Understanding Pain at the Base of Your Skull: Causes & Relief

Question
Hello,

I am a 33 year old, smoker, from New Hampshire, I went to my Dr 10 days ago for extreme pain at the base of my skull (it is on the toward the left side)The day I started getting the pain I woke up with a bad cold the next day, so i thought the pain had something to do with my cold.  Well my cold has been gone for over a week now.  My Dr said I probably pulled a muscle and gave me Naproxen Sodium 550 Mg, He said it will take a full 5 days for the medicine to work, Well some days my pain isn't as bad,  others it is very painful and it has been 10 days I have been on the meds and almost and little over 3 weeks that I have had the pain in total.
I can move my head no problem, up, down, side to side, though it feels better if I move to my right which is the opposite side of the pain.
It gives me a little headache to have this pain, and if I put pressure right behind my ear it hurts the area where the pain is.

My question is, does it sometimes take longer for a medication to work like more than 10 days? (I take it twice a day) and is there any way I can help relieve this pain, I have tried hot compact, cold, massaging, The pain can get really bad that they only comfortable position is laying down on my left side with my neck tilted away from the side of the pain.  One more question, I was thinking that I should finish my meds and if the pain is still there I should then call my Dr, or should I not wait because I still have the pain and call him next week..

Sorry that was long just wanted to make sure I could explain myself correctly.

Thank you in advance

Carrie C

Answer
You did a great job describing it... I would be concerned that it hasn't gotten better yet... I would advise followup with your doctor... for a re-evaluation and possible xrays, depending on what your exam looks like.  It should have gotten better by now if it is a simple muscle pull, probably.

Go get it looked at now if you can...