Sensitive/Painful to touch skin on my right temple.

[Utah Chris]

I am a 28 year old, caucasian, male who's had sensitive skin to the touch on my right temple on my head for the past 1-2 months.

Vocation: Optometrist
Medical history: Unremarkable
Eye-related history: Unremarkable.
Headache history: NONE

It only hurts when I graze it it softly or rub moderately. Increased pressure from my fingers does not necessarily mean an increase in pain or sensitivity. On gross observation it looks as normal as the other temple on the left side. No lumps or anything. I do not get headaches, excluding an occasion tension headache that will radiate from the right side of my neck to the right side of the head (probably a tension related) lasting 2-3 seconds. This feels different though. When I'm not touching it I don't feel it, when I fun my fingers over my right temple I feel it. Does this sound like anything I should be concerned about?:confused: Doctors out there--quality imput would be appreciative.

[Jo*mar]

By any chance could you have some trigger points?

see the Temporal Headache section here-
http://triggerpoints.net/_sgg/m1m1_1.htm

another site that tells about it
http://www.triggerpointbook.com/referred.htm

[aki]

I am a 28 year old, caucasian, male who's had sensitive skin to the touch on my right temple on my head for the past 1-2 months.

Vocation: Optometrist
Medical history: Unremarkable
Eye-related history: Unremarkable.
Headache history: NONE

It only hurts when I graze it it softly or rub moderately. Increased pressure from my fingers does not necessarily mean an increase in pain or sensitivity. On gross observation it looks as normal as the other temple on the left side. No lumps or anything. I do not get headaches, excluding an occasion tension headache that will radiate from the right side of my neck to the right side of the head (probably a tension related) lasting 2-3 seconds. This feels different though. When I'm not touching it I don't feel it, when I fun my fingers over my right temple I feel it. Does this sound like anything I should be concerned about?:confused: Doctors out there--quality imput would be appreciative.

I have the same exact thing..Im 40 and a mechanic for the NYPD, Myne is on the left side just above my temple. I only noticed it when I removed my hat the other day and it grazed my temple. It went away for afew days and I I atributed it to too much computer time and eye strain, But its back and Im getting alittle nervous.. Please contact me if you find out somthing, and I will do the same..Thanks Lou V

[BlueMajo]

Hum... I can think about inflammation of the hair follicles... The skin hurts, not precisly the... hum... brain skull... Is that more or less what you feel ??? You know, it is not precisly a headache...

If you feel that what hurts is the skin of your head, perhaps you should see a dermatologist ;)
It can be due to stress, some corticosteroids will help.

[aki]

Hum... I can think about inflammation of the hair follicles... The skin hurts, not precisly the... hum... brain skull... Is that more or less what you feel ??? You know, it is not precisly a headache...

If you feel that what hurts is the skin of your head, perhaps you should see a dermatologist ;)
It can be due to stress, some corticosteroids will help.

Thanks I will look into that. I will be seeing my doctor on wed.I even thought it could be vascular pain because, Today when I got up this morning I felt it without touching it ( I think just by exerting to get up plus blood pressure change). I have a familly history of varacose veins and Im starting to have a small one or two in my legs. ( I even have a similar pain when I push on my left thigh but much deeper) Im not shure what it is but I hope to get to the bottom of it..its not that its really bad ,,,but its just really annoying...

[Koala77]

If your skin hurts, it sounds to me like nerve pain..... in particular, sensory nerve pain.

I don't have the answers that you seek, but neuritis of any form needs investigation. If after all the usual tests have been done, you're not getting any on-going assistance from your GP, ask for a referral to a neurologist.

[khensonm]

I have something very similar. It SEEMS to be vascular in that I can almost trace the vessels, and it is on both sides of my head. However, it is often on one side more than the other.

Do you sleep on your side, perhaps with your head on something hard (like your hand?). Another possibility is that you grind/clench your teeth while sleeping. I find that if I use my mouthguard (on my upper teeth) and sleep on my back, I don't get the tenderness.

Let me know if you find out anything!

[soccer5115]

Has anyone found out what the problem is? I have the EXACT same symptoms as you guys and it has been going on for 3 weeks now. It only hurts when i gently touch my temple and if i press down hard it doesnt hurt at all. It seems to get worse during the day. When i wake up it is almost non-existent. But as the day progresses if i lightly touch my temple i get a dull pain and when i let go the pain goes away. I am thinking it may be TMJ, tension headache or a sinus infection because recently my teeth feel a bit off. Like they are tired from grinding or something. Any results from those who have had this would be greatly appreciated.

[cwstoker69]

Has anyone found out what the problem is? I have the EXACT same symptoms as you guys and it has been going on for 3 weeks now. It only hurts when i gently touch my temple and if i press down hard it doesnt hurt at all. It seems to get worse during the day. When i wake up it is almost non-existent. But as the day progresses if i lightly touch my temple i get a dull pain and when i let go the pain goes away. I am thinking it may be TMJ, tension headache or a sinus infection because recently my teeth feel a bit off. Like they are tired from grinding or something. Any results from those who have had this would be greatly appreciated.

I have had shingles before, look it up if you dont know what that is. Its VERY painful and it is related to nerves endings from what I remember. Anyway it went up the left side of my face and temple and scalp only, a rash hurt real bad and left a scar. I didnt know at the time but VALTREX will most of the time heal you from shingles as it did me. That was 5 years ago, last year that same area started hurting just exactly as all of you are talking about. I had a bottle of VALTREX on hand took it it went away. Now July 2009 the right side of my temple skin is hurting to the touch, nothing visiable very sensitive ect. Im about to start VALTREX again. I recieved shingles 5 years ago due to a very stressful transition in my life. My body was reacting by cause my nerve ending to create a very painful and ugly rash, its stems from the faimly of cold sores, chicken pocks as a kid things like that. I am under the same amount of stress ringht now, are you. Thats what brought mine on, STRESS. Cold sores are a form of herpese (no not sexual diseases) well VALTREX is a herpeses medication. Which alarmed me, but my Doctor assured me its not the same thing and I didnt contract a sexual disease. So u may have the onset of SHINKLES.....

[Shelley]

Hey CW,

Just wanted to say that I have the exact same thing. NOt exactly shingles but an HSV1 infection (never had a true cold sore). But the virus lives in your trigeminal nerves which have 3 branches and one goes to the forehead and side of face. The virus acts up and a rash similar to shingles up the side of my head and boy does the skin hurt to the touch.

So Utah Chris you might want to ask your doc for a HSV! and varicella zoster IGM and IGG antibodies test. If its positive the valtrex will help.

[MdotDdot]

nerve pain from irritation causes this hypervigilance of pain signals. in older people, with pain along vessels, one should consider ESR check for temporal arteritis. in younger patients, it's benign and a nuisance at best. sometimes, wearing helmets or headgear can cause this...meralgia paresthetica anyone? using lidocaine crea, on your temple should help--just keep it away from your eyes. (not that it would hurt, but it could cause you to scratch your eye but not feeling it)

[soccer5115]

Has anyone found out what the problem is? I have the EXACT same symptoms as you guys and it has been going on for 3 weeks now. It only hurts when i gently touch my temple and if i press down hard it doesnt hurt at all. It seems to get worse during the day. When i wake up it is almost non-existent. But as the day progresses if i lightly touch my temple i get a dull pain and when i let go the pain goes away. I am thinking it may be TMJ, tension headache or a sinus infection because recently my teeth feel a bit off. Like they are tired from grinding or something. Any results from those who have had this would be greatly appreciated.

Just thought i would come back to the forum and post my results. About a week after I posted I was at work and all of a sudden i felt a rush of fluid down my throat and in my nose. My sinuses had drained. Then, no matter what i tried, i couldn't bring that pain back to my temple. A few days later the pain was back a little, and then the same thing happened. My sinuses drained and no more pain. So for most of you, a sinus infection is probably the culprit. If you are worrying about it get it checked out by a doctor or dentist and they can tell you. No temporal arteritis, no TMJ, no tension headache, no cancer, no HSV1, just a simple sinus infection.

[bjlneuro]

Its the oddest thing -- a very dull pain when not touched, no to little pain when I press firmly anywhere on the top of my head, but quite painful when I very delicately touch or stroke my head. This thread was helpful -- I'm thinking that perhaps stress (lot of that) or perhaps the sinus infection (I was recently exposed to a sniffles bug my kids got -- perhaps an odd complication w/that). I will pursue those angles and report back if anything noteworthy comes out of it.

[Geneva Chris]

Hey CW,

Just wanted to say that I have the exact same thing. NOt exactly shingles but an HSV1 infection (never had a true cold sore). But the virus lives in your trigeminal nerves which have 3 branches and one goes to the forehead and side of face. The virus acts up and a rash similar to shingles up the side of my head and boy does the skin hurt to the touch.

So Utah Chris you might want to ask your doc for a HSV! and varicella zoster IGM and IGG antibodies test. If its positive the valtrex will help.


Hello all. I have developed a headache and sensitivity similiar to what's been discussed for the past month. Sometimes it's more painful than others, such as when I sleep on that particular side. I greatly aggravated my rotator cuff tear about the time the headaches started. I also was working in my garage off and on this summer and Lord knows the stuff that gets into your nostrils. Lastly, I bumped my head on a lit light bulb in my cramped garage attic, breaking it. Didn't feel any shock but did detect a slight odor of burnt hair. This occured about the same time as my headaches started as well. I was diagnosed<sp> with shingles a few years ago, but my only symptom then was a rash on my back, which I thought were multiple bug bites. All thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[sharono]

i am a 56 year old female and am experiencing these same symptoms...long story short, been to MD., ENT., facial pain dentist, regular dentist..had a CT. MRI , tested for temporal aritis, lupas, rhuemetoid and numerous other auto immune...had cortisone shot in temple, tried anti seizure drugs, muscle relaxers, and xanax at bedtime, because i might be really clenching my jaws, wear a night guard, been tested for TMj , stilll no answers and still have pain. Again, mostly when i graze it with my glasses, put makeup on, or wrap a towel around head after a shower, i avoid sleeping on my right side when it is really tender.....the shingles idea is an interesting option, never had them that i know of, but if chicken pox could be cuprit, had those.....looking at going to a neurologist next....any answers out there???






I am a 28 year old, caucasian, male who's had sensitive skin to the touch on my right temple on my head for the past 1-2 months.

Vocation: Optometrist
Medical history: Unremarkable
Eye-related history: Unremarkable.
Headache history: NONE

It only hurts when I graze it it softly or rub moderately. Increased pressure from my fingers does not necessarily mean an increase in pain or sensitivity. On gross observation it looks as normal as the other temple on the left side. No lumps or anything. I do not get headaches, excluding an occasion tension headache that will radiate from the right side of my neck to the right side of the head (probably a tension related) lasting 2-3 seconds. This feels different though. When I'm not touching it I don't feel it, when I fun my fingers over my right temple I feel it. Does this sound like anything I should be concerned about?:confused: Doctors out there--quality imput would be appreciative.

[sharono]

i am a 56 year old female and am experiencing these same symptoms...long story short, been to MD., ENT., facial pain dentist, regular dentist..had a CT. MRI , tested for temporal aritis, lupas, rhuemetoid and numerous other auto immune...had cortisone shot in temple, tried anti seizure drugs, muscle relaxers, and xanax at bedtime, because i might be really clenching my jaws, wear a night guard, been tested for TMj , stilll no answers and still have pain. Again, mostly when i graze it with my glasses, put makeup on, or wrap a towel around head after a shower, i avoid sleeping on my right side when it is really tender.....the shingles idea is an interesting option, never had them that i know of, but if chicken pox could be cuprit, had those.....looking at going to a neurologist next....any answers out there???

so pretty much diagnosed myself, partly thanks to the information on this foum,,,i am taken valtrex now, and pain seems tobe a bit better after just a couple days...hope this is the answer!!

[tecky]

Just a thought, could it be Allodynia: Pain from stimuli which are not normally painful?

I have chronic migraines and experience this frequently in different parts of my head, but occasionally one temple or the other. It usually is located either at the very top of my head or the crown. My hair hurts. Ice seems to provide the most relief for me.