Temple pain/headaches

This weird thing started about ten days ago. I didn't hit my head or anything, I just don't remember doing that... it's right above my right ear, sort of up and towards my eye. I can't even touch that side, though if I just scratch it, it doesn't really hurt that much, I guess. Anyway, I have this issue with an upper tooth on that same side, but it doesn't actually ache. It's been sitting open for over six months now—could I maybe have developed gangrene?
Look, I'm not a hypochondriac or whatever, but every time I look stuff up online, people always say this kind of pain is definitely from a tooth, but mine isn't hurting at all. Does that mean it's too late and they're gonna have to slice up my face and brain if it's nerve gangrene?

Look, don't start panicking. What black gangrene and facial slicing?

Why leave a tooth like that for so long? Just go see a dentist and get it fixed. Tell them about the pain, too—they’ll figure out the next steps. Honestly, that ache could be from pressure or you hitting it in your sleep without realizing it. Don't just sit there thinking "oh, cool," just head to the clinic.

I haven't gone yet because my dentist keeps taking vacations or is just out of the office, or I have to wait like seven days straight, and then I can't make it because of work, so the whole thing just drags on forever. Maybe it's just nazim...

bluefalcon12 said:I haven't gone yet because my dentist keeps taking vacations or is just out of the office, or I have to wait like seven days straight, and then I can't make it because of work, so the whole thing just drags on forever. Maybe it's just nazim...

Seriously, go see your dentist.

Alright, I’m looking for some insight here.
A few days back, I started experiencing this sensation—for the very first time in my life—of pain wedged right between my eye and my eyebrow whenever I look up or shift my gaze.
It feels as though there’s some kind of foreign object lodged in my right eye, though I’ve inspected it thoroughly and see nothing.
My vision has become slightly blurred, though it hasn't reached a level that feels truly alarming yet; I've been spiraling down internet rabbit holes suggesting it might be glaucoma, which is a prospect I am desperately hoping isn't the case.
If it actually is glaucoma, I'm facing the terrifying possibility of losing my sight entirely. To make matters worse, my specialist only makes visits to my town once every five weeks.
So, I am reaching out to anyone who has dealt with this specific issue, or perhaps something even remotely similar, to see if you can offer any clarity.

Dana Morris2 said:Alright, I’m looking for some insight here.
A few days back, I started experiencing this sensation—for the very first time in my life—of pain wedged right between my eye and my eyebrow whenever I look up or shift my gaze.
It feels as though there’s some kind of foreign object lodged in my right eye, though I’ve inspected it thoroughly and see nothing.
My vision has become slightly blurred, though it hasn't reached a level that feels truly alarming yet; I've been spiraling down internet rabbit holes suggesting it might be glaucoma, which is a prospect I am desperately hoping isn't the case.
If it actually is glaucoma, I'm facing the terrifying possibility of losing my sight entirely. To make matters worse, my specialist only makes visits to my town once every five weeks.
So, I am reaching out to anyone who has dealt with this specific issue, or perhaps something even remotely similar, to see if you can offer any clarity.

Look, if you're in actual pain, just get yourself to the ER; they will triage you and send you to the right specialist immediately.

Dana Morris2 said:Alright, I’m looking for some insight here.
A few days back, I started experiencing this sensation—for the very first time in my life—of pain wedged right between my eye and my eyebrow whenever I look up or shift my gaze.
It feels as though there’s some kind of foreign object lodged in my right eye, though I’ve inspected it thoroughly and see nothing.
My vision has become slightly blurred, though it hasn't reached a level that feels truly alarming yet; I've been spiraling down internet rabbit holes suggesting it might be glaucoma, which is a prospect I am desperately hoping isn't the case.
If it actually is glaucoma, I'm facing the terrifying possibility of losing my sight entirely. To make matters worse, my specialist only makes visits to my town once every five weeks.
So, I am reaching out to anyone who has dealt with this specific issue, or perhaps something even remotely similar, to see if you can offer any clarity.

Dear lady,

When dealing with this kind of pain, the specifics matter. Is it dull or sharp? Constant or throbbing? Is it just one eye or both? Are there visual disturbances before or during the episodes? Do colors seem faded? Does it feel like there's a curtain, spots, or holes in your field of vision? What does the eye look like externally—is it red? Are the pupils equal in size? Is this the first time this has happened? Any other symptoms, like light sensitivity, respiratory issues, or neurological problems? Are you currently taking any medications?

Pain behind the eye can stem from relatively benign sources, such as tension headaches or even a migraine (though migraines usually involve one-sided pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound; you might also see flashes or zig-zag lines beforehand, though vision typically clears during the actual headache). Then there are the more serious possibilities: an acute spike in eye pressure due to acute glaucoma (which usually involves intense deep pain, very poor vision, significant redness, a non-reactive pupil, and a hard feeling in the eyeball, often accompanied by nausea), optic neuritis (vision loss paired with pain that worsens when moving the eye, along with faded colors), or even inflammation of the periorbital sinuses. There's also a whole laundry list of other potential causes.

Pain can also originate on the surface of the eye. This includes things like blepharitis, conjunctivitis, foreign bodies in the conjunctiva or cornea, keratitis, corneal erosions or ulcers, or general surface injuries. That type of discomfort is typically described as burning, stinging, a gritty sensation like sand in the eye, itching, or dryness.

As for pain specifically triggered by eye movement, that can be caused by optic nerve inflammation, inflammation of the external eye muscles, or foreign objects affecting the cornea or conjunctiva.

I strongly advise you to schedule an appointment with a physician for a proper exam.

Best regards. 🙂

Has anyone else dealt with lasting issues after getting eye drops right before an eye pressure test?

My eye pressure is actually fine—it always has been.
Two years ago, I had my pressure checked and didn't feel any side effects at all. But over two months ago, I went to a different clinic for a checkup, and ever since then, I’ve had this constant discomfort and pain in my left temple and eye area (not on the surface, but deep inside).

They apparently used Tetracaine 0.5% drops (a local anesthetic), which I usually handle just fine. After the first drop, the nurse told me, "It might sting a bit," but since I didn't feel anything, I just said, "No stinging here." Honestly, I figured it was better not to say anything so she wouldn't accidentally overdo it next time. When she applied the second drop, though, I did feel the sting. As soon as I was allowed to open my eyes, I felt this intense heaviness and pain in both temples. The stinging vanished quickly, but that heavy, throbbing pain in my temples lasted for about 4 or 5 hours. Since then, my right temple feels normal, but the left side—where the pain was worst—has had this non-stop pressure and frequent sharp pains. Sometimes the pain radiates to my head, ear, and cheek. It’s been over two months now, and it isn't getting any better.

I went back to the ophthalmologist, and everything looks perfectly fine with my eye and optic nerve. They did a standard exam and an OCT scan. Now, my neurologist is basically brushing me off.

I have no idea what happened or why this won't go away. This constant discomfort is really messing with my quality of life because I'm just not used to dealing with chronic pain.😢

Quick update. That whole situation finally passed after a year. The first two and a half months were the absolute worst, but after that, things started looking up—slowly, like a snail crawling uphill, with some ups and downs along the way.

I honestly have no clue what actually happened. My primary care doctor suggested it might just be a "perfect storm" of bad luck. Maybe it was even the weather; there was this crazy wind hitting me from the left while my eye was constantly wet from dripping, which probably led to some kind of cold.

What really pulled me through: letting time pass, finding new things to focus on, and taking B-complex.

Hey there. I’m dealing with this weird pressure issue too. It started in my left temple, then moved to the right, and now it feels like my whole head is encased in armor. I had a carotid ultrasound two months ago and everything came back normal. Lately, that pressure from my temples has spread to both sides, especially around the area where men get those hollowed-out cheeks 🙂 It’s incredibly annoying and I’m running out of ideas. My doctor isn't really taking me seriously either—just keeps blaming stress. Any advice? Thanks 🙂

Trigeminal neuralgia

I wouldn't go that far, I guess 🙂. For an NT scan, you'd be dealing with actual pain and stuff. This isn't even about pain; it's more like occasional pressure. It doesn't hurt when I touch it—not at all, really. I had an MRI and a CT scan done about two years ago, and everything came back totally normal. Maybe it's just my sinuses, since one side is always stuffed up? 🤔

It is possible that this is a tension headache.

Kimberly Alvarez6 said:I wouldn't go that far, I guess 🙂. For an NT scan, you'd be dealing with actual pain and stuff. This isn't even about pain; it's more like occasional pressure. It doesn't hurt when I touch it—not at all, really. I had an MRI and a CT scan done about two years ago, and everything came back totally normal. Maybe it's just my sinuses, since one side is always stuffed up? 🤔

Trigeminal neuralgia is so intense that "pain upon touch" almost feels like an understatement.
It doesn't hurt when I touch it either.
The pain just exists on its own; it's so overwhelming you feel like banging your head against a wall. It's truly indescribable.

Kimberly Alvarez6 said:Hey there. I’m dealing with this weird pressure issue too. It started in my left temple, then moved to the right, and now it feels like my whole head is encased in armor. I had a carotid ultrasound two months ago and everything came back normal. Lately, that pressure from my temples has spread to both sides, especially around the area where men get those hollowed-out cheeks 🙂 It’s incredibly annoying and I’m running out of ideas. My doctor isn't really taking me seriously either—just keeps blaming stress. Any advice? Thanks 🙂

Are you 100% sure you’ve ruled out stress?

Or maybe it's something with your posture, like holding your neck in one position for too long?

On a scale of 1 to 10, my stress levels are sitting at about 100. I’m stuck doing 8-hour shifts of neck straining because of work. I just finished the cervical CD scans and everything looks clear. Maybe I should probably redo the TCD too? Thanks for the input

Kimberly Alvarez6 said:On a scale of 1 to 10, my stress levels are sitting at about 100. I’m stuck doing 8-hour shifts of neck straining because of work. I just finished the cervical CD scans and everything looks clear. Maybe I should probably redo the TCD too? Thanks for the input

I'll try to post something more substantial in a couple of days, just swamped with stuff right now.

velvetmoose9 said:I'll try to post something more substantial in a couple of days, just swamped with stuff right now.

Thanks

Kimberly Alvarez6 said:On a scale of 1 to 10, my stress levels are sitting at about 100. I’m stuck doing 8-hour shifts of neck straining because of work. I just finished the cervical CD scans and everything looks clear. Maybe I should probably redo the TCD too? Thanks for the input

Look, there are a few things you can actually do about this.

- Change jobs (I know, I know, easier said than done when you're living in the real world and bills aren't going anywhere).
- Change how you handle yourself at work, because honestly, that's where you have the most control—try standing up every 45 minutes or so to stretch out your neck. Just make sure you actually learn the right way to do it so you don't end up making things worse; you can actually do wonders for yourself right there at your desk if you're smart about it. Take a minute or two to walk around, and stay hydrated (keep a water bottle right next to you, otherwise you won't even realize how little you're drinking!
- Try using an NSAID on those neck muscles before bed, like some Voltaren gel or something similar, for a few days, take a little break, then repeat as needed.
- Start hitting the gym or finding some kind of sport and really focus on your posture.
- Get yourself a decent pillow and position it properly under your shoulder blades and that little curve at the base of your skull so your neck can actually relax overnight—and try sleeping on your back.
- Some Diazepam (maybe 2-8mg) could be a decent ally here—taking it in the evenings for a few days might help relax those super tense muscles, just use it as needed.

unknown, these are just some general suggestions to get you started...

For anything more specific or detailed, your primary care doctor or a specialist will be able to give you much better guidance once they actually examine you, take your history, and look into your movement patterns. 😉