Sudden onset pulsating headache

[blindlee]

My mum 55 got a sudden onset pulsating headache in the back of her head.  Pain from it is so severe she can't do anything.  She went to see the GP who measured her BP at 180/100 (her usual is 120/80 so this was a huge increase) and sent her to the emergency room.  There her BP was consistently up and down at 160/100 and 130/100. CT scan showed nothing. Spinal fluid from lumbar puncture didn't reveal abnormalities. The doctors attributed her BP as being high due to the stress caused by the severe headache.  The doctors couldn't give her a definitive diagnosis and she was released with paracetamol for her pain.  She went to see an acupuncturist as the headache did not subside - and was told that her neck/shoulder muscles were extremely tight and was affecting her circulation to the brain.  Acupuncture did seem to help - but only for one day. Her headache still comes and goes and she feels like her life is on halt..  Could there be any other explanations for her headaches?  Menopause?  She's never had migraines in her life and she's not under any stress in her life..

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

BP is a leading cause of pulsating headaches and in many cases of hypertension cause of high BP cannot be identified.
It is important that she takes her prescribed BP medication regularly to keep BP under control. Dietary changes like salt restriction, fatty foods, and high sugar foods are warranted.
Hope this helps!

[marileew]

She should go back to the doctor. She may have developed a blood pressure problem. Yes, the blood pressure spike could have been caused by the pain... but the headache could have also been caused by the rise in blood pressure. If her blood pressure is high, and she has developed high blood pressure as a medical problem, she needs to be on blood pressure medication. Also, if the pain level gets back to where it was before when you took her to the hospital, take her back to the hospital. You can always go back to the hospital. Unusually high spikes in blood pressure and unusual headaches that are "the worst pain you have ever felt" are serious and a justifiable reason to go to the hospital. They can also be life-threatening situations. The hospital could have missed something last time. If the pain is not where it was before when you took her in, then make an appointment with your family doctor to her her blood pressure monitored. I would also suggest buying an automatic home-blood pressure machine (you can buy these for between $50-$100). If she needs to be on blood pressure medication, she should be working this out with her family doctor ASAP.

Take care! (but... don't panic her! that will just cause her blood pressure to rise more! be calm about all of this. serious, but calm. ;)