Ever get that stubborn headache on the side of your head or just around your ear that doesn’t quite feel like a “normal” headache? You might be surprised to learn that the real source of your pain isn’t always inside your head—it could be coming from irritated nerves and tight muscles in your neck and jaw.
Two main nerves are often to blame: the greater auricular nerve and the auriculotemporal nerve. These nerves run from your neck and jaw area up toward the side of your head and around your ear. When muscles like the sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, temporalis, or masseter get tight or overworked—often from stress, posture, or clenching the jaw—they can put pressure on these nerves. That irritation can trigger pain that radiates along the side of the head, the temple, or behind the ear.
This type of headache often feels dull, achy, or pressure-like, and it can worsen with jaw movement, neck rotation, or long hours of sitting at a desk. The good news is that with the right muscle therapy, stretching, and posture awareness, you can relieve the pressure on these nerves and reduce the headaches naturally.
If you’ve been dealing with side head pain that keeps coming back, it’s worth looking beyond painkillers—addressing the nerve and muscle connection might be the missing piece.
Dr. Steve Muscari
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