intense pulsations in heart and head

[Kirklin]

I have been experiencing this constant, never ending dull headache which is tension like, for several months now. NEVER lets up for a minute.   However, I think a big clue is my many times when I stand up or walk up stairs, my heart with "pulsate" really hard several times and the same pressure headache will intensify greatly along with the rhythm of my heart--and it gets so intense I am sure something is going to rupture in my head!  (imagine an extention of my c-spine up through my brain thats where the pulations are).

I have seen more than one neurologist for this with no answers after a brain MRA and MRI.   I do have a kink in my internal carotid but the doc said thats not causing flow limitations.   Echo, EKG, and chest xray normal.  

Also, I used to have many syncope episodes when standing up BEFORE this all began happening with the constant headache and all.  Now, i don't get syncope, but frequently my headache is relieves for  a few seconds when my BP drops when standing up, so I have to wonder if I have a vascular defect causing abnormally high BP in my head, and my heart is trying to compensate by pulating hard.

I am to the point of desperation and don't know where to turn, please help thank you so much.   PS also stretching my neck out gives me a bit of relief as well

[RowerLarry]

My father had intense headaches from blood thinner high dosage.  He had intracranial leakage, requiring surgery.  Complications left him in the hospital a year, and he never fully recovered. That was 7 years a go.

[Karonnie]

I think the Blood Pressure Testing thing is a great idea.

Something else you might want to check out which sounds simple but can cause weird and severe symptoms - dependent on where it is.  If you have a form of degenerative bone disease in part of your cervical spine it may be pushing on certain nerves and sometimes even causing muscle spasms - all of which can cause the syptoms (among other things such as sight difficulties).

Just a thought.  Sorry if it sounds a bit left of centre but I have seen this happen and it's so like a stroke or anyerism bleed or pushing on a nerve it's frightening.

Best of luck you sound like you're in a lot of pain, not to mention it must be scary. You must be at your wits end - I can understand that!

[woodruff]

Your problem may be related to what you're taking and when you take it.  Toprol, I have read, can cause sleep disturbances, so you might want to discuss changing the time you take it, or maybe a switch to a different beta blocker.

However, that 4am awakening thing is classically associated with anxiety/depression, and when it's an every-night occurrence, you want to look at long term treatment, rather than a little 4-hour xanax pill--and that AFTER the anxiety has already gotten a good hold on you.

Some of the SSRIs are excellent for long-term control of anxiety, while at the same time ensuring really deep nighttime sleep.  For example, I found that zoloft was darn good in the sleep department.  There was no question of waking up in the wee hours.  But I had to try a whole bunch of SSRIs to find the right one, so it took time.  Nevertheless, that's better than waking up in a panic at 4am, when every symptom is way bigger than life!

[palmspringslady]

I can relate to your headaches.  I wake up about 4 a.m. every morning with a horrible pressure headache so bad that my eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out, and my eyes are terribly bloodshot.  I take xanax and toprol, but it's about 1 1/2 hours before I feel any relief, and about 2 1/2 hours before I feel well before it starts all over again.  My whole body is racing, I have trouble breathing, and I feel pressure on my chest, and terrible heart pounding. The meds only take off the edge and cause terrible fatigue. The dr. just says it's anxiety.

[garberville]

I've had the same problem as you for many years.  I've had a dull headache for 10 years that really only goes away completely with lots of sleep and coffee (cola and tea don't have the same effect).  Unfortunately after I had an ablation for WPW, I can't have caffiene anymore because it now sets of terrible PVCs and once a bout of afib.  I also have the pronounced pulsating in my heart and head when I rise - I assume this is from a change in blood pressure. It takes anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes to go away.  So far, nothing (except coffee) has ever helped the headaches.  Good luck on finding a cure and please share with the group.

[medic_uk]

Yes although Addison's disease is quiet rare, it does cause palpitations, pulsating headaches and of course hyperpigmentation, although, so do migraines [not the hyperpigmentation].

[childrenrtreasures]

Low blood pressure (especially postural hypotention), headaches and heart palps can be symptoms of adrenal disorders. Just something to consider :).

Kelly

[rhia]

Hi, Sorry to hear about your symptoms.

I just thought I would mention that when I stand up and stretch I get a sensation that my heart rate goes up as well as dizziness that sometimes knocks me over. I feel it in my head as well. My doctor though says that this is because I have low blodd pressure and standing up suddenly can cause a sense of intense dizziness.

This is probably completely unhelpful but I thought to mention it on the off chance that you could be feeling something similar.

Maybe should get 24 hr Blood pressure monitoring. Low blood pressure does cause some scary symptoms.

Hope you resolve this,

Rhia

[Kirklin]

PS, I also forgot to mention that stretching often induces this pulsating phenominon, along with the high pressure in my head.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Kirklin,

That is a tough one.  Aside from uncontrolled hypertension, I cannot think of cardiac causes for constant headaches.  It is reassuring that the MRI is negative for aneurysms.  I think I would see a neurologist that specializes in headaches -- many tertiary care centers have "headache centers" that only see headaches.  

I can empathise to a certain degree.  I have had migraines with a similar pulsatile feeling, but these only last for a few hours to a day for me.

I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting