Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/2/2008

Question
I am a 20 year old female and healthy. I do, however, suffer from anxiety. I began getting headaches in the back right side of my head this past summer (I would say around the end of may or beginning of june). It is kind of just a dull ache. It would come and go throughout the day (not every day of the week, but most) and I never thought much of it. It usually felt like it was either on the base of my skull near my head or more around (either above or below) my ear. Finally, I went to my doctor in August and he did not seem to think much of it. I am on medication for anxiety and I stress a lot (I also tend to take small aches and pains and convince myself its something terrible). I am right handed and thought I noticed that it hurt more when I waitressed (at work) from carrying the trays or when I was stressed. I did notice that a few times during the summer I would wake up with a stiff neck on that side, but I would just stretch it and it would feel better. When I started school again in the fall it didnt bother me as much for about a month. I didnt notice it hurting at all, actually. Then the headaches started again. They were almost every day, but coming and going throughout the day. They are not worse during any particular part of the day and they dont get worse with exertion. they just stay the same. I sometimes take advil but I cant tell if it works. Sometimes it goes away but I can never tell if it is just going away on its own or if the medicine is helping. Sometimes I notice I take it and it will still hurt about a half hour later. About a week ago, I started getting a stiff neck every single morning. I wake up and it hurts very badly. I usually have to get up and actually stretch it out for quite a while before it subsides a little. During this time I sometimes get a dull ache around my ear. Throughout the day my neck is not stiff, just hurts a little if I turn it a certain way around my neck and up to my ear. The headaches come and go around that area. There are days, however, when I dont get the headaches. I went to a chiropractor over the summer to see if something was out of line that was causing the headaches, but he didnt feel anything that was wrong. Other then that, I dont really have any other symptoms. I plan on seeing my doctor again when I get home to finally figure out what the problem is, but that will not be for another 19 days. As I said, I am a major hypochondriac and I am very nervous its a brain tumor. I should also mention that I have a terrible habit of cracking my neck. Now that im getting this pain, I have been constantly trying to crack it. When I do crack it some of the stiffness does seem to go away. I know this is bad habit, though. My parents think that something is either out of whack in my neck or I have a pinched nerve somewhere. I was wondering what my symptoms sound like to you.

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Well your problems do seem to be associated with your neck and not with any brain tumor! In fact I do believe they come from your neck so I do not believe you have any brain tumor. Such neck problems are not tumor associated and therefore outside my area of expertise here. You should let an orthopedic surgeon check it.