Episodes of severe left temple pain radiated to the arm

Dear Ask The Doctor: I get a severe pain in my left temple that radiates down my left arm. It only last a few seconds but is so severe I can't stand it.. Afterwards my head feels numb and my arm feels sore for a few days after the episode.

Dear Jessica: Most likely you are experiencing an episode of Complex Migraine. A complex migraine is a type of headache, severe; often disabling that besides the pain may include the following symptoms: weakness, pain radiated to jaw and/or arm with/without numbness and tingling, blurry, double or loss of vision and even difficulty speaking, looking similar to a Stroke. The most common triggering causes are: stress, depression, certain medications or foods (MSG, chocolate, wine, and cheeses), hormonal disorders, lack of sleep, changes in the blood flow pattern of the brain. If the migraine is beginning can be treated with NSAIDs (“Aleve”,”Motrin”), there are also prescription medicines that may be used to treat the attacks and as preventive. Above all you can do the following to avoid Complex Migraines: try not to eat foods with MSG, cheeses (especially aged), wine and chocolate; try to have frequent breaks at work, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, do not skip meals, get a good night sleep, drink enough water during the day so you keep hydrated, exercise regular and consistently.