Ear Ache, Headache, Pain Or Discomfort And Stiff Neck (2024)

FAQs

Ear Ache, Headache, Pain Or Discomfort And Stiff Neck? ›

A bad ear infection can cause pain as well as swollen glands in your neck. This may cause your neck to feel stiff. If you have a stiff neck and a bad headache or fever, it could be something much more serious like meningitis.

Occipital Neuralgia is a condition in which the occipital nerves, the nerves that run through the scalp, are injured or inflamed. This causes headaches that feel like severe piercing, throbbing or shock-like pain in the upper neck, back of the head or behind the ears.

Other symptoms that may be associated with an ear infection include sore throat (pharyngitis), neck pain, nasal congestion and discharge (rhinitis), headache, and ringing (tinnitus), buzzing, or other noise in the ear.

Takeaway. A variety of conditions can cause earache that happens at the same time as headache. A few examples include middle ear infections, TMJ dysfunction, and migraine. The treatment for ear pain that occurs with headache can depend on what's causing these symptoms.

For most neck pain, it's okay to try self-care strategies before seeking medical help. However, if your neck pain is so severe you can't sit still, or if it is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, contact a medical professional right away: Fever, headache, and neck stiffness.

Ear ache and stiff neck could be spinal meningitis or aseptic meningitis. Less likely could be temperomandibular joint dysfunction, ear infection (middle or external ear), neck muscle tightness, cervical radiculpathy (pinched nerve in the neck) or eustachian tube dysfunction. Cholestetoma, ear wax blockage.

The deadliest complication of otitis media is a brain abscess, an accumulation of pus in the brain due to an infection. The most common symptoms are headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, neurologic deficits and altered consciousness.

Over-the-counter medications or prescriptions can help manage associated pain like headache and earache. Pain relievers (acetaminophen), NSAIDs (ibuprofen and naproxen), muscle relaxers or even antidepressants could also address pain.

Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is characterized by a dull, non-throbbing pain that radiates from the neck to back of the head. The pain may spread along the scalp and affect the forehead, temple, and area around the eye and/or ear.

How do I know if I have meningitis or just a stiff neck? ›

The first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell. Limb pain, pale skin, and cold hands and feet often appear earlier than the rash, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights and confusion.

Other common early warning signs of a brain tumor include muscle weakness, numbness, neck pain, seizures, aphasia (difficulty speaking or understanding speech), hearing or vision loss, or problems with thinking, learning, and memory.

Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm usually begin with a sudden agonising headache. It's been likened to being hit on the head, resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before. Other symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm also tend to come on suddenly and may include: feeling or being sick.

Barré-Lièou syndrome is a manifestation of various autonomic and secondary symptoms, such as muscle stiffness, tinnitus, dizziness, and pain in the head, neck, eyes, throat, ears, chest, and back.

People often describe a stroke headache as the worst headache ever. The pain associated with a stroke headache is quite severe and comes within minutes. It generally doesn't throb or develop gradually like a migraine.

Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. These membranes are called meninges. The inflammation from meningitis typically triggers symptoms such as headache, fever and a stiff neck.