Do you get...

[paulinsomniac]

Do you get pain in the eye region and top of the head but not in the back of the head?

I have been reading about occipital neuralgia/headaches and it seems the pain can hit several areas, but I'm wondering if anyone has had the pain in the eye region and/or top of the head as opposed to the back of the head.

[Lottida]

You are very right that it is not ALWAYS the optic nerves.  Let it be said that I was merely suggesting.........as I said in my post that MY optic nerves were compressed.  I also had brain stem compression.   However, if a stroke occurs from the compression on the optic nerve then the nerve often dies & you no longer have vision at all whether you have brain stem compression or not.  Just thought it was something you may want to have checked since my husband is now blind in his left eye because his optic nerve is now dead from the Chiari compressing it!!!!!

[selmaS]

  I tend to have more issues if I am tired.....and it is hard to describe....as I have had all sorts of visual disturbances....since my surgery it has gotten better.....

I do need glasses and on some days even with them on things are blurry.....sometimes it seems to be weather related.....today we have rain and my vision is blurry....no eye pain now tho.......

I had peripheral vision that appeared like rain running down glass....except there was no glass and no rain....it was very odd....sometimes things look like  the heat coming off a very hot road. wavy.... like I said hard to describe.....

Yes the optic nerve may not be involved in those with visual issues....but it is best to have it ruled out.....those with a syrinx could have pressure on the optic nerve as well as issues due to other parts of the brain stem or spinal cord being compressed......better safe then sorry....

[paulinsomniac]

Hi, but it should be said that visual problems don't always come from the optic nerve. If I'm not mistaken, the back of the brain near the cerebellum controls vision and/or visual processing so visual disturbances could be a brain issue rather than an optic nerve issue. Double vision for example can be caused by a brain (Brain stem compression for example) issue rather than something wrong with the optic nerve itself.

[Lottida]

I definitely had visual distortion which were caused by my Chiari compressing both of my optic nerves.  You should have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist knowledgeable in Chiari.  I had to bring my vision records to my NS which he reviewed for my eval.  I also had a downbeat nystagmus which is common with Chiari patients & causes that weird dizziness like things are still moving when they shouldn't be.  Hope this was of some help to you!!

[paulinsomniac]

Hi Selma, yes I agree symptoms do seem to cycle. By the way, when you get eye pain, do you also get visual problems that are hard to describe? Kind of like a distortedness/dizziness.

[selmaS]

  Hi... since Chiari symptoms change and cycle it is possible to have pain in different places....I did have a lot of temple and eye pain along with my back of the head pain....and sometimes more temple pain then back of the head...but it was ever changing and I know we all can be different.....

I really think Drs try to pigeon hole Chiari and it's symptoms to help eliminate it when they should be open to record how it can and does affect us.