neck stiffness and head pressure

i have read that neck stiffness is one of the first symptoms of lyme's. i did not start experiencing neck stiffness for about two years after i had been sick. but now it is unbearable. i feel like there is constant pressure in the back of my neck, and the creaks i hear when i talk will drive me crazy.
i am wondering if one would expect this kind of symptom to be one of the first of lyme's, and not something to appear a lot later???

i am also wondering if those with neck stiffness have also experienced unbearable head pressure? i sometimes get this pressure, usually in low pressure and humid climates, and i can't believe i haven't keeled over dead yet from it. it is soooo severe, and it feels like blood rushing to my head. i can hear and feel the whoosing in my ears. i can't stand it. it will last days sometimes. i am wondering if anyone else experiences this?

i have NO answers to these symptoms - like what they are, what is causing them... i am very concerned that my brain is inflamming or that my blood vessels are really messed up, causing the blood to just pound in my head. not really sure, but it is such a severe symptom, i can't imagine that it's not pretty serious.

hi dowa, that is a great suggestion. it's funny, because when i complain to my boyfriend about this symptom, i always say it feels like my blood has turned into tar. like it is too thick to get through my blood vessels. but it seems strange, then, that it would only be in my head and neck. and sooooo severe.

i just now read a little on hypercoagulation and the info i have read so far says that the main symptoms are fatigue and brain fog. i have not found anything to suggest tremendous head pressure and whooshing are also symptoms. i will have to find a doctor to possibly address this suggestion though. thank you so much.

Hi Scorpio-
You experience pressure in your head as well? Does anything trigger it?
What kind of abrnomalities were on your SPECT scan? Are they serious?
I am interested in getting one, but doctors don't seem concerned about this symptom. Though it is like the most intense one.

I just went through my files so I could tell you exactly what it is called. The test is called Prothrombin Time and Troponin. I had said fibrinogen before, I guess that is what is actually in the blood that causes it to be too thick. Yes, they just draw blood like a regular blood test, only took a few days to get it back. Mine was actually normal so, no treatment was prescribed. It was ordered because my spect can results were poor. Heparin shots are what they use here if the test is positive and I have spoken to alot of patients doing them and say they feel so much better. On Dr Cs website he said that 90% of his Lyme patients have hypercoagulation symptoms.  Good luck  D

Head and neck pain are my # 1 symptom.

I had the swooshing and head pressure at an extreme level for about a month, which was about 3-6 months after I think I got bit. 

Now I'm undergoing treatment and haven't had the extreme levels, but still stiff necks and head pain. 

The swooshing/head pressure combo was 'by far' the worst thing I've ever felt/had in my life.  I thought I was dying.  That's went I had my g/f take me to the emergency room.  I insisted for 2 days I had a brain tumor.  They released me with a script for imitrex, claiming I "just had a migraine". 

Chief

I had the absolute worst head pressure/headaches for 2 years before being diagnosed. I wanted to rip my head off the pain was so bad. The ringing and swooshing in my ears was so unbarable  I had to stop working as a psychotherapist as I couldn't consentrate on what my clients were saying. I also had clicking in my right ear and severe ringing in my left that would change in pitch and intensity. I really thought I was going out of my mind---I actually was due to the bacteria! Now the ringing only happens when I herx after meds. I think for me those symptoms were due to babesiosis and perhaps hypothyroidism as they began to get less and less as I got treatment beginning 2 years ago trying many combinations of antibiotics and suppliments. Now I am being treated for bartonella which I do not test positive for but believe I have. Things are slowly improving. I could feel absolutely great one day and the next feel awful, but the great days last longer and longer. That seems to be this is for me, it could even be from hour to hour I can get severe changes. But if I look at myself 2 years ago I wouldn't have imagined I could do what I do today. Hang in there and keep getting treated. One of these days you will take out enough bacteria to feel better. It won't be easy, it won't be cheap and it won't be quick but you can do it. Keep your eyes on the goal and outstare the darkness. Blessings

thanks, minerals. your post was very inspiring. i too hope i can look back in a couple of years on these days able to do so much more than i can now!!
the head pressure you describe is a lot like what i experience too. it makes me feel crazy as well. unbearable.
i am wondering if anything triggered yours???

Gracie,

1) Triggers - I think there are many triggers to the head pain symptom.  For me, mold exposure, sunlight and bright lights, sugar and certain foods.  Thankfully, I've become sensitive to my triggers and they have become manageable. 

2) Suggestions as to what was going on? - Lots of suggestions by doctors like migraines, etc.  The reality.. its the lyme bacteria causing my head pressure, head pain, headaches.

3)Yes, treatment has helped - First, diet and exercise.  Secondly, doxy, mino, biaxin combo's. (changing every 6-8 weeks or so).

Oh Gracie, I think head symptoms ARE a main symptom with lyme.  Part of the issue in my opinion is that different people describe their pain differently.  Is it really a headache?  Or is it head pain?  Or is it head pressure?  Or is it brain fog?  Or maybe its just a stiff neck?  Oh, its just lightheadedness?....... you see, its the bacteria causing everyone's pain, its just that everyone describes it and feels it a little differently...

Chief

p.s. one day we'll have clear heads again.  mind over matter.

I keep coming back to this as i have a variation of it.

My neck pops -- causing a small jolt -- each and every time I turn it to the left. this resonates in the back of my head causing a minor headache and a little dizziness.

i have a positive western blot and some titers too. been on biaxin and doxy for about five months. need to add plaquenil ... and I will soon enough.

hi daryl, thanks for your response.
so the protein digesting enzymes needed to be prescribed? are there any less potent variations that can be found OTC?
it sure 'feels' like the pressure in my head is a result of too thick blood. i always tell my boyfriend that my blood seems to have turned into tar. however, i of course don't really know what the case is, or why then it only occurs in my head and neck.
but this is such a great suggestion, i will have to mention it to my docs. i wonder if the high fibrinogen is the same thing that causes hyercoagulation? are they the same?
it's interesting because i have read a little about hypercoagulation since someone suggested it on this site, but in the articles i have read, there is no mention of head pressure and swooshing. also, mine is definitely triggered by humid and low pressure conditions, which is bit strange too. but it is drastically worse in these conditions, so i have no doubt something about them triggers the pressure.

Hi gracietiger,

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you.

I don't know if otc protease would be strong enough to help you. You might be able to do a phone cons with Dr. Huntoon.

My impression is that high fibrinogen and hypercoagulation are the same thing, but I am not a doctor.

Hope you see improvement soon,

Daryl