Severe Headaches

[concerned4him]

I am thankful i found this forum, and i have been reading about cerebral spinal fluid leakage. What i was wanting to ask is, my boyfriend has chronic debilitating headaches about the first of the month every month putting him down for 3 continuous days. He says it hurts behind his eyes, and at the neck area. He has some nasal dripping that is clear and just drips out of his nose. He has had several MRI and went to several doctors and they seem to not be able to figure out what the problem is. He used to drive a race car for many years and has been in several accidents, but one that he talks about bothers me. He said that he got t-boned which means a car a car hit him in the side and the impact jerked his neck he said it felt like an electric jolt in his neck like a tingling sensation. He also experiences tinnitus. Could this be cerebral spinal leakage? No medicines the doctors have given him helps. He has even had sleep studies and yes he has apnea, but the nasal secretions are so bad when he puts it on and tries to wear it, he has to take it off. His GP says that he will not ever be able to use it until this headache and nasal dripping problem is relieved. It really affects his life and has started causing him to mess alot of work because the headaches are so intense. I really hope someone can help with their imput about this situation. Thanks for reading my post, and please help if possible with your suggestions.

[brilmont]

Do some research on Histamine. Try a low histamine diet for at least 3 weeks. NO CHEESE, TOMATOES, CHOCOLATE, RED WINE, SPINACH, STRAWBERRIES, ETC. Use an anti-histamine (ie, Zyrtec, Benadryl, Claritin) to see if it helps the  headaches dissapear. Hope this helps; it can't hurt.

[concerned4him]

I am getting so tired of this. Its beginning to get on my nerves just as bad as his with these headaches. He went and had an extensive MRI last Friday again, and again, nothing showed up. Now he is already having a headache again and its been less than a month this time. Why cant they find anything to treat him. His doctor put him on Cymbalta. I thought that was for depression, not headaches and what is with take a week before headache and a week after. Now we dont know when to even take it since its been sooner for his headache. We can not plan anything because it seems as if a headache is always involved. I am at my wits end. If it is sinuses, why has nothing worked for it either? Please give me some answers. I do not know anymore. He has also had an ENT done, and absolutely nothing.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
It is very unusual for the CSF leak to persist for so many years after injury. Generally the CSF leakage stops in a few days to few months time.
Other causes of runny nose will include rhinitis, both acute and chronic, otitis interna and otitis externa in which there is an infection in the ear. Ear infections can lead to discharge from the nose, tinnitus and headaches.
Please discuss this possibility with your GP. An ENT exam may also be helpful. Take care!

[concerned4him]

I know his has gone on for 5 years or longer. He will go exactly 3 days in severe pain in his head even with nausea and vomiting, nasal drippings, and  tinnitus. The doctors have put him on every migraine medicine they can think of. He is at his wits end about it. He had this headache all weekend from Friday through Sunday. Got up feeling ok this morning, but just weak from the sickness. I will have to tell him about some of those test. He went to the doctor Friday and they discussed a documentary he watched one time about an actor, George Clooney have severe headaches for several days like his, and he had had a traumatic injury to his head and neck. He had all the symptoms my boyfriend has. They said he had a dura tear in the brain causing the leakage. His doctor said there was a possibility and ordered him some kind of special MRI test. They just have to see if his insurance will cover it first. I really  hope so. He said once, sometimes the headaches get so bad, he had rather be dead then to suffer with them. That really scared me when he said it, but he said the pain was unbearable, and he had went to so many doctors and paid so much money, but they still havent done anything to help him. Anyway, thanks for the post, i really appreciate it.

[brilmont]

It sounds to me like it could be a CSF leak.  What they call a Spontaneous CSF leak.  This would cause Intracranial Hypotention Headaches.  The Doc should probably order a Spinal MRI, a Brain MRA and a spinal tap to test the pressure.  

Could also be a high pressure situation-Intracranial Hypertention Headaches.  Research Hydrocephalus.

I have the same problem.  Going on 20 years.  It's gotten progressively worse over the years to the point the last 2 years have been almost everyday, all day.  Everytime I stand up and now, even while I sit.

The neuro's I've seen haven't listened to my problem and treat me as if my headaches are like everyone elses.  THEY'RE NOT!

I've done alot of research and finally found a Dr. that listened to my concern of a CSF leak.  Spinal Tap showed low opening pressure and no fluid.  We're now working on trying to find the leak.

Good Luck.