Throbbing pressure-like headache every day for 2 years, and 4 months.

I am hoping to find someone who has very similar symptoms to mine. I feel that speaking with someone who experiences headaches like I do would not only be beneficial to my care, but to my overall mental state. It is so frustrating to not have anyone who understands what this life is like, yet also incredibly humbling when I see so many who are worse off than I am with this condition.

Since February of 2011, I have had a headache. I've read countless stories and watched several videos of people suffering with daily or chronic headaches, but I have yet to find a person who had symptoms that completely match mine. My head hurts all over, the entire head, left and right, front and back, with a throbbing, pressure like pain that at times feels as if I would benefit from drilling a hole in my skull. Some days it feels more like my head is in a vice grip, and someone just continually tightens its hold on my head. This is every day, to some varying degree, and always accompanied with nausea, frequent lightheadedness, and occasional blurred vision. In addition, I also have chronic migraines, which are pounding or throbbing in nature, with your usual light/sound sensitivity and rarely (luckily), vomiting.

I have been through 3 neurologists so far, I have had 2 CT scans, 2 lumbar punctures, 1 MRI, and a slew of medications. I just had Botox injections to help with my migraines, and I'm currently on Atenolol as a preventative. I'm losing my hope and my patience that there will ever be a pain free day in my future. I know that so many of you can empathize, and I hate complaining about my situation because I know it could be worse, but after a stretch of feeling so sick, sometimes I just can't keep it in anymore. I start to wonder if I'm just a big baby...I used to consider myself as having a relatively high pain tolerance, but the last two years have led me to feel as if I'm unsure of what my mind and body are really doing. Does anyone else ever feel this way? Even though the pain is so clear and crisp, do you ever wonder if this is in your head, just like so many people think when you explain this to them? I just hope that by finally speaking with people who live with this as well, that I'll find some reassurance and clarity, as well as maybe some treatment advice that my doctors haven't tried yet.

Thank you so much for reading, I truly appreciate it.

Lisa, I am so grateful for your response. I'm sorry to hear that you've also been having the same troubles, but yet relieved to hear from someone who can truly relate to my situation. I have also tried Topamax, and so many others that I honestly can't even remember them all. Yet there hasn't been any relief, most of the time I am left with the same headache, but just added side effects from the new meds. You are so right, all we want are answers and it seems like the longer this goes on, the further away from answers I get. What diagnosis did your neuro give you? According to my medical record it says I have chronic daily headache and chronic migraines, but yet this was never discussed with me. When I ask about treatment options it's always here, take this and we'll talk in 6 weeks. 6 weeks in this kind of pain is a long darn time...I'm tired of waiting, I don't want to wait anymore, I want to wake up without a headache. I want to brush my hair, listen to music, sing, dance, walk up stairs, play with my dogs, go to a movie, without it being an issue of making my head hurt worse. I'm losing valuable time with my family because I don't feel we'll enough to go out most of the time...something is wrong, our lives shouldn't be like this. I hope we both manage to find some answers soon.

I will have to research CSF leaks & lyme disease as these are some suggestions I have seen. I doubt that is my issue, but I guess it doesn't hurt to research. I am STILL waiting for doctor to call me back today. (since yesterday) I was wondering if anyone is out of work due to this migraine problem??
***Sigh*** Hope to hear from you all soon.

I will have to research CSF leaks & lyme disease as these are some suggestions I have seen. I doubt that is my issue, but I guess it doesn't hurt to research. I am STILL waiting for doctor to call me back today. (since yesterday) I was wondering if anyone is out of work due to this migraine problem??
***Sigh*** Hope to hear from you all soon.

Have you thought about seeing a Pain Management doctor? Just a thought!

I've got to keep a diary for 2 months before they will let me have Botox, how have you all found it, does it work.

I was told 32 injections around the head every 3 months ?

Intense pressure in the head, migraines, pressure in my frontal sinuses, but my nose isnt stuffy, cognitive problems, etc.... I have had it two years.


Went to all the doctors in the world.


You NEED to get tested for LYME DISEASE and co-infections from a tick bite (Babesia, Mycoplasma, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, viruses, etc.)

I didnt test fully positive for Lyme.. I only had a few strands. I did test positive for a co-infection, further supporting th fact I have Lyme and was bitten by a tick. Not everyone gets the bullseye rash and the bacteria can lye dormant for years.


My head pressure is slowly getting better. I strongly suggest you join the Lyme Disease forum if you really want your life back and find an LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor).


Don't wait around and shun it off like I did. "Lyme disease is just sore joints and stiffness.." .... I was far far far from the truth. Over 100+ symptoms.

Botox approved!!! FINALLY 9/3 is the big day. Hoping they will work. Today I had to stay home from work as yesterday a migraine started and it was a dozy finally starting to feel better. How is everyone else doing?

i'mm waiting to hear the hypochodraict thing. I told one dr off and he immediately added mood disorder to mt chart, the a-hole. :) I did the botox no help for me, but again depends on what your headhace is FROM. HUGS to everyone adn WOW. I wish the Dr's could see all this and Feel the pain......makes me sad reading it all..only happy to know im not alone.................

Well I had an appointment at a large university here and the doctors there actually diagnosed me with migraines and said that I've been suffering for the last year because my neurologist hasn't even tried enough variety of meds. He didn't even have me on an ADULT dose of topomax (who knew) so they have adjusted my meds, taken me off the propranolol and told me NOT to get the Botox for now. They also said that the facial numbness, arm numbness pain in my cheek are ALL related to the migraines! So hopefully I will be breaking my cycle of migraines soon. Oh they also said that my Hashimotos could also be making them change as well as (oh gesh....) primenopause (UGH) sooo yeah let the "fun" begin.

Hope this helps someone - BTW yes I am still QUITE upset with my regular neuro doc for calling me a hypocondriac and thinking this is all in my head - it's def not so keep pressing y'all and get your answers migraines are CRAZY

My name is josh iv been feelin the same thing because to years bck i got hit in the head an now theres a knot there and ever since the. I have head aches and feel like pressure goin to my head or wen i stand up i wen to the doctor he said it might be cause my blood pressure was high but i told him its been goin on for two years. So they took blood and doin test now