Overview
You may have noticed pressure, tenderness, throbbing, or intense pain in one or both of your temples triggered by stress. Although temple headaches are a common type of headache, they can occur for a variety of reasons, including tension, migraines, infections, and TMJ disorders. Rarely, a tumor may result in pain in the temple area as well.
This article comprehensively covers the possible causes, symptoms, and treatments for temporal headaches.
What is the headache behind the right eye and temple?
Headache in one temple or on either side can have the same causes as pain in the temples. Sometimes, the intensity of the pain can be more localized to one region. However, it is not possible to differentiate or pinpoint the causes behind a headache in the right temple or a headache in the left temple just based on the location. Migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches, or sinus headaches are some probable causes that can lead to a headache behind the right eye or either of the temples.
What causes headaches in the temples?
Right or Left or temple headache causes can range from:
- migraine
- tension headache
- cervicogenic headache
- mild traumatic brain injury
- a bleed in the brain
- giant cell arteritis
- a brain tumor
Symptoms of temple headaches
Temporal headaches are often the result of muscle tension, which causes tension headaches. The temple pressure that follows is due to a combination of stress, eye strain, and teeth clenching. Additionally, this pressure can worsen due to disruptions of blood flow to the surrounding region, resulting from inflammation in the nearby tissues.
Moreover, temple headaches can be caused by other underlying secondary health conditions, not just primary headache disorders like migraine. This explains why the symptoms vary considerably.
Besides the symptoms such as pain in the left temple or right side of the temple hurts to touch, other accompanying symptoms include:
- Pressure in one or both temples
- Headache pain described as dull and aching or intense and throbbing
- Loss of vision
- Dizziness
- Aching jaw
Let us explore the causes in more detail:
1. Tension Headache
Tension headaches can cause pressure and dull pain in the temples. These headaches usually affect both sides of the temples and may last up to 30 minutes or even a week. Temple headaches are closely related to factors such as stress, improper diet, anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, or jaw clenching.
If headaches occur 15 times or more days a month it comes under the umbrella of a chronic headache disorder. Migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches usually all become chronic.
2. Migraine
Migraines can cause headaches in the temple area generally or a sharp pain in the left temple or right temple pain.
The symptoms can be severe and can range from a stabbing headache to light and sound sensitivity, visual disturbances(auras), restlessness, fatigue and vomiting. Attacks can recur and may last several hours to 72 hours. There are many kinds of migraines and common triggers that can result in sharp pain in the temple include:
- Changes in the weather
- Stress and anxiety
- Lack of sleep
- Hormone fluctuations
- Alcohol
- Abusing pain medications
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3. Temporal Arteritis
If your left temple is sore to touch or the right side is throbbing, this may be a symptom of Temporal arteritis. This inflammatory condition arises when one of the two temporal arteries on either side of your head is affected. Another name for this condition is “giant cell arteritis,” The symptoms are a result of disruption to the blood flow in the region:
- Throbbing headache in the temple/ side/ back of the head, usually localized on one side
- Tenderness on touching the temple or scalp
- Fatigue and weakness
- Fever
- Jaw pain usually happens when talking or chewing
- Muscle aches and pains in the arm
- Visual disturbances
- Stiffness and pain around the shoulders, neck and hips
Temporal arteritis requires prompt medical attention as it may affect the eyes, disrupting the blood flow and vision.
4. Cervicogenic Headache
Injury, malformation, or arthritis can lead to nerve compression in the upper spine, which can give rise to cervicogenic headaches. Alongside the temple headache, this condition can lead to symptoms such as:
- Pain occuring around the eyes, neck, shoulder, and arm
- Pain on the face/ side of the head
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Blurred vision
Untreated cervicogenic headaches that aren’t treated can lead to severe symptoms which are often debilitating.
5. Infections
Bacterial, fungal or viral infections that affect the brain, ears or sinuses can all cause a temporal headache. The following infections can lead to a sharp pain in the right temple comes and goes, headache around the temples or a headache behind the right eye and the temple:
- Sinusitis: Infections of the sinus passages(viral/bacterial) is called sinusitis. This triggers headaches, facial/ temple pressure and pain. Other accompanying symptoms include a congested or runny nose, cough, mucus in the throat and bad breath.
- Meningitis: This condition affects the brain and spine and can result from a bacterial, viral, fungal, or amoeba infection that causes inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and spine. Besides the head and temple pain, patients report neck stiffness, fever, nausea, light sensitivity, and confusion. If not addressed, this condition can become fatal.
- Ear infection: Ear infections, referred to as otitis media, can also cause temple headaches. The pain and pressure in the region are the result of fluid build-up and inflammation in the ear.
6. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
The temporomandibular joint joins the upper and lower jaw. Several conditions can cause dysfunction and result in pain. Symptoms such as pain around the temples may resolve on their own or persist, leading to chronic problems. The signs of this condition include:
- Pain and stiffness in the jaw
- Pain that radiates to spreading to the face, temples, and the neck
- Limited jaw mobility, jaw popping and difficulty chewing
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears or hearing loss
- Changes in tooth alignment
7. Tumor
Headaches aren’t usually caused by cancer, but temple pain/ pressure can stem from tumor growth. In such rare cases, the following symptoms may be present:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Paralysis and weakness (often on one side of the body)
- Numbness
- Speech problems
- Changes in personality
- Irritability
- Vision problems
Brain tumors may initially appear without any pain. The headaches and other symptoms occur once the tumor grows and compresses the surrounding nerves and vessels in the temporal region.
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How to get rid of a temple headache?
Getting relief from a temple headache may be more complex. While over-the-counter meds may temporarily relieve the pain, unless the cause is addressed, the pain might linger.
- Over the counter Medication
OTC pain relievers, such (NSAIDs) including Advil (ibuprofen) and Bayer (aspirin), can help relieve a headache. Combinations of NSAIDs with caffeine, namely Excedrin, can help manage throbbing headache pain as well.
- Prescription Medication
Combination drugs or opioids are considered for conditions that require more potent pain relief options that are not manageable by regular OTC medications. In case of migraines, triptans such as Imitrex (sumatriptan) and Zomig (zolmitriptan) are commonly prescribed for relief. These are available in the form of injections, tablets, or nasal sprays. Other options classified as preventive medications include tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants and antihypertensive and are prescribed in accordance to the individual profile of the patient.
In temporal arteritis, treatment is focused on reducing inflammation and includes oral corticosteroids such as prednisone in combination with another drug or biologic, such as Actemra (tocilizumab).
Dr Richard suggests,
“Besides these drugs, relaxation techniques, including yoga, mindfulness and meditation, can help manage the pain. Furthermore, lifestyle changes, including sufficient exercise and sleep, help reduce the frequency of headaches. Different types of therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), are known to benefit patients as well,”
When should I see a doctor?
If temple headaches have increased in frequency and severity and are interfering with daily life, it is time to see a doctor. You can consult our doctor at Your Doctors online immediately. If the headaches are accompanied by confusion, fever, vomiting, visit changes, or dizziness, it is essential that you seek immediate medical help.
Faqs about temple pain
Water is an essential component in our body. You must keep hydrated. Insufficient water intake can result in headaches.
The most common cause of temple pain is tension headaches. Other conditions, such as cluster headaches, migraines, and sinusitis, can all result in temporal pain.
Stress, anxiety or depression can all result in a temple headache. This is usually the result of muscle tension in the area.
Trauma to the head or temple region can lead to an injury and can result in pain, swelling and bruising of the area.
The right amount of pressure helps improve blood flow to the region and relax muscles, relieving the headache.
