Weird headache when moving my eye. Sinus pain or something more sinister?

[MuddyWellyNelly]

First up I've seen the GP and have a CT scan booked for Wednesday. This is because I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and although all other tests were clear, I didn't have a head CT. So because of the weird headache I'm being referred.

It's not a headache as such. It's just if I move my head or eye I sometimes get a sharp pain either in my temple or my brow bone. It sometimes happens a few times in succession, sometimes not for hours. I've been out running several times since it started, and most of the time it's fine, certainly no worse with exercise. Was just happening a lot when I was hanging out the washing. Doesn't bother me when I sleep fortunately. I'm not aware of being blocked up. But the doc found that both my ears had fluid behind the eardrums. Everyone so often I wonder if I feel tender around my nose or cheek but it's very low grade and subtle. There was no pain when the doctor pressed down and it's not a standard "lean forward and my sinus' hurt".

Totally freaking out that it's very sinister indeed. Dr Google doesn't seem to match my symptoms. I'm on tamoxifen and zoladex so in a crash menopause, but this doesn't feel like a standard hormonal headache. I'm very stressed (because of this) but anxiety is a crappy side effect of the zoladex so it could be stress. Vision seems ok and doc looked in my eye. Haven't seen an optician that recently other than a few months back when my son scratched my eye. Sometimes feels a little bit like there is pressure in my eye, and I'm experimenting with liquid tears to see if it's a dry eye thing. Painkillers no use. Sudafed no use.

Please calm me down...

Hi, I get this a lot, it's not all the time but sometimes I'll move my eyes and with that will come a stabbing pain behind my eyes (inside my head I suppose or that's how it feels). It scares me when it happens but it's gone as quick as it's come! It seems worse when I'm feeling anxious/haven't had enough sleep etc. I've been having it for such a long time now on and off I've put it down to tension in my muscles and tired eyes (I get quite a few stabbing pains around my head too). It's horrible but I really don't think it's anything to worry about. You're going through a lot at the moment and your body will be on high alert, it's going to be okay and so are you xx hugs xx

Thank you Widget, you are right about high alert. The GP did say it wasn't what he'd expect for a nasty brain-tumour'y headache, but that reassured me for about 0.3 secs. It's just that I can't find many stories online of anything similar. And it's been nearly 2 weeks now.

I Know this will sound weird, but go and see the dentist. You may be grinding your teeth at night and that could cause the pain you are describing. It sounds like you have had a stressful time recently and nightime tooth grinding often starts up with stress.

When hanging out the washing were you bending down to the basket then up again? Also, have you been using a screen a lot more than usual, or sitting at an awkward angle watching a screen more than usual, maybe with your head to one side.

SeatoSki I'm not aware of tooth grinding but I wouldn't rule it out.

Seaweed yes bending down doing the washing - but a lot of time it happens just turning to the side so it's not always leaning forward. Yesterday morning I was lying in bed on my back and looked up towards the headboard and it happened. Not more screen time than previously (in fact I'm rarely in front of the computer now), but some form of head and neck tension is certainly possible.

Thanks for suggestions. Scan is tomorrow so not too long to get some form of clarity.

Could it be blocked sinuses?? When you press down around your eye socket is it tender?

I have awful headaches around one eye so I know how you feel!

I have had this exact thing twice. The first time it lasted a few days, disappeared and then a couple of weeks later I randomly started blowing lots of green snot out of my nose (TMI - sorry!). I figured it had been a little pocket of infection in my sinuses that suddenly cleared.

The second time it lasted for weeks and weeks but I assumed it was the same thing as before so, as is typical of me, complained about it, didn’t bother going to the dr, and just waited for it to pass, which it did.

It was just as you describe - any small, sudden movement of my head in any direction (also coughing, sneezing and moving my eyes suddenly etc) and I’d get a stabbing pain above my eye that just lasted a second and had no lingering effect until the next time. Sounds like a sinus infection to me.

Lurking, thank you, that's calmed me considerably. I had my scan today but I have to wait a week to 10 days for the results.

Wine, mostly no it doesn't actually feel tender when I press it, but I do seem to get relief with certain sinus-y treatments like a warm wheat pack on my face.

Do try not to worry too much (easily said, I know). My symptoms really seem more or less identical - I had no pain or tenderness when I pressed my face, bending down made no difference and I felt perfectly well otherwise. Also, exercise didn’t seem to cause the pain (like you, I could go running and it didn’t hurt at all - although I remember one time I tripped and landed a bit suddenly and heavily on one foot and got the stabbing pain then because of the sudden movement). I literally had no other symptoms apart from the stabbing pain but I had it at least once a day and usually several times. Do let us know how you get on, but I really think it’s nothing to worry about x

Very belated update. Kind GP finally chased my CT results and there are no anomalies. So no sinister metastasis to my poor addled brain. Thank fuck. The eye/movement thing has all but gone; has happened 2 or 3 times in the last week. So it's either sinus or hormones or side effects or stress or trapped nerve or I need my eyes checked or just one of those bloody things that I'll never get to the bottom of. Just in case anyone like me is googling!