:43Z")
I’ve have a really strange kind of headache all day. It’s only on the left side, and it’s only on the surface - my scalp is painful to the touch, it even hurts when I touch my hair; but there’s no pain beneath the surface like a normal headache. I’ve had something like this when sick with a fever, but I don’t have a fever, don’t feel sick, and the left-side-only is strange. I also have an earache in my left ear. Can anyone suggest any explanation for this? ---
**Author:** ![suezeekay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@suezeekay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suezeekay)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125/2 "2003-07-10T05:30:14Z")
I don’t have an explanation, but I have had the type of headache you describe several times. I haven’t given it a great deal of through but I always just assumed that I slept on my ear wrong; or the other thing, is that when I had long hair I used to wear it in a ponytail all the time and when I put it in a different style it hurt like hell from being forced to go in a different direction. I used to have to massage my scalp to make the pain go away. The scalp was ultra-sensitive and hurt to touch. Can’t be a problem as I’ve had it, if rarely, over a number of years. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125/3 "2003-07-10T06:44:21Z")
Possibly irritation of the trigeminal nerve. I get this same sensation a day or so before an outbreak of cold sores. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125/4 "2003-07-10T07:10:53Z")
Did you sleep on one side without turning over for a prolnged period? ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125/5 "2003-07-10T07:11:54Z")
prolonged, that is … ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125/6 "2003-07-10T13:01:16Z")
Here’s a brief update: The problem is in its third day now, and now I have a slight sore throat and slight nasal congestion, both only on the left side. These symptoms are very mild, unlike the scalp pain and the earache. In general I still don’t feel at all sick, but I’ll go to the doctor if it doesn’t get better by Saturday. I never heard of anything only on one side, and the scalp pain is just bizarre. Anyway, thanks for your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-strange-headache/187125/7 "2003-07-10T14:51:47Z")
I have that type of headache as I’m developing a sinus infection. The sinuses (sinii?) won’t even be stuffy and it will HURT to comb my hair.