Temple region refers to the side area of the head that is in alignment with the eyes. Pain in either side of temple is quite unbearable and can drive one crazy. There are several underlying conditions causing mild to severe pain in this section, which range from sinus issues to possible tumors. A physician can perform an evaluation and decipher what the possible cause of this type of pain is and apply the proper treatment to relive or cure such pain.

Causes and Treatments of Pain in Right Temple

1. Migraines

Migraines are a chronic neurological disorder and they are a form of intermittent headaches. Migraines can be brought about by a variety of different causes, such as anxiety, hormone fluctuations, some odors, alcohol consumption and certain types of food. Intolerance to bright light or loud noises, temporary disturbances in ones vision as well as nausea and vomiting are all among the symptoms that migraine sufferers can experience. During a migraine the patient usually experiences severe pain that is localized to a certain region, which in most cases is the temporal region.

Treatment: there is no cure for migraines, so prevention of the attacks and treating the symptoms that occur should be the primary focus. There are several at home remedies that you can do to lessen the pain or even completely relieve it, such as getting a good night sleep but don’t over sleep, keeping the room dark, not skipping meals, take riboflavin, use icepacks or cold compresses on your head or over the counter medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen. If these remedies don’t help or if the migraines are disrupting your daily activities, you may want to consult a physician. There are several prescription medications available that may help.

Here are other home remedies for migraine.

2. Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are headaches that cause discomfort and pain usually in one side of the head. These are usually associated with muscle tightness that may be present in the area of the headache. Tension headaches can occur when the neck and scalp muscles become tense from excessive computer work, sewing or using a microscope. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping and dull pain, like a vice on the head and worse on one side of the head in the temple area.

Treatment: treatment of tension headaches requires immediate attention to the symptoms you incur and recognizing what triggers your headaches and finding a way to avoid those triggers. Some patients report that massaging the bottom of their necks, there temples and their scalp can provide some relief from the pain associated with these types of headaches. Over the counter pain medications, such as Tylenol and ibuprofen are also helpful, and if absolutely necessary, a narcotic pain medication and/or a muscle relaxant can be prescribed by a physician. It is important to note that these prescription medications will only allow the pain to subside for a short period of time and excessive use can be both dangerous and can also cause rebound headaches to occur.

3. Cluster Headache

Another cause of pain in right temple is cluster headache. A cluster headache refers to a type of severe headache that tends to recur over several weeks and in which the pain is usually limited to one side of your head. Cluster headaches are fairly rare, but they can be debilitating as they are accompanied by severe, excruciating pain to one side of the head, tearing in the eyes as well as runny nose. The condition tends to occur on a daily basis for a period of eight to ten weeks and then is followed by a period of remission that can last up to a year.

Treatment: as far as treatment of cluster headaches is concerned, there is no cure, but the ultimate goal of treatment is to try to reduce the severity of the pain that is experienced. Unfortunately over the counter medications, such as Advil, Tylenol etc., do not help because they are not fast acting enough. The only treatment that is proven to reduce the duration of pain is administering high-flow oxygen.

4. Trigeminal Neuralgia

Also known as tic douloureux, Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder feature with intermittent and shooting pain on the right side of the head. A blood vessel putting pressure on the nerve near the brain stem is the most frequent cause, and over time the nerve’s protective myelin sheath can wear away, which is responsible for causing symptoms to develop. Symptoms include severe, electric, sudden or stabbing pain that lasts for several seconds. These symptoms can repeat one after another and can come and go all day long, lasting anywhere from days to years.

Treatment: this disorder can be treated with a number of different medications, such as anti-seizure drugs or even antidepressants, which can relieve pain effectively. If the medications are not effective, some neurological procedures are available to decrease nerve sensitivity or release pressure on the affected nerve. Alternative therapies, like chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture, meditation or self-hypnosis are also known to work for some patients.

5. Temporal Arthritis

In temporal arthritis, the blood vessels that supply the head area suffer from inflammation and damage. This particularly affects the large or medium arteries that branch from the neck and supply the temporal area. It is unknown what causes this disorder, although it is believed to be due in part to an immune response that is faulty. There are several symptoms associated with this disorder, such as excessive sweating, loss of appetite, muscle aches, a persistent fever, vision difficulties, lethargy hips and shoulder, throbbing headache on one side of the head and pain and/or stiffness in the neck and upper arms.

Treatment: due to the lack of blood flow, tissue damage may occur so the ultimate goal of treating this disorder is to reduce the tissue damage. Corticosteroids will likely be prescribed to you even before a biopsy confirms the diagnosis of this disorder. Your physician may also recommend taking aspirin as well. In most cases it only takes a few days to start to feel better, but the medication is usually prescribed for a period of one to two years.

6. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Temporomandibular joint disorder can also lead to pain in right temple. The hinge-like connection, that is located in front of the ear between the lower jaw and the skull, is called the temporomandibular joint, and abnormalities, whether structural or functional, are known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). When these abnormalities are present they can cause frequent headaches that radiate to the temporal region of the head. People with TMJ can suffer from various other symptoms aside from the frequent headaches, including pain while chewing, neck pain, stiffness in their jaw muscles, difficulty opening the mouth completely and misaligned teeth in the upper and lower region. The cause of TMJ is not always clear, but there are some reasons leading to TMJ: the cartilage of the joint is damaged by arthritis or by an injury of some sort, or there is erosion or movement present to the disk that makes it unaligned.

Treatment: depending on the nature and severity of the disorder, treatment for TMJ varies. In some cases, little or no treatment is required to eliminate jaw pain, whereas in the most severe cases surgery may be necessary to correct the problem. There are pain medications, both over the counter and prescription that may help to alleviate some of the discomfort and some patients report that using ice packs or cold compresses are effective.

Learn more about TMJ here:

7. Temporal Lobe Tumors

A common symptom of brain tumors is headaches, and they can often be localized in the right temple. Symptoms include pain that is more severe in the morning and slowly improves throughout the day, pain that is characterized as a deep ache progressively worsens over time and pain relief that occurs after vomiting.

Treatment: treatments of temporal lobe tumors include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery; this all is dependent on if it is the primary tumor or whether the tumor is benign or cancerous. Your doctor will assess you and discuss all your treatment options with you. In some instances, you may need to have one or more of the treatments available, but this is determined on a case-by-case basis.

8. Other Causes

There are several other disorders and conditions that also cause localized pain in the right temple. Some examples of these are aneurysms, sinus problems, including inflammation of the sinuses or sinus infections and stroke. Clenching or grinding of one’s teeth can cause pain localized in the right temple as well. It is, however, necessary to follow-up with a physician to correctly diagnose the exact cause of your pain.

When to See a Doctor

In some situations, the cause of pain in right temple or both temples can be from a serious condition, such as meningitis or a stroke. In sever situations like this it is vital to seek medical care immediately, such as an emergency depart or by calling 911 for an ambulance to come to transport you. Symptoms that can indicate a severe or serious condition, requiring immediate medical attention include a sudden severe temple pain or temple pain that is accompanied by one or more of the following:

• Difficulty in vision
• Difficulty speaking and walking
• Feelings of nausea or vomiting
• Confusion or difficulty understanding the spoken word
• Fainting
• A fever that is greater than 102 F (39 C)
• A stiff neck
• Numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body

In less severe cases a follow-up with a doctor is necessary. Some symptoms that may indicate the need to follow-up with a physician are as follows:

• If the temple pain is preventing you from working, sleeping or participating in your usual daily activities.
• If the temple pain occurs more frequently than usual.
• If the temple pain worsens or does not approve, even when using over the counter medications.
• If the temple pain causes distress and you want to find a possible treatment option that can help you to control it.