Experiencing pain in your temples can be quite unsettling. It’s a common complaint, and while often benign, temple pain can sometimes indicate an underlying health issue that requires attention. If you’re asking “Why Do My Temples Hurt?”, you’re in the right place to understand more about this symptom.
Unhappy serious senior woman holding her temple suggesting headache pain due to temporal arteritis
Throbbing pain around the temples is frequently associated with migraines. This type of headache can cause intense discomfort, often felt pulsating on one or both sides of your head. However, if that throbbing sensation evolves into a persistent, constant headache, particularly if accompanied by tenderness to the touch in your temple area, it might signal a condition called temporal arteritis.
Exploring Temporal Arteritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Concerns
Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis or cranial arteritis, is characterized by the inflammation of large arteries. It commonly affects the temporal arteries located on the sides of your head, but can impact other arteries as well. This condition is more prevalent in women and almost exclusively affects individuals over the age of 50.
The pain associated with temporal arteritis is often described as severe, throbbing, and even burning, typically localized at the temple region on one side of the head. Beyond headache, other symptoms can include:
- Persistent, new-onset headache
- Scalp tenderness, particularly over the temples
- Pain when touching the temples
- Fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fever (usually low-grade)
- Jaw pain or cramping, especially while chewing (jaw claudication)
- Vision problems, such as double vision, blurred vision, or sudden vision loss in one eye
The exact cause of temporal arteritis remains unknown, but it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy artery walls, leading to inflammation. This inflammation can narrow the arteries, reducing blood flow. In severe cases, complete blockage can occur. If the arteries supplying blood to the retina are affected, it can lead to vision loss. If arteries supplying the brain are compromised, a stroke can occur. However, it’s important to note that early diagnosis and treatment are highly effective in managing temporal arteritis and preventing serious complications.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Temporal Arteritis
If a doctor suspects temporal arteritis, they will typically order blood tests to measure the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Elevated levels of ESR and CRP are indicators of inflammation in the body and support the suspicion of temporal arteritis. In some medical centers, ultrasound imaging of the temporal arteries can be used to aid in diagnosis. However, the definitive diagnostic method is a temporal artery biopsy. This involves surgically removing a small section of the temporal artery for microscopic examination to identify characteristic changes in the artery wall indicative of temporal arteritis.
Prompt diagnosis is critical because temporal arteritis requires immediate treatment to prevent serious complications, particularly vision loss. Treatment typically involves high doses of corticosteroids, such as prednisone. In many cases, doctors initiate corticosteroid therapy as soon as temporal arteritis is suspected, even before biopsy results are available, to prevent potential vision loss.
Patients usually need to take a high dose of prednisone initially until symptoms subside and inflammatory markers in blood tests return to near normal levels. This phase typically lasts for at least a month. The dosage is then gradually reduced over time. To help minimize long-term corticosteroid side effects and more rapidly reduce the prednisone dose, doctors may also prescribe another anti-inflammatory medication, such as tocilizumab. Regular follow-up with your doctor is essential to monitor your condition and adjust treatment as needed.
Other Potential Causes of Constant Temple Headaches
While temporal arteritis is a serious consideration, it’s not the only reason why you might experience persistent headaches with temple pain. Migraine headaches, for instance, can also cause constant pain that may be localized to the temples, often extending from the front to the back of the head.
Distinguishing between a migraine and temporal arteritis based solely on temple pain can be challenging. Migraines are often accompanied by other characteristic symptoms such as sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia), nausea, and vomiting. Migraine episodes can last for hours or even days.
It’s crucial to avoid self-diagnosis and treatment when it comes to persistent headaches. If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent temple pain, or if you have any of the symptoms associated with temporal arteritis, it’s vital to seek medical attention promptly. A healthcare professional can accurately diagnose the cause of your temple pain and recommend the appropriate treatment plan. Other conditions that can cause headaches, including tension headaches and cluster headaches, should also be considered and ruled out or diagnosed by a medical professional. Don’t hesitate to consult your doctor to determine “why do my temples hurt” and receive the care you need.
