Boyfriend has throbbing headachearound same spot where he got a skin biopsy?

Question

In May or April, my boyfriend, who is 19 years old, had a skin biopsy on the back of his headto remove a mole that was not cancerous. I am not sure if he's had pain before then, but SINCE that biopsy has happened he said the throbbing has increased around that spot. Is that normal? Or should we be concerned that it is something else? He said it is only in one area, not around the whole head, and that it feels like it is coming from the inside.

He doesn't have any insurance right now and we would like to know what to do.

Thanks for the advice. He's concerned about this because his mother had him on her health care plan, but dropped him because she refuses to pay for it, and won't put him back on again. He wants to get a brain scan done, but she doesn't think it's serious and wont put him back on her plan. It's worrying him, so I decided to find out if it's something he should see the doctor for. Thanks for your answer.

Answer 1

April is a very long time for an area that was biopsied to still be causing problems. Is it possible he might have a sub-dermal cyst in the same area that is infected and causing him pain? If so this would be a chronic infection that will need lancing by a Dr and probably antibiotics before the pain is relieved. This should only involve one Dr appt. at urgent care so his cost will be about a hundred bucks or less. Go and get the area looked at by a Dr.

A biopsy taken from the skin would have nothing to do with a potential brain cancer or tumor so the location of the pain is just a coincidence. Maybe the biopsy turned a hair inwards and this is now inflamed?

Answer 2

There are too many variables to give a specific answer; it could be simple post-operative pain that will go away, or, it could be that the doctor/surgeon (d/s) inadvertently nicked a muscle and/or nerve, which may take a while to heal (this wouldn't be considered malpractice as it is not uncommon, and is usually treatable and/or will pass on its own, eventually).

Go to the d/s who performed the biopsy and/or mole removal (your question and details don't clarify whether they were done at the same time and/or by the same d/s) and ask about it. A good d/s shouldn't charge for post-op care, especially if the patient is in pain, but don't be surprised if he/she charges a nominal fee (even if you don't have insurance, you should be able to deduct the fees from your taxes, assuming, of course, that you're in the USA; I can't say whether this is true in other countries; also, most medical care providers charge substantially less and/or offer payments-over-time for patients without medical insurance).

BTW, you didn't mention anything about his parent(s) or guardian(s). He is under the age of consent, so why aren't they involved in this? In other words, it is THEIR decision and perogative to follow-up on this, not yours; clearly, they care about him, or they wouldn't have given their consent for the operation in the first place. The only thing you can do, at this time, is to offer your support, which, in many cases, is the best "medicine" of all (in other words, don't become an additional "headache" to him or his parents).

Good luck!