What May Be Causing Your One-Sided Headache
A headache on one side of the head can be frustrating—and sometimes concerning. While many headaches are related to stress, dehydration, or lack of sleep, persistent one-sided head pain may point to something more specific. A recent article in Medical News Today explored medical causes of unilateral headaches, including several neurological and vascular conditions.
To better understand what may be behind one-sided head pain, Christina Camp, MSN, FNP-C, BSN, PCCN, of Shore Physicians Group’s Neurology Division, shared insight into several neurological and vascular conditions that can cause pain on one side of the head. “One-sided headaches can sometimes be linked to irritation of specific nerves or inflammation of blood vessels,” Camp explains. “The key is understanding where the pain starts, how it feels, and what triggers it.”
One possible cause is occipital neuralgia, a nerve-related condition affecting the occipital nerves. These nerves run from the base of the neck up over the scalp.
“The occipital nerves start at the base of the skull and travel upward over the head,” says Camp. “If they become irritated, patients often describe sharp, shooting, or electric-like pain in the back of the head, usually on one side.”
She notes that many patients instinctively cup the back of their head in their palm when describing the pain. “It’s typically right where the skull meets the neck,” she says. Triggers can include muscle tension, poor posture, whiplash, head trauma, or compression of the nerve. “Sometimes we can identify the cause, and sometimes it just happens,” Camp adds.
Another condition that can cause one-sided head pain is temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis. Unlike occipital neuralgia, this condition is vascular rather than nerve-related.
“Temporal arteritis involves inflammation of the temporal artery, which runs along the temple area,” Camp explains. “Patients may notice tenderness in the temple along with persistent pain on one side of the head.”
She emphasizes that this condition most commonly affects adults over age 50. “It’s something we take very seriously because, in addition to headache, patients can experience jaw pain when chewing or even vision changes. That’s why it’s important to rule it out.” Prompt evaluation is critical, as untreated inflammation can lead to complications.
A third potential cause of one-sided pain is trigeminal neuralgia, which affects the trigeminal nerve—the main sensory nerve of the face.
“The trigeminal nerve runs from the temple area down toward the cheek and branches toward the nose and jaw,” Camp says. “When it’s irritated, it can cause sudden, severe, electric shock-like pain on one side of the face or head.”
She notes that even simple activities such as brushing teeth, chewing, washing the face, or exposure to cold air can trigger symptoms. “The pain is often brief but extremely intense,” she says.
Because one-sided headaches can have multiple causes, Camp encourages patients not to ignore persistent or severe symptoms. “If you’re experiencing ongoing pain on one side of your head, it’s important to see a provider,” she says. “We can perform an assessment, determine whether testing is needed, and develop a treatment plan based on the underlying cause.”
Christina Camp, MSN, FNP-C, BSN, PCCN, treats patients at Shore Physicians Group’s Neurology Division offices located at 700 Shore Road in Somers Point, NJ. To schedule an appointment with Christina, call 609-365-6202.
