Ask a doctor on the topic of Neurology

Headache on the right side

February 4, 2016 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Dear Sir or Madam,

For about a year and a half now, I have been experiencing dull, pressing headaches at irregular intervals on the right side of my head. These pains sometimes come as sharp and occasionally migrate to the right side of my head towards the temple. In March 2014, I had a head MRI which revealed a slight tinnitus on the right side (which occurs more frequently), and a month ago I had a cervical spine CT scan with no findings. However, these headaches still worry me, and my doctor attributes them to tension in the shoulder and neck area. I have already undergone manual therapy several times, which only provides temporary relief. I sit at the computer for up to 9 hours a day and have to read legal texts. Now my question is... should I be seriously concerned, as these headaches keep recurring? I am a very anxious person. Last week, a mild thyroid deficiency was diagnosed and I am now taking half a tablet of L-Thyroxine, 25mg daily. Should I be worried that something serious is happening in my head, or is the MRI from 2014 still reliable, as my family doctor claims that nothing grows so quickly in such a short time? Perhaps someone here can help me. Thank you very much.

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,

Your family doctor is right: nothing grows in your head so fast that would cause headaches, and if something were to occur later on (which is very unlikely), it would cause a persistent, increasing pain.
However, you are describing the typical tension headache (tumor headaches also do not improve with manual therapy!), and tense muscles can occur in your job even without cervical spine damage.
Manual therapy and massages are nice, but they are for wellness. You need a proper gymnastic exercise program for your entire back, which you should train two to three times a week; either at the gym or by yourself, after a therapist has shown you the exercises. Only with this (and with relaxation exercises) can you counteract your daily strain and experience lasting relief.

Sincerely, Dr. Höllering