Headaches

[Lauralou33]

I have always suffered from migraines but for the past several months I have been getting these instant headaches. They come out of no where and my entire head starts throbbing. Also with it I get a ringing in my ears and my vision is blurry. I do work with computers and on the phone, but they happen even when I am not at work. Also the pain is most intense behind my eyeballs and at the base of my neck. If you have any explanation please help. Thank you so much.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you?  Eyestrain headaches usually presents with  frontal and bilateral pain, directly related to eyestrain. This can be due to muscle imbalance, uncorrected vision, and astigmatism. It is important that you check with your opthalmologist just what SurgiMenopause has mentioned. Another differential is cluster headache which presents with pain in vicinity of the eye which frequently develops during sleep and may last for several hours. Attacks occur every day for weeks, then disappear for up to a year. Medications may help provide relief. Check with your doctor or be referred to a neurologist for proper evaluation. Take care and do keep us posted.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? an can prescribe.  Eyestrain headaches usually presents with  frontal and bilateral pain, directly related to eyestrain. This can be due to muscle imbalance, uncorrected vision, and astigmatism. It is important that you check with your opthalmologist just what SurgiMenopause has mentioned. Another differential is cluster headache which presents with pain in vicinity of the eye which frequently develops during sleep and may last for several hours. Attacks occur every day for weeks, then disappear for up to a year. Medications may help provide relief. Check with your doctor or be referred to a neurologist for proper evaluation. Take care and do keep us posted.

[LivingInHope]

Well, there are a number of possibilities you and your neurologist should explore- such as, have you had a brain scan in the last five years to check for brain tumor or blood vessels with defects?  

What is your heart and blood pressure doing?  Is your heart pounding during these instant headache episodes?  Is your blood pressure spiking?

  What kind of condition is your TMJ in & do you clench or grind your teeth, working those TMJ muscles?   TMJ (jaw joint) dysfunction can potentially cause tinnitus (ringing in ears), migraines and I've read even intermittant blurring of vision.

  Have they done any imaging of your neck to see if there might be an encroachment on a nerve (or pinched nerve)?   And when the headaches come on, is your neck in proper alignment, with good posture?

Are you drinking caffeinated beverages or some other possible action that might be triggering the instant migraine?

You might also want to go to an opthamologist and have them do an exam and a field of vision test, with your blurred vision episodes.  And you might want to make sure with your primary care physician that your thyroid function is normal and your ferritin (iron stores) are normal, as an out of whack thyroid or low iron can cause headaches.