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need help plz with head an neck pressure

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 4/29/2009 10:31 PM (GMT 0)

cry   does any 1 have any idea what could be causing this pain?.

it's not really a headache as such. it appears 2 be coming from the back of my neck occipital bone area plus back of my head and forehead, an back of eyes. I dont always get it but when it starts if i dont get rid straight away it can last for days,  i can barley lift my head off the pillow. tablets dont seem 2 work IE kapake or anti inflammatories i've tried all sorts. I had a bad accident a few yrs ago were i fell about 25ft off a ladder my back and neck took all the shock as i landed on my feet, am not sure if this is just coincidental as i cant really rem when i started suffering with this pressure, i say pressure as i still dont believe it 2 be a headache an that is only way i can describe it. all i know is that i have never felt pain like it. When i feel it coming on i have 2 lay down in a dark room with my head tilted upwards so my head is resting backwards an my neck is not vi sable if u no wot i mean.  I would be grateful nif any1 could shed any light on this, as i am at my wits end. thank u

Post Edited (Sherbetfizz) : 5/6/2009 8:52:31 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/30/2009 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
I had a very similar issue. My GP said it was stress and prescribed migraine meds and a muscle relaxer, after several weeks and no relief I went to a neurologist and was diagnosed with headaches and benign intercranial hypertension (basically too much spinal fluid). Three weeks after a lumbar puncture, still having migraines, but the daily pressure headaches are much much better. lol - so I don't know, I guess it was worth it, but I'm still looking for some help myself! :) Hope that helps. Good luck!
Posted 5/1/2009 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hey are you ready to be really confused??!! ksalley mentions benign intercranial hypertension well I have just the opposite and have the same symptoms you have. I have a spontaneous spinal fluid leak(not enough spinal fluid). It's weird how bot these conditions can feel similar. mine is an intense pressure stiff neck and yes it all comes from the occipital area. Maybe yours was traumatic caused by your fall? It could also be a problem with your neck. I didn't describe mine as a headache either until I went to a headache specialist and was diagnosed with this condition. Is it better when you lie down and worse when standing. If it is this is not normal and you should see a headache specialist. I know it sounds pretty crucial but it is not life threatening. Does caffeine help??? Let me know if you need any more info on this condition.
Posted 5/1/2009 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Ksalley, how was your diagnoses made. Did they see a papillidemia on your MRI? Pseudo Tumor Cerebri is kind of serious I think. Csn;t they do more than just draining your spinal fluid? that doesn't sound. Let me know I am curious.
Posted 5/1/2009 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Rooster (you remember me,right?),

Seeing as caffeine makes mine worse, and lying down doesn't help (very tough to sleep with my head pressure), and standing sometimes can provide relief, it sounds like I may have the opposite of yours--whatever that is.  It sounds like intracranial hypertension.  The precise starting point for mine was when I was abusing amphetamines (those were in my younger days as an addict, yes I regret it) so I'm not quite sure what that did, if that can cause a csf leak or what it does.  But it sounds like mine is on the "hyper" end.

Do you have any thoughts on this?  Are the procedures for intracranial hypertension just as safe, and possibly more effective, than those for the "hypo" end of things?  On hastypastry, you mentioned you had an epidural blood patch for your csf leak, but it didn't work.  I'm wondering if procedures for the opposite condition might be more effective.

Any way you look at it, I have the same core symptom the others in this thread have:  constant head pressure.

Posted 5/1/2009 10:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Batman hope you are doing well. No my blood patch did not work but they had not id'd the leak so it was abit of a crap shoot. I am not as well versed in hypertension as I am hypotension. From waht I have heard hypotension is associated with a lot more visual disturbances and can result in loss of vison if not treated. You really need to get an MRI Batman this would alleviate a lot of your stress. I know you have insurance issued so if MRI is absolutely out of the question you can get an eye exam. Ask them to check for a papillidemia, they will know what you are talking about it is really easy to look for. If you have it it is very obvious to the eye doctor and would confirm hypotension. If nothing shows up and you are still concerned a brain MRI or lumbar puncture would also help rule out to much spinal fluid. As far as I know amphetamines cannot cause hypertension. Some acne medicines and I think some steroids can cause it as a very rare side effect and sometimes there is no known cause. The only treatment that I know of for hypertension is a shunt to drain the fluid but again I have not done extensive research on this. Shunts come with their own complications as do any medical procedures so you have to weigh the pros and cons. Again, I would get that eye exam.
Posted 5/2/2009 6:05 AM (GMT 0)

Rooster427 said...
Hey Batman hope you are doing well. No my blood patch did not work but they had not id'd the leak so it was abit of a crap shoot. I am not as well versed in hypertension as I am hypotension. From waht I have heard hypotension is associated with a lot more visual disturbances and can result in loss of vison if not treated. You really need to get an MRI Batman this would alleviate a lot of your stress. I know you have insurance issued so if MRI is absolutely out of the question you can get an eye exam. Ask them to check for a papillidemia, they will know what you are talking about it is really easy to look for. If you have it it is very obvious to the eye doctor and would confirm hypotension. If nothing shows up and you are still concerned a brain MRI or lumbar puncture would also help rule out to much spinal fluid. As far as I know amphetamines cannot cause hypertension. Some acne medicines and I think some steroids can cause it as a very rare side effect and sometimes there is no known cause. The only treatment that I know of for hypertension is a shunt to drain the fluid but again I have not done extensive research on this. Shunts come with their own complications as do any medical procedures so you have to weigh the pros and cons. Again, I would get that eye exam.

So allegedly you have the intracranial hypotension--do you have any visual issues?  Did anything show up on your eye exam?

I have a lot of visual issues personally.  I have trouble moving eye muscles, flashers (especially when suddenly bending my neck back), foggy vision, eye pressure, etc.  These symptoms are not horrific but can be annoying.

For pseudotumor cerebri (hypertension) I am surprised that you haven't heard of a medication called Diamox being effective in many cases.  There is also those procedures that can be used to extract cerebrospinal fluid (spinal tap or lumbar puncture, not sure which) which is known to cure *some* cases of cerebri.

lemme know,

Batman

Posted 5/2/2009 8:26 AM (GMT 0)
Going to sound odd, but have you considered maybe the accident contributed? Your neck could be out of line which can cause migraines. Feel around your neck and find your trigger points. If you got some sore spots in the upper neck, your neck needs adjusted by a certified chiropractor. Also, Accubead therapy is nice (its beads instead of accupuncture)
Posted 5/2/2009 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yes batman I have heard o f Diamox and lumbar punctures. I am not quite sure what you are looking for. There is no point in speculating about all these wierd things without getting checked out, you are just gonna freak yourself out!!!! If you get tested and everything comes back normal than you can start looking for answers. But say you have pseudo tumor cerebri. No one is gonna give you diamox or a lumbar puncture because you have a headache and researched some stuff online. I am not trying to lecture I just worry that you are adding to an already painful situation by stressing about all of these different causes of headache. You most likely some form of headache or atypical migraine. This by no means diminishes your suffering. Having a headache everyday is miserable and just because you dont have some crazy illness does't mean that you are not going through just as much as someone who does. Please, see a doctor.
Posted 5/3/2009 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
An MRI would show a tumor, after all I think I would know if ya'll read my dx's.....

I'm tired of MRIs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And radiation for my tumor
Posted 5/3/2009 6:13 AM (GMT 0)

Rooster427 said...
Yes batman I have heard o f Diamox and lumbar punctures. I am not quite sure what you are looking for. There is no point in speculating about all these wierd things without getting checked out, you are just gonna freak yourself out!!!! If you get tested and everything comes back normal than you can start looking for answers. But say you have pseudo tumor cerebri. No one is gonna give you diamox or a lumbar puncture because you have a headache and researched some stuff online. I am not trying to lecture I just worry that you are adding to an already painful situation by stressing about all of these different causes of headache. You most likely some form of headache or atypical migraine. This by no means diminishes your suffering. Having a headache everyday is miserable and just because you dont have some crazy illness does't mean that you are not going through just as much as someone who does. Please, see a doctor.

I agree.  Will let you know when I get that appointment and what the result is.
Posted 5/4/2009 10:22 PM (GMT 0)

hi all am new here so plz bare with me. i have similar symptoms 2 a few of u  thanks 4 all your time an help, rooster 4 yrs ago i was diagnosed as having 2 Tia's mini strokes in 2 wks as i had tingling numbness in my head face arms. they did ct scan an found a shadow on my brain on the left hand side forehead, i was having a lot of pressure here also. they said it was pr obs due 2 bleed on brain. i had a repeat of this about 6 month's ago they then did MRI an said it wasn't a Tia whats all that about? so what the hell was the shadow then?. the pressure is so intense i just wanna cry with it, but that just makes it worse ironic eh lol. when the pressure starts if i lay down straight away it's usually OK, but if am busy and cant do this it goes on 4 days an i cant even feel sorry 4 myself, just got 2 lay there quiet as a mouse an so still looking at the ceiling or wall behind me as this gives a small amount of relief. it fools u tho ya think its gone stand up and wham its back with a vengeance. just wish i new what it was. 1 of u asked me if caffeine helps, why? is this important? i've never really noticed 2 be honest, i,ll give it a try next time. not sure if it was injury related as i said on my thread cant recall when it started just that it was yrs ago. what is a fluid leak and cause? plus are there any other symptoms, cures? i dread the next flare up but it helps knowing i am not alone. i wish i sort of was tho in a funny sort of way as i wouldn't wish this pressure on my worst enemy. may god give us all strength 2 carry us through our suffering. i have none at all i am fatigued constantly my thoughts are with each and every 1 of you. may u all have a pressure free day thanks again guys an gals :-)  PS hope am using the forums correctly i have a feeling i may have posted in wrong place a few times whoops sorry

Post Edited (Sherbetfizz) : 5/6/2009 8:56:32 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/5/2009 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Sherbetfizz, did your head pressure begin before the TIAs (mini strokes) or after?  This is important, try to wrack your brain on this and remember.

You also said you had a 25-ft fall, was the pressure going on before this..?

It's hard to read your posts.  If you could use spellcheck or a proofreader I would be more willing to respond to you, and so would the others here.

Posted 5/5/2009 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
OK thanks for that batman55, were would i find spell check? I am new to computers. I am almost certain it started before both to be honest. my memory is really bad though.

Post Edited (Sherbetfizz) : 5/6/2009 8:57:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/7/2009 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Batman, just wanted to say, i have edited my post's. hope this is easier for you to understand. I didn't realise till i used spell check how lazy my writing was, sorry for any inconvenience, thank you.
Posted 5/7/2009 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
If you experience numbness and tingling that is neurological. Ask for a refferal to a neurologist.
Posted 5/7/2009 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Desiree, your signature looks great!  Thanks for being a part of HW.  You offer wonderful advice.

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