chronic daily headaches / pressure in sinuses

(sorry this is so long..)   For over nine months now, I’ve had chronic DAILY headaches. I’m a 26-year-old female. At first, they behaved like sinus infections and improved with antibiotics and steroids. Now, NOTHING seems to help. I had sinus surgery in November 2007, but it did nothing to help my pain. In fact, my pain has been worse since the surgery!   My main symptoms are: -           a deep, aching pain/pressure in my cheekbones -           dental pain on my upper-left teeth…was so bad once that I went to the ER -           pain all over my forehead/temples   These symptoms never leave…they’re present ALL day…the intensity just varies. It usually gets worse and worse as the day goes on. Simple things like talking, laughing, or smiling a lot tend to REALLY exacerbate the problem. It also gets worse if I go outside for awhile…not sure if it’s from the sun or from the allergen exposure (I have VERY bad allergies…I started allergy shots in February 2008). It also gets worse if I lean forward.   I’ve tried many medicines to no avail: -           amitriptylin -           topamax -           zanaflex -           dexamethason -           round after round of antibiotics -           prednisone (seemed to help, but I obviously can’t be on steroids forever) -           indomethicin (seemed to help for awhile but doesn’t anymore) -           naprelan -           magnesium infusion via an IV -           advil, tylanol, excedin, etc.   I take Allegra D and Singulair daily as well as the nose spray Nasonex.   I had an MRI…it was normal. I’ve had several CT scans…they show nothing that could really be causing these headaches. I do have one remaining, relatively minor structural problem that was MISSED during the first surgery, as well as some scar tissue in the ethmoids…I intend to have a second sinus surgery to fix these problems. My new ENT told me, though, that it’s statistically unlikely for the surgery to help my headaches.   I am well aware that migraines can often FEEL like sinus headaches…however I don’t have any of the other migraine symptoms (nausea, sound/light sensitivity, throbbing, etc.) My headache specialist thinks that I most likely have chronic daily headaches which, I’ve learned, are the hardest to treat. He just gave me a triptan to try and see if I respond to that...mainly to be able to cross that off the list. The problem becomes that, since my head hurts ALL the time, I would be taking a triptan ALL the time, and I know that can cause rebound headaches. I have yet to try it.   I’ve found a few people with similar problems on forums like this, but they seem to usually have vision problems, lightheadedness, etc. that I don’t have. I’ve also never found anyone who SOLVED their problem. Does ANYONE have a similar-sounding problem? Any solutions??? Any advice would be most appreciated.

I also suffer from daily feels like sinur pressure headaches...I got my very first Migraine headache about 3 weeks ago here at work and was taken to the ER b/c it felt like the left side of my head was going to burst...It was just a Migraine but also with my Migraine's I do not have the sensitivity to light or nausea, just the pain on the left side of my head, right behind my eye & temple area. I had a CT Scan done and nothing was wrong so they gave me a shot of Imitrex and that took the pain right away so my Doctor said well Imitrex only works on Migrane's so if it was something else it wouldnt have worked and said I was stressed. She did refer me to a Neurologist and I have an appt w/ one coming up in the next couple of days...your not alone...

yeah the ER Nurse Practioner I say that day said the Imitrex will work on Migraines and Cluster headaches...the pain behind my left eye is more like a low throbbing pain...dull but there. I have been to the eye doctor and he didnt see anything wrong w/ that eye & my rx for my contacts was fine...my regular Doctor just keeps saying I am stressed and my response was "well i am stressed now b/c why all of a sudden at 35 am i getting headaches that i have never had before"...of course no Dr can explain that! I can have the pain behind my eye most of the day so another reason why my Dr says could be sinus pressure...b/c if it was a brain tumor or stroke i would have other symptoms, blah, blah, blah....i am just praying & waiting to see the Neuro Dr and get an MRI to make sure nothing else is seriously wrong.

Hi Oley,

Many of us have been in your position; I was 32 when I had a headache for 3 months straight before the doctors could finally break it. I have had MRIs, CAT scans, sinus surgury, infusions, more pills prscribed to me than I can list. They honestly don't know when it comes to headaches, it is so frustrating. They can come on one day out of no where and take away your life and everyone is clueless as to why.

I wish you luck.

I can totally relate to you and your situation.  I am a 37-year-old mother of three.  I have had headaches for 15 or more years.  I have had 2 sinus surgeries that provided temporary relief only.  It was very hard for me to accept the fact that these were indeed migraines.  I have mainly pain behind my eyes.  It is very hard to describe because the pain may be behind the right eye one minute, and behind the left the next.  Sometimes the pain moves to my temples and to the sides of my head, but the central pain remains in my eye sockets.  The pain gets worse when I stand quickly or bend over.  Sometimes I think the headache is gone because I feel fine, and I might move my head and WOW...there is the pain stabbing my eye socket.  I feel very isolated with this.  Sunlight is rough on me as you all well understand.  I have run the gammet of tests and everything has come back "normal."  I currently take elavil and topomax, although I think the topomax has maxed out its effectiveness.  I actually had about 4 months of no h/a, but maybe it is the summer heat, or just a reminder that I am not done with them, but I have currently had a headache now for about 1 1/2 weeks.  It really wears on you.  People around you can't understand how you feel. 

I have had similar symptoms daily ~6 months. Pain just below the eyes and behind the eyes. I feel best when I wake up and it is worst in the late afternoon and early evening. Some very mild clear sinus drainage on occasion but nothing to indicate a sinus infection. Also my head hurts when I bend over to pick something up off the floor.

A cat scan was negative on Monday. Veramyst does not seem to help nor antihistamines. I usually get some pain relief after 2 advil.

Sounds like I am going to have to learn to live with this. Not a pleasant thought. I was thinking of an ENT visit next but sounds like no one here has gotten any relief. Maybe the ones who get better don't post on bulletin boards!!

Here is a common thread. I am a programmer and work on a computer all day too!

Oley1972...I am starting to believe that no doctor is going to help me. I have decided to exercise more and de-stress my life as much as possible. As of today, I am using one of those soft ice packs on my head and face for about 5-10 minutes every hour (as possible) when I am at home. It seems to help some. Other than Advil, no med has helped me at all.

Today my internist referred me to a neurologist after finding that the CT scan was negative. I do not think I will even go. I am reading other places on the web that headaches are the most common complaint to doctors. I tend to think that with the exception of migraines and brain tumors (as a cause) that there is not much doctors can do.

We are on our own and may as well take responsibility for our health. Am I being realistic here or just negative...I can't tell.

Oley - Yours sounds more complicated than what I am experiencing. I don't have any vertigo but I am hearing low frequency noises at times. Also day before yesterday, I ran after my dog and every time my feet hit the ground I heard a noise that was like a highway traffic noise in the distance, but when I stopped running, the noise stopped. So weird...makes me think maybe I am schizo!!!

Good luck ruling out all serious illness. Then try standing at your computer for part of the day and/or working on the ergonomics of your sitting arrangement. Take a 5 minute break every hour and look off in the distance. All of this is cheaper and less time consuming than taking off work and going to the doctor... Sounds like a stress component may be part of the mix.

Also try my ice trick. I swear it is helping...I think it reduces the swelling of the tissues if you can get the cold right over top of the sinuses. I also do the top of my head for part of the time.

Thanks for chatting with me. I will continue to look for your posts.

Oley, I am 58 so I don't have those issues any more...age has its own drawbacks but the hormonal issues have now passed for me! I have been suffering with the eye headaches for over 6 months but just in the past week I am getting some control over my life back. This weekend I have been using the soft ice pack on my head and face and back of my neck, maybe 8 times a day and 2 advil once or twice a day and a morning walk and an evening walk. I read that exercise helps headaches. The pain is much much less. Of course, it could be some allergen is not present...who knows...

Week before last I was coming home from work with bad headaches and extreme tiredness...feeling totally miserable and going to bed at 8:30 or 9 pm. every night. That was no life.

Alilstar...I too have daily sinus pressure in my head that seems to move all around my head w/ the burning sensation...I take Ibuprofen 800mg that was an Rx for something else but it takes the edge off...again I have had a CAT Scan, MRI, MRA and some other tests that have all come back normal...MY ENT Dr just diagnosed me with Vestibular Neuritis and have given me yet another Rx to take and says that I must take this if I want the dizziness to stop but it wont happen over night...YIPPIE SKIPPIE...I would see an Ear, Nost & Throat (ENT) Doctor who also does sinus issues, most do, but some do more...and go from there. I also take Veramyst which is a Rx nasal spray that takes away a lot of the pressure and burn but it can cause nose bleeds...

I just signed up on this website as I have had a headache for one year now and i need to talk with other people who are dealing with this as well! the pain started instantly one day and a year later it's still here! every minute of every day my head hurts to some degree and no doctor or medicine has helped. This is so frustrating and nobody really understands and I'm so tired of complaining, going home sick, and not being able to do anything! I am just wondering if anyone is dealing with the same symptoms as me and where you're at right now. My head hurts all over, in my face, jaw, sometimes ears, and it goes into my neck really bad sometimes and my neck is super stiff and sore. I get really dizzy sometimes and its hard to focus because things seem to just get fuzzy. i've also had a bad runny nose for awhile...anybody have that too? ive been under a nuerologist but she just put me on one medicine that didnt work after another so I got really frustrated and stopped seeing her. chiropractor seemed to help at first, but then i got totally dependent on being adjusted and that created more problems than it fixed! another thing is that i have endometriosis pretty bad and I think they are somehow related, but maybe not. I just got married and went off my birth control and i am a complete mess. my head is about as worse as it's been (and the first few months were terrible) but i have to be off them to get pregnant because after having surgery for the endometriosis my dr told me i dont have much of a window for getting pregnant :( So, i was hoping that i'd find someone going through the same problems (endometriosis and migraines) because i feel like i have no life and its so depressing to be in pain all the time!! i feel so bad reading some of these posts because i know how you feel! I look forward to chatting and maybe finding some help or answers or anything!

Hello Everyone,

A 'headache' like this may actually be caused by infection.  Maybe ask your doctor if it's a possiblity or google around.  My daughter has had a constant headache for going on 5 years.  The first 2 years some anti-siezures or anti-depressents seemed to take the edge off, but still there and started to get worse (especially after prednisone treatment which suppresses the immune system).  Went to Thomas Jefferson Hospital and they looked at on-set (intense Headache, visit to ER, flu-like illness a few weeks before it started) and thought she had meningitis early on that was not treated when acute.  It started to affect her peripheral nervous system and she had random pains, sleep, cognitive issues, anxiety etc.  This can be caused by viral illness (unfortunately no good treatment) or a bacterial illness such as lyme disease (unfortunately a more controversial diagnosis although this is starting to change).  The tests for these illnesses are not accuarate enough.  After intensive antibiotic treatment she is greatly improved and functioning (in college and doing well after having to be home schooled), but still has a constant headache but at a lower level and says she forgets about it sometimes.  Best of health to you all.