When Pain in the Temples Is Not Just a Headache: Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored 0 126

1. Tension Headache

If by midday you feel like massaging your throbbing temples, it is likely a tension headache — the most common type of pain. Medical professionals describe it as a sensation of a tight band compressing the head.

Typically, the discomfort is localized in the forehead, behind the eyes, or in the temples and is accompanied by a dull, pressing pain.

What Helps:

• take a break and rest;

• apply a cool compress to the forehead;

• if necessary, take an over-the-counter pain reliever (based on ibuprofen).

If such pains occur more than twice a week, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Regular use of pain relievers can lead to dependence and trigger medication-overuse headaches.

2. Migraine

Migraine is characterized by a pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head — in the forehead, behind the eye, or in the temple. Attacks can last several hours and are accompanied by nausea, increased sensitivity to light and sound.

What Helps:

• take a pain reliever at the first signs of an impending attack (for example, based on paracetamol);

• do not use medications containing acetylsalicylic acid — they have low effectiveness and many side effects;

• consult a therapist or neurologist for personalized treatment.

3. Temporal Arteritis

This type of pain is often confused with migraine. It feels like a burning, pulsating pain in one of the temples. However, in this case, the cause is inflammation and swelling of the temporal arteries that supply blood to the eyes, optic nerves, and brain.

Due to narrowing or blockage of the vessel, blood flow may be disrupted, which in severe cases can lead to vision loss or stroke. Temporal arteritis is more common in older adults.

Symptoms:

• prolonged unilateral pain in the temple;

• tenderness of the skin upon touching;

• weakness, fever, vision disturbances, pain while chewing.

What to Do: seek immediate medical attention, get tested, and start treatment. This condition requires medical intervention.

4. Cervicogenic Headache

This pain is provoked by problems with the spine or soft tissues of the neck: vertebral arthritis, nerve compression, disc displacement, excessive muscle tension. It often appears after injuries or in people with sedentary jobs and poor posture.

Characteristic Signs:

• pain starts in the neck and spreads to the temple, forehead, and eyes; may be accompanied by numbness in the neck, pain in the shoulder and arm, temporary vision loss on the affected side.

What to Do: consult a doctor to rule out dangerous causes and receive appropriate treatment. Massage, therapeutic exercises, and posture correction often help.

5. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

This joint is involved in the movement of the lower jaw. Any dysfunction can cause discomfort in the temples, clicks, crunching sounds, and limited jaw movement.

Symptoms:

• pain in the temples while chewing;

• clicks or crunching in the jaw;

• difficulties fully opening the mouth.

What Helps:

• avoid clenching your teeth tightly;

• relax the jaw muscles;

• apply cold or warm compresses;

• eat soft foods;

• if necessary — pain relievers.

If discomfort persists for several days, becomes intense, and interferes with normal life — it is advisable to consult a doctor.

When to See a Doctor Urgently:

• The pain is sudden and very severe;

• Accompanied by vision, speech, or coordination disturbances;

• Appeared in an elderly person and does not go away;

• Does not subside with pain relievers.

Pain in the temples can be a harmless consequence of fatigue or a signal of serious disorders in the body. Therefore, it is important not to limit oneself to self-treatment but to seek timely consultation with a specialist.