Pressure/Tightness on head

[tom20001]

I have a Pressure/Tightness on the head for more than 12 years and this is in the
head  always. I have met quite a few people online with similar issue and sure the intensity could vary for different people.

I always had difficulty in explaining the condition to the doctors. It is the feeling on the head
like, after you remove a heavy hat after wearing for a long time. Or like you had too many drinks
and had no sleep for couple days. It is around the head, mainly upper fore head, behind the head and right side of the face.
There is a feeling of tightness also on the muscle under and corner of the right side of
the right eye.

From the beginning itself I had floaters in the eye, astigmatism (2 eyes have different power).
If I press on certain spots (nodes) behind my neck (Skull meets neck), I can feel the pain.

Never smoked or had any exposure to drugs. I try to do some neck exercises etc.

I had been to neurologist and done CT scan, MRI of the brain and neck etc. All came normal. Doctor also had me go to the Chiropractor for the neck.

I have a feeling that is some nerve jammed somewhere sending this false message to the brain.

I don't think about it but always looking for an end to this feeling and have a 100% productive life
as this has an impact on my work, career growth, attending meetings, memory, learning new stuff etc.

I know this is not a life threatening issue but is nuisance and becomes issue thinking about it
and has an impact.

[Stacey68]

Wow I have never heard anyone else with that same problem! I too, have had the squeezing, pressure and tightness in my head for about 10 years! and the heavy hat feeling is right on.
You are right, it is so hard to explain it to the doctors. I tried explaining once that if i press on the sides of my head and release it, it almost feels like how a sponge looks after you let it go. I also worry about the things I am experiencing along with it...the memory, headaches, lightheadedness. I have had CT scans and MRI's also, and they have come back normal. My neck MRI did come back with some degenerative disc but they said wouldn't affect what i am experiencing.    I always think too that is a nerve somewhere being pinched.  please if you get any answers to why this happens please post...it drives me crazy!

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Your symptoms seem to be due to stress and fatigue. The headache which feels like tightness in the head is most likely a tension headache. Since your neck X rays and MRI have been clear the possibility of nerve compression does not seem to be very likely. Nerve compression over a period of time tends to get worse and produces other symptoms also like tingling numbness.
I would suggest you to learn some self relaxation techniques like breathing exercises and meditation and take OTC pain killers. Head massage will also help in relieving the tension in the scalp muscles.
Take care!

[tom20001]

Dear Dr. Noopur,

Thank you for responding to my problem.
I was treated couple times for tension headache.
Most of the medications made it worse.  I also noticed Coffee also makes it worse.

I just started taking couple Advil in the morning. I do not have much stress in life other than the normal stuff.
Thanks again for responding.  I will try to do Breathing exercise consistently.

Tom

[xl_dean_lx]

Ive had these same symptoms with visual floaters and pressure throughout my head for over 6 months now. Ive had a brain mri which came back negative and a cervical spine mri which revealed bone spurs from c2-c7. The Neurologist didnt think it was causing any nerve impingement but I really want a second opinion. All of my blood work and everything has come back negative. OTC medicines do absolutely nothing for my symptoms. The pressure is as you described, a heavy head feeling, sort of like a hang over but while being completely sober.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi xI_dean_Ix,

Thanks for writing in.
Bony spurs at the back of neck are also known as osteophytes. Ostephytes can cause nerve compression causing severe pain and numbness. Bony spurs rub against the nerves or the tendons and ligaments causing pain. I would also suggest you to seek a second opinion on this.

[xl_dean_lx]

DrNoopurMD,

Do you know of any good, laser spine, minimally invasive doctors anywhere near SC or somewhere worth traveling to?

[tom20001]

Hi Xl-
Have you ever looked in to occipital neuralgia.  Some one on a different board had suggested to look in to this.  I will bring this up in my next Doc visit.

The pressure make me feel as if I am not fully there,  Kind of in a Hang-over mood.  This impacts me when in meetings as I could look like half asleep to others and the grasping power is much lower than the real potential.
Tom

[ShowtimeSF]

I have this head tightness on the back of my head which occurred while on this medication called, "risperidone" and it went away slightly. I feel it every day and is only unnoticeable when I keep myself active. In my opinion I was severely misdiagnosed. When I got off the medication, the headache became an annoying and energy sucking problem. It's been 5 months and my general practitioner told me that it was because I'm getting older. I'm 22 for god sakes and it happened suddenly, not over time. I'm beginning to hate doctors for this. If this doesn't go away over time I swear I'm going to go postal.

[keefthebeef1]

I have been having the same symptoms as alot of people ive seen on here and i am really worried. I have had head pressure, ear ache, worrying about a possible brain tumor, and worrying that my Ct scan may not have shown a tumor and that a MRI could.  I am 17 and i have been having head aches for the last two weeks.  I have had the head pressure which feels like my head being squished, my nose has pressure on it but its not stuffy, sharpness and fullness in my ear, my throat has felt tight like there is flem (phlegm) in it, i have had diarrhea, and since this has started all i have done is worried about it.  I heard that stress and anxiety could cause this.  I have also had the cat scan and been to the doctor.  I feel like the cat scan could have missed something and i want a MRI but the doctor says i don't need one.  I originally i thought this was a neck strain after my rough snowmobiling trip but my symptoms wont go away.  Also laying down makes my head hurt more and its very hard to go to sleep.  I haven't gone to school since this started because daily activities make this worse.  I was just wondering if anyone has had symptoms like this and if anyone can help me i would be very greatful
Thanks keith