# headache question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-question/674570 "2013-11-22T22:19:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-question/674570/1 "2013-11-22T22:19:01Z")
About every month or two, I get a headache in front of one of my ears. It’s one of those ones that attack with a quick sharp pain throb at odd intervals. When I put my finger up in front of the ear, I can feel the vein & it seems like that’s exactly where the pain is coming from. Anyone know what causes this? I also get sinus headaches, but those go right away with sinus headache OTC pills. This thing hangs on for HOURS, despite throwing class 3 pain killers at it. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-question/674570/2 "2013-11-23T16:06:56Z")
Many headaches, and especially headaches due to migraine and its variants, arise from the blood vessels of the brain and skull, and/or from blood vessels putting traction on surrounding, pain-sensitive tissues. Judging from the fact that you can clearly identify the pain as arising from one of the blood vessels on your face/scalp, it seems that’s what’s going on in your case. It should go without saying that if you have any concerns about your headache, you really should see a physician. There is one thing, though that I wanted to note explicitly and is the primary reason I am posting this response: Specifically, in an older person (say, over age 55), a NEW or INCREASING headache that seems to originate from a blood vessel in the face/scalp (and, in particular, from a blood vessel above or in front of the ear - [diagram](http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/media/medical/hw/h9991400_001.jpg)) could be a symptom of a very serious condition known as [temporal arteritis (TA), also known as giant cell arteritis](http://www.patient.co.uk/health/giant-cell-arteritis-temporal-arteritis-leaflet). TA is a vision-threatening disease that is, thankfully, easily treatable. The key thing is thinking of it, and then making the diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-question/674570/3 "2013-11-23T16:51:48Z")
**Moderator Action** This is more of a medical advice type of question than a general factual question about headaches. Moving thread from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headache-question/674570/4 "2013-11-24T03:10:20Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Many headaches, and especially headaches due to migraine and its variants, arise from the blood vessels of the brain and skull, and/or from blood vessels putting traction on surrounding, pain-sensitive tissues. > > Judging from the fact that you can clearly identify the pain as arising from one of the blood vessels on your face/scalp, it seems that’s what’s going on in your case. > > It should go without saying that if you have any concerns about your headache, you really should see a physician. > > There is one thing, though that I wanted to note explicitly and is the primary reason I am posting this response: > > Specifically, in an older person (say, over age 55), a NEW or INCREASING headache that seems to originate from a blood vessel in the face/scalp (and, in particular, from a blood vessel above or in front of the ear - [diagram](http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/media/medical/hw/h9991400_001.jpg)) could be a symptom of a very serious condition known as [temporal arteritis (TA), also known as giant cell arteritis](http://www.patient.co.uk/health/giant-cell-arteritis-temporal-arteritis-leaflet). TA is a vision-threatening disease that is, thankfully, easily treatable. The key thing is thinking of it, and then making the diagnosis. Well, I’m over 55 so … I have glaucoma and get a battery of tests every 3-4 months - would these catch TA or should I call my eye dr? Of course, I just had the tests done and won’t be in there until January. :smack: Thanks **KarlGauss**!