Pain in the right temple

First of all, it is important to remember that pain in the right temple is caused by different mechanisms and is a symptom of a large number of serious diseases and functional disorders in the human body.

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The main causes of pain in the right temple

Periodic attacks of severe headaches localized in the right temporal region can be caused by diseases caused by a violation of the tone of the brain vessels - persistent spasm of arterial vessels or dilation of venous vessels. The second group of causes includes problems with the peripheral nervous system, that is, with the functioning of the cranial and spinal nerves.

Pain in the right temple often bothers people with acute respiratory viral infections, alcohol abuse, smoking, poisoning, hypersensitivity to odors [ 2 ], and physical inactivity [ 3 ]. In the first half of life, the most common causes of such pain include pathologies such as migraine [ 4 ], low or high intracranial pressure (for example, with scoliosis of the spine ), problems with the autonomic nervous system, and psychogenic factors - stress and fatigue.

The main cause of acute pain in the right temple in young girls is associated with the release of hormones, and in adult women - with the menstrual cycle or hormonal changes in the body during menopause. In older age, people often complain of pain in the temporal region "due to the weather" or after physical exertion, and when they consult a doctor, they are diagnosed with such insidious and dangerous diseases of the vascular system as arterial hypertension (increased intracranial pressure) or atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels.

It should be borne in mind that severe pain in the right temple can be a consequence of a general head injury, organic brain damage, and also a sign of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (displacement of the disc of this joint causes pain not only in the temple area, but also radiates to the occipital part of the head and upper back).

In some cases, the cause of headaches is what we eat. This applies to products rich in tyramine (cheese, beans, chocolate, yeast, red wine, beer). In addition, this list includes products containing the most harmful flavor additive - monosodium glutamate (E621), which manufacturers put in soups and instant noodles, sauces, seasonings and various snacks. Headaches are provoked by nitrites in many types of canned and smoked meats, as well as smoked fish. [ 5 ]

Throbbing pain in the right temple

Such pain, first of all, can be your brain's reaction to stress. Most often, throbbing pain in the right temple is a manifestation of sharp jumps in intracranial pressure (idiopathic intracranial hypertension), spasms of the cerebral vessels or migraine. But it can also be reflected pain from inflammation of the soft tissues of the tooth ( pulpitis ).

Shooting pain in the right temple

Pain of this nature is often a symptom of trigeminal neuralgia, less often - inflammation of the walls of the temporal arteries ( temporal arteritis ) [ 6 ]. In the second case, patients note a feeling of exhaustion, loss of strength and insomnia, and the pain can spread to the back of the head, face, eyes and jaw. Even touching the temporal artery causes pain.

Aching pain in the right temple

Doctors often classify a nagging headache as a psychogenic pain, which is accompanied by increased irritability, anxiety, and rapid fatigue. But even with problems with intracranial pressure, pain in the right temple can be a nagging pain.

Dull pain in the right temple

A dull pain in the right temple resembles aching. Such pain usually occurs after emotional stress or as a result of a traumatic brain injury. If the dull pain begins almost every morning and does not go away for several days, then experts classify it as psychogenic or non-specific headaches.

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Pressing pain in the right temple

Pressing pain in the right temple can be caused by osteochondrosis or osteoarthrosis of the cervical spine. In these diseases, the normal blood supply to the brain through the right vertebral artery is disrupted. This leads to vascular disorders, changes in the nerve plexuses and, as a consequence, to localized pain of a pressing nature.

Serum apolipoprotein E can act as a diagnostic marker for migraine. [ 8 ]

Medication for pain in the right temple

We want to get rid of headaches, but we forget that any pain is a symptom, and the main principle of treatment is to treat the disease that appears as a headache. Therefore, you should definitely see a doctor.

Read also: What to do if you have a headache?

The main painkillers for headaches are analgesics, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are taken to block the perception of pain (stop the transmission of pain impulses) or reduce the production of hormone-like biological regulators (prostaglandins) in the body. [ 9 ]

The most common and affordable medications for headaches in the right temple are aspirin, amidopyrine, analgin [ 10 ], paracetamol and phenacetin, which are found in almost every home medicine cabinet. Let us remind you how to take these medications correctly.

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is taken after meals, dissolving the tablet in 100-200 ml of water. Dosage - 0.9-1 g per day. [ 11 ] Aspirin is contraindicated for patients with bronchial asthma, gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers and children under three years of age.

Amidopyrine tablet of 0.25-0.3 g is taken 3 times a day after meals. Single dose of analgin is 250 g, maximum single dose is 1 g, daily dose is 2 g. Analgin and amidopyrine should not be taken with a low level of leukocytes in the blood, cardiac and renal edema and bronchial asthma.

Paracetamol tablets (0.2 and 0.5 g) should be taken one hour after meals with plenty of liquid. The maximum single dose of this drug is 2 tablets of 0.5 g; the maximum daily dose is 4 g; the maximum duration of treatment is a week. It is not recommended to take paracetamol in case of kidney and liver diseases. [ 12 ]

Taking phenacetin in tablets of 0.25-0.5 g is allowed no more than 3 times a day (in total not 1.5 g per day). It is also taken after meals. Phenacetin is contraindicated in kidney diseases and during pregnancy.

For migraines, citramon, spazmalgon, novomigrofen, nurofen, ibuprofen are used, which include acetylsalicylic acid, caffeine [ 13 ], [ 14 ] and paracetamol. These drugs have the following rules for taking. Medicines from the triptan group are effective. [ 15 ]

Citramon should be taken 1 tablet 2-3 times a day. The maximum daily dosage is 6 tablets (in three doses). The duration of the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor can last up to 10 days. Citramon is not recommended for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys, decreased blood clotting, and during pregnancy and lactation. [ 16 ]

Spazmalgon is taken after meals with plenty of water - 1-2 tablets several times a day. The maximum daily dose is 6 tablets, and the maximum period of administration is no more than five days. Novomigrofen is taken 1 tablet 2-3 times a day after meals. Those who suffer from blood diseases, kidney diseases and allergies should not use Novomigrofen, since with its long-term use, anemia and skin rashes are possible. [ 17 ]

Nurofen will help with unbearable pain: film-coated tablets should be washed down with water, and effervescent tablets are dissolved in a glass of water. The dosage of this medicine is 200 mg 3-4 times a day, and to make the pain go away faster, you can drink 400 mg per day (in 3 doses with 6-hour intervals). Using Nurofen for 2-3 days will not cause any side effects, however, among the contraindications for taking it are heart failure, all diseases of the stomach, duodenum and colon, as well as anemia, diseases of the optic nerve, arterial hypertension and the last months of pregnancy.

The maximum daily dose of ibuprofen is 2.4 g, and it is taken 400 mg 3 times a day. Among its side effects - in addition to heartburn, nausea, flatulence, constipation, anorexia and insomnia - headache and dizziness. And those who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and low hemoglobin, are not recommended to take this drug.

Studies have shown that taking 600 mg of magnesium citrate reduces the number of migraine attacks per day.[ 18 ]

It should be remembered that regular use of painkillers can turn periodic pain into chronic pain and lead to so-called recurrent headaches.

Several studies have shown that the B vitamins riboflavin (B2), folate, B12, and pyridoxine (B6) may reduce headache symptoms [ 19 ], [ 20 ], [ 21 ]

Treatment of pain in the right temple using physiotherapy methods

Physiotherapy can be of great help for headaches in general and for pain in the right temple in particular. If headaches are caused by stress or depression, patients are prescribed various water treatments, mud therapy, massage, manual therapy [ 22 ],. Pain of vascular etiology is treated with such physiotherapeutic methods as magneto- and ozone therapy [ 23 ], pulsed currents, acupuncture [ 24 ], ultrasound [ 25 ]. And headaches due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine respond well to electrophoresis with various drugs.

Traditional methods of treating pain in the right temple

Mild pain in the right temple can be relieved by a cup of hot green tea with the juice of a quarter of a lemon or a teaspoon of honey, as well as drinking 7 glasses of water a day. [ 26 ] And among the medicinal plants used to relieve pain, peppermint [ 27 ], lemon balm, lavender [ 28 ] and oregano are especially popular in folk medicine.

Infusions of these herbs are prepared according to the same recipe: a tablespoon of dried mint, lemon balm or oregano is poured with a glass of boiling water and kept in a closed container for at least half an hour. After that, strain and drink: mint and oregano infusion - half a glass three times a day, and lemon balm tea - one sip several times during the day.

Headaches can be relieved with a compress of apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon per liter of water). Try a cold compress on your temple [ 29 ], [ 30 ]. A light massage of the seventh cervical vertebra or temple using menthol, St. John's wort or rosemary oil will not hurt. And slowly combing your hair with a bone or wooden comb is a wonderful massage that improves blood circulation throughout the head.

Studies have shown that taking Coenzyme Q10 supplements may be an effective way to treat headaches.[ 31 ], [ 32 ]

Prevention of pain in the right temple

To get rid of pain in the right temple, you need to stick to a regime: get enough sleep [ 33 ], [ 34 ], do not overwork yourself, limit alcohol [ 35 ], [ 36 ], [ 37 ], eat a balanced diet and walk more often in the fresh air, do moderate physical activity [ 38 ] or yoga [ 39 ]. Sometimes this is enough to do without medication.

After a busy day at work, it is useful to take a warm bath or a hot foot bath. In case of a sharp headache associated with vascular dystonia or changes in blood pressure, acupressure of the head, neck and hands will help improve blood circulation.

It is very important to eat right, that is, on time and with healthy foods. Be sure to have breakfast, and drink a glass of water half an hour before it. If you have frequent headaches, experts recommend eating an apple on an empty stomach in the morning.

Eat cereals, lean meat, cottage cheese and sea fish, vegetables and fruits, bread with grain additives. Drink kefir and natural fruit juices, ginger tea is useful, it has been proven that taking 250 mg of ginger powder was as effective in reducing migraine pain as the common headache medication sumatriptan [ 40 ]. Ginger also helps reduce nausea and vomiting, common symptoms associated with severe headaches. [ 41 ] Avoid spices, seasonings and processed foods, especially fast food. Monosodium glutamate is considered a safe food additive, however, according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, it (or, more specifically, free glutamate) can cause headaches in healthy people and especially in people who suffer from migraines. [ 42 ] Instead of sugar, use honey and limit the amount of salt in your meals. [ 43 ]

Avoid foods containing nitrites and nitrates. [ 44 ]

Nutritionists recommend, for any etiology and pain in the right temple, to include in your daily diet at least 150 g of sauerkraut, as well as one tablespoon of ground black currant, honey and any vegetable oil.