Why does the side of my head hurt?

Pain on the side of your head can feel annoying, distracting, or sometimes scary—especially if it’s new or more intense than usual. The good news is that many causes are not dangerous and improve with rest, hydration, stress reduction, or the right over-the-counter medication. But in some cases, one-sided or side-of-head pain can be a sign you should get medical care quickly.

“Side of my head” pain usually points to one of a few buckets:

• Primary headaches (the headache is the condition): migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache

• Referred pain (something nearby irritates nerves): jaw joint (TMJ), neck muscles, ear problems, dental issues

• Inflammation or infection: sinus infection, shingles, temporal arteritis

• Emergency causes (rare but urgent): stroke symptoms, sudden “worst headache,” head injury complications

This guide will help you narrow down what’s most likely based on how it feels, where it hurts, and what else is happening.

Important: This article is for education, not diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or feel unsafe, seek urgent care.

Quick self-check: what does your pain feel like?

Use these descriptions to get oriented:

• Throbbing or pulsing (often with nausea/light sensitivity) → commonly migraine

• Tight, pressing, “band-like”, sometimes with neck tension → commonly tension headache

• Severe stabbing around eye/temple, with watery eye or runny nose → cluster headache

• Ache near temple + jaw pain when chewing → possible TMJ or (in older adults) temporal arteritis

• Sharp, electric “zaps”, scalp tenderness, pain triggered by touching hair/scalp → possible occipital neuralgia

• Pressure with face pain, congestion, worse when bending → possible sinus-related headache

• Pain with ear fullness/tooth pain/sore jaw → ear or dental causes

Side-of-head pain: symptoms-to-cause table (fast guide)

Common causes of pain on the side of the head

1) Migraine (very common)

Migraine is one of the top reasons people feel pain on one side or the side of the head. It’s not “just a bad headache”—it’s a neurological condition that can cause:

• throbbing or pulsing pain (often one-sided)

• nausea or vomiting

• sensitivity to light, sound, or smells

• visual changes (aura) in some people

• fatigue and brain fog

Triggers can include missed meals, dehydration, lack of sleep, stress let-down, alcohol, hormonal shifts, strong smells, and certain foods.

What you can do at home

• Take your usual pain reliever early (timing matters for migraine).

• Hydrate and eat something simple (low nausea risk).

• Try a cold pack on the painful area and rest in a dark, quiet room.

• If you get migraines often, keep a trigger diary (sleep, stress, food, hydration).

See a clinician if migraines are frequent, worsening, or interfering with life—preventive options can help.

2) Tension-type headache (stress + muscles)

Tension headaches often feel like a dull pressure or tightness. Many people describe it as:

• “a clamp,” “band,” or “vise” sensation

• pain that can sit at the temples/side of head

• neck and shoulder tightness

Common contributors

• long screen time, poor posture

• stress, anxiety

• jaw clenching

• dehydration or missed meals

• poor sleep

At-home relief

• Gentle neck/shoulder stretches (slow, no forcing)

• Heat on the neck/shoulders or a warm shower

• Short breaks from screens; adjust monitor height

• Hydration + balanced meal

• Relaxation breathing (even 3–5 minutes helps)

3) Cluster headache (severe, urgent-to-treat)

Cluster headaches are less common but very distinctive. Pain is often:

• extremely severe

• around one eye/temple/side of head

• short-lasting (15 minutes to a few hours) but recurring in “clusters”

• accompanied by watery eye, runny nose, or eyelid droop on the same side

If this matches your symptoms, it’s worth seeing a clinician quickly because cluster headaches have specific treatments that work far better than typical painkillers.

4) TMJ disorder (jaw joint) and jaw clenching

If the side of your head hurts near the temple and you also notice:

• jaw clicking/popping

• pain when chewing

• morning headaches (from nighttime clenching/grinding)

• sore jaw muscles

…it may be your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ-related pain can radiate to the temple, ear area, and side of the head.

Helpful steps

• Soft foods for a few days; avoid gum

• Warm compress on jaw muscles

• Don’t “test” your jaw by opening wide repeatedly

• Consider a dental evaluation if grinding/clenching is suspected

5) Neck strain and occipital neuralgia (nerve irritation)

The occipital nerves run from the upper neck to the scalp. When irritated, pain can feel like:

• sharp, shooting, or electric zaps

• tenderness at the base of the skull

• pain that spreads to one side of the head or behind the ear

This can be linked to posture strain (especially “tech neck”), muscle tightness, arthritis changes, or sometimes after an injury.

Try

• posture resets: shoulders down/back, screen at eye level

• gentle neck mobility (no aggressive cracking)

• heat on tight neck muscles

• clinician visit if pain is persistent, severe, or has numbness/weakness

6) Sinus inflammation or infection

Sinus-related pain is often described as pressure, usually with:

• congestion or thick nasal discharge

• facial pain/tenderness

• worse pain when bending over

• sometimes fever (more suspicious for infection)

Note: many “sinus headaches” are actually migraines, but sinus symptoms can still be real.

What helps

• saline nasal rinse or spray

• steam inhalation

• hydration

• medical evaluation if fever, severe facial pain, or symptoms last more than ~10 days or worsen after improving

7) Ear or dental problems (referred pain)

Pain can travel. An ear infection, earwax blockage, tooth infection, or impacted tooth can radiate to the side of the head.

Clues include:

• ear fullness, hearing changes, fever, drainage

• tooth sensitivity, gum swelling, pain when biting

• pain localized near the jaw angle

If you suspect dental/ear causes, treat the source—head pain often improves once the underlying issue is managed.

8) Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) — do not ignore

This is more relevant typically in adults over 50. Symptoms can include:

• new headache near the temples (often one side)

• scalp tenderness

• jaw pain when chewing

• vision changes

This can threaten vision and needs urgent medical evaluation.

9) Shingles (especially near scalp/temple)

Early shingles can cause burning or tingling pain on one side before a rash appears. If you notice sensitivity and then a blister-like rash, see a clinician promptly—antiviral medication works best early.

When to worry: red flags that need urgent care

Get emergency help immediately if you have side-of-head pain with any of the following:

• sudden “worst headache of my life”

• weakness, numbness, facial droop, confusion, trouble speaking

• fainting, seizure, severe dizziness

• new headache after head injury

• stiff neck with fever

• vision loss or sudden severe eye pain

• headache triggered by exertion/coughing that’s new and intense

If the headache is persistent, progressively worsening, or different from your usual pattern, a medical evaluation is a smart move.

How to relieve side-of-head pain at home (safe basics)

These are generally safe for many people, but individual situations vary:

1. Hydrate + eat something light
   Dehydration and low blood sugar commonly worsen headaches.

2. Cold or heat

• Cold pack: helpful for migraine/throbbing pain

• Heat: helpful for tension and muscle-related pain

3. Reduce sensory load
   Dim lights, reduce noise, limit screen time during a flare.

4. Gentle stretches (if tension/neck related)
   Slow neck rolls are often too aggressive—try gentle side bends and shoulder rolls.

5. Sleep
   A short nap can help migraine; consistent nightly sleep prevents recurrence.

6. OTC pain relief (use carefully)
   Follow label directions and avoid frequent use (regular overuse can cause rebound headaches). If you need painkillers many days per week, talk to a clinician.

Prevention tips (especially if it keeps coming back)

• Sleep schedule: consistent bedtime/wake time

• Hydration habit: water through the day, not only when thirsty

• Posture breaks: 2–3 minute breaks every 30–60 minutes at screens

• Stress downshift: quick daily practice (walk, breathing, stretching)

• Jaw check: if you clench, consider stress tools + dental advice

• Track patterns: note triggers, time, foods, cycle changes, workouts

FAQs

Is it normal to have a headache on only one side?

Yes. Many common headaches, especially migraines and cluster headaches, can be one-sided. But if it’s new, severe, or paired with neurological symptoms, get evaluated.

Why does the right temple hurt?

Right temple pain can come from migraine, tension headaches, jaw clenching/TMJ, neck strain, or sinus/eye strain issues. If it’s new and severe—especially with vision changes—seek care.

Why does the left side of my head hurt near my ear?

Pain near the ear can be TMJ problems, ear infections, dental issues, neck/occipital nerve irritation, or migraine. Look for ear symptoms (fullness, hearing change) and jaw symptoms (clicking, chewing pain).

Can stress cause pain on the side of the head?

Yes. Stress can trigger tension headaches and migraines, and it can also increase jaw clenching, which irritates the temple/side-of-head area.

When should I see a doctor for side-of-head pain?

See a clinician if headaches are frequent, worsening, disrupting life, or if you’re relying on pain meds often. Seek emergency help for sudden severe headache, neuro symptoms, fever/stiff neck, or vision changes.

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