I have had a severe headache for the past several days. Symptoms include facial pain (under my eyes), intense throbbing, nausea, and my neck is stiff. The headache pain comes in "waves". I have been to the doctor's office and was given an injection of Nubain. It helped for a little bit but symptoms came back. Last night the pain was so bad, I went to the ER and the physician there seemed to think it was a migraine. I was also dehydrated. I received an injection of Demerol but the headache pain only decreased a little. What's next??

Hi, jetta, sorry to hear about your headache. One other thing that could be happening is meningitis. Do you have a fever? Feel really sick, especially with stiff neck, and possible back of head hurting like hell? Meningitis is caused by bacteria or a virus, and if a person has an untreated sinus infection, it can go into meningitis (inflammation of the meninges, or covering of the brain and spinal column). Usually a person has a flu-like or sinus illness first, but the headache is excrutiating, very much like a severe migraine, and extreme light sensitivity is a hallmark sign.

The diagnosis is made by a spinal tap to check the protein and glucose levels in your spinal fluid, also they check for any bacteria or viruses. Usually they start with a regular blood test, and if you have unusual results from that, then they suspect meningitis. I don't want to scare anyone, but meningitis can be severe, or just plain, flat-out annoying and inconvenient!!!!! Like the flu, only you swear your head will "pop off". (Or you WANT it to!!!) Good luck, and I hope your doctor thought of this, or ruled it out immediately!! Take care!

Hi! From my experience I would call it a migraine. I used to call my migraines "eyeball headaches" when I was a little girl before I was diagnosed. That was where the most intense pain was. It is always one sided for me though. It starts in my temple and then my eye. I also have migraines with the aura. Those start out with seeing spots or wiggling lines with the middle of peoples faces being blacked out. Then after the aura BANG! EXTREME PAIN! I hope for your sake it isn't migraines but if it is, I definately recommend finding a Neurologist to help you control your pain, before that, you can take fioricet, butalbital, esgic plus, generic fioricet. Good luck!