# Why in my bad headaches, does it throb badly over only one eye?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 26, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613 "2011-09-26T01:27:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/1 "2011-09-26T01:27:18Z")
See subject. Thanks.
---
### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/2 "2011-09-26T02:09:54Z")
Do you have cluster headaches?
---
### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/3 "2011-09-26T02:31:16Z")
Maybe sinus related. Only one side is irritated.
---
### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/4 "2011-09-26T02:50:08Z")
Or migraines, or a tumor, or an aneurysm … really not enough information to say, and no one should.
---
### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/5 "2011-09-26T02:58:59Z")
For general information about a common cause of unilateral (one sided) headache, here’s a link about [migraines](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1142556-overview).
> [@](#):
>
> The classic migraine episode is characterized by unilateral head pain preceded by various visual, sensory, motor symptoms, collectively known as an aura. Most commonly, the aura consists of visual manifestations such as scotomas, photophobia, or visual scintillations (eg, bright zigzag lines) (see Clinical Presentation).
>
> In practice, however, migraine headaches may be unilateral or bilateral and may occur with or without an aura. In the current International Headache Society (IHS) categorization, the headache previously described as classic migraine is now known as migraine with aura, and that described as common migraine is now termed migraine without aura. Migraines without aura are the most common, accounting for more than 80% of all migraines. …
The next page goes into some of the hypotheses about migraines, but none are definitive at this time. Why one side often is hit more than another in migraines is just not all that clear. The pain seems to be mediated by trigeminal nerve fibers.
---
### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/6 "2011-09-26T03:54:42Z")
The first thing I thought of when I read bad headaches and throb over one eye is MIGRAINES. I am not a doctor, but I’ve had a few migraines.
---
### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/7 "2011-09-26T11:17:26Z")
Moved to IMHO from General Questions.
**samclem** , Moderator
---
### Author:  [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/8 "2011-09-26T11:35:18Z")
I get that kind of headache from muscle tension, usually if I’ve been spending a lot of time at the computer or doing some kind of close work like crocheting. I almost always get them on the right side of my head and I’m right-handed, so neck muscle or tendon involvement makes sense.
---
### Author:  [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/9 "2011-09-26T11:54:31Z")
Classic migraine.
---
### Author:  [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/10 "2011-09-26T12:06:28Z")
Yup, that’s a migraine. I get caffeine withdrawal migraines over my left eye. FWIW, 2 Excedrin XS (the kind with caffeine) takes care of it almost instantly, but not without side effects (e.g. my brain feels like its numb for hours afterward, and the caffeine will keep me up if I take it after 5pm).
---
### Author:  [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/11 "2011-09-26T20:18:27Z")
It’s PROBABLY a migraine, or other vascular headache.
Probably.
But any decent doctor will do testing and/or refer you to a neurologist to rule out other deadly causes.
FWIW, traditionally, migraines were said to do no harm, aside from the agony and the lost time they cause to sufferers. Now, the thinking is that they can cause minute scarring in the brain.
My husband is a migraineur, suffering the classic migraines. In my never-humble opinion, I believe his headaches caused the scarring he now has in his temporal lobe, which results in Seizure Disorder. He also now has Parkinson’s Disease, and the PD is closely related to the migraines.
Get it checked out.
Yesterday.
~VOW
---
### Author:  [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/12 "2011-09-26T21:03:53Z")
I’ve had 3 migraines with aura in my life (thankfully none within the past year or so), and they were all on the left side–aura was in the left eye, loss of only left peripheral vision, pain on the left side. I don’t know why, but it’s pretty common to have migraines that only affect one side.
If it’s NOT a migraine, though, a tension headache can easily be one side or the other because of your body posture. Changes in posture and frequent stretch breaks (like if you work on a computer, or doing repetitive manual labor) can help alleviate them.
You’d need to see a doctor to determine which you’re having.
---
### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/13 "2011-09-26T21:43:12Z")
> [@VOW](#):
>
> … But any decent doctor will do testing and/or refer you to a neurologist to rule out other deadly causes. …
Or at least get a _complete history_ and do a _physical exam_. With those a good generalist can pretty cross the badness diagnoses off the list pretty quickly without the need for a specialist or imaging in many, if not most cases. But with only “bad headaches … over only one eye”, or really anything in a MB setting … uh, no.
As said by others, we can tell you information in general about migraines, about what are other possible causes of one-sided headaches, but about _your_ one sided headaches? See your doctor.
---
### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/14 "2011-09-27T02:25:47Z")
> [@Septima](#):
>
> Classic migraine.
Classic sinus also. There’s no reason for all sinus cavities to plug and fill with fluid at the same time particularly if a sinus cavity is infected. Since this is a bad time for pollen and mold I wanted to throw this out for consideration.
For me it’s easy to test for a sinus headache (by shaking my head). I can feel the mass of the extra fluid move. If I don’t treat the symptoms of a sinus headache it will trigger a tension headache in my upper neck and eventually it will trigger a migraine.
therapy for a sinus headache would include Sudafed (or generic form), nose spray and steam vapor. And since it usually triggers a tension headache I add ibuprofen to the mix. If it’s a really bad sinus headache I drink hot tea which speeds up the Sudafed.
---
### Author:  [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/15 "2011-09-27T04:58:29Z")
To add to the fun, sinus infections can trigger migraines.
OP, go to the doctor. Start with your primary care, and work from that. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Amanda\_the\_Wuss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amanda_the_Wuss)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/16 "2011-09-27T17:27:25Z")
Another vote for migraine. Mine always start in or around my right eye. And don’t think that not having auras means you don’t have a migraine: most of us who get migraines don’t get auras.
Talk to a doctor, of course, but as far as what works for me:
-Avoid oversleeping. I used to take naps on weekends until I realized that they were triggering migraines. Searching on the internet revealed that this is fairly common.
-Excedrin migraine. It’s a painkiller with caffeine in it. Caffeine thins the blood, which reduces stress on the area where the migraine is occurring. Just don’t make the mistake I made (_twice_, because I didn’t learn the first time) of washing it down with mountain dew. :smack: Almost had to change my name to “Amanda the Shakey”.
---
### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/17 "2011-09-27T17:53:55Z")
> [@Amanda\_the\_Wuss](#):
>
> -Excedrin migraine. It’s a painkiller with caffeine in it. Caffeine thins the blood, which reduces stress on the area where the migraine is occurring. Just don’t make the mistake I made (_twice_, because I didn’t learn the first time) of washing it down with mountain dew. :smack: Almost had to change my name to “Amanda the Shakey”.
(I’m being pedantic here.) Caffeine doesn’t thin the blood; it’s a vasodilator, which means it widens small blood vessels temporarily, promoting better blood flow. Caffeine helps some people with migraines (like me), but is a migraine trigger for others.
And actually, even most things you’d think of as “blood thinners” don’t do that, either. Aspirin and Coumadin/warfarin are anti-coagulants, which inhibit blood clotting.
Anyway, it does sound very much like some kind of migraine or sinus headache or cluster headache, but it should definitely be checked by a doctor.
---
### Author:  [@Amanda\_the\_Wuss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amanda_the_Wuss)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-in-my-bad-headaches-does-it-throb-badly-over-only-one-eye/597613/18 "2011-09-27T18:28:57Z")
My ignorance is fought. 🙂