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What Causes Pain In The Right Side Of The Head?

Posted on Thu, 17 Nov 2016

Question: Good morning. For several days now I have been experiencing pain on the right side of my head (I would say it is at the 10:00 position behind my right ear). It is in the same spot and has not moved but has been increasing in its intensity over the past few day. As of last night, I have also begun to experience some chest pain in the area of my heart. I have a brain aneurysm located behind my left eye, so not in the same area, (only 2 mm at last check) and a leak at my mitral valve as well. Last week I had daily migraines which at the time I attributed to allergies. I suffer from vertigo (left ear 27% stronger than right ear--take Gabapentin--some inner ear damage) which is what usually brings on the migraines. Tests for vertigo is how the aneurysm was discovered.

I have a 5 hour car ride scheduled for tomorrow morning, so I am a bit concerned about driving alone that distance, so want to figure out what is going on before I leave. What are your thoughts and how concerned should I be? Thank you for your help.
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Go in now.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

I am concerned about the pain that's fixed on the right side of your head and if it is increasing in intensity, I think you should go in to be seen today rather than gamble on how you will do driving alone for 5 hours.

At the same time, getting the chest pain evaluated too is necessary. It is hard to know if it is related to your mitral valve, but any new chest pain should be evaluated promptly.

It is hard to say what might be going on, but I do not recommend that drive tomorrow until you know what is causing the chest pain and increasing headache.

If you can get in to see your doctor today, then go, but otherwise the place for you is the ER, where they can order imaging studies of your head, and get an EKG and cardiac enzymes and troponin levels done to evaluate your heart.

So please go in to be seen now. I'm sorry no one was able to answer your question for 4 hours - apparently not many of our doctors are online now.

I invite you to let me know how you are doing after you have been evaluated.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (49 minutes later)

Dear Dr. Berger-Durnbaugh,

Unfortunately, due to the long time it took to get a response to my question (nothing personal of course since I appreciate your response and am confused since the website indicated that there were 132 doctors online when I submitted my inquiry), I no longer have a window of opportunity for making an appointment to see my doctor nor time to sit in the ER for hours.

My 5-hour drive tomorrow is due to caring for my sister who has been battling
Stage 4 colon cancer for 6 1/2 years, so cancelling it would have negative results for her.

I'm not sure what to do now.
XXXXXXX XXXX

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Still go in please.

Detailed Answer:
Honestly I really don't know why the site lists that many doctors unless that is counting specialists who receive other questions, as I can tell that when I responded there was only me answering the general med ones. I am so very sorry it took so long. It can take up to 24 hours for a response.

Is there any way you can put off your visit by a day? It won't help your sister if you are ill from the drive having made your symptoms worse. I still think it would be best for you to go in to the ER or at least an urgent care clinic.

Usually, telling an ER triage nurse that you have chest pain will get you in pretty quickly.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar