instruction: i have had off and on neck head pains kind of like a headache my scalp in the back center is a little tender and when I cleaned my left ear I had pain deep inside started days ago with killer headache coming from left side behind ear scalp tenderness towards the back of the head
output: hi welcome to icliniq I hope you are doing well I understand your concern I understood that you are having an off and on headache likely a chronic headache for the last days you are having a new onset headache which is triggered by cleaning your left ear associated with scalp tenderness and pain behind ear there are several possible causes of a headache behind the ear one of the most common causes of such type of headache is occipital neuralgia in this condition occipital nerves are injured or inflamed the nature of pain is piercing and sometimes throbbing or similar to the feeling of an electric shock for such pain you need evaluation maybe a scan medications that decrease nerve pain such as carbamazepine pregabalin etc another common cause is mastoiditis it is an infection of the mastoid bone which is the bone directly behind the ear it can cause a headache behind the ear it is mostly associated with fever discharge from the ear in your case it is likely possible as you have a history of ear trauma while cleaning your ear simply taking anti inflammatory medication and antibiotics will help other cause includes temporomandibular joints taj inflammation these joints can become inflamed and painful there is sense jaw tightness and pain in addition to a headache behind the ear lastly migraines can present in a various manner as your having chronic headache it is also a possibility it is important to find out the specific cause so it can be treated appropriately new onset headache we like to search for red flag symptoms this are sudden onset of headache the onset of headache after 50 years of age increased frequency or severity of headache new onset of headache with an underlying medical condition headache with concomitant systemic illness such systemic illness fever stiff neck rash as fever focal neurologic signs or symptoms if these red flags are present it needs urgent medical evaluation some home remedy for symptomatic relief of pain are over the counter anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen paracetamol massage of neck muscles apply heat packs if swelling then apply a cold pack to take rest in a quiet room hope this is helpful regards