Intermittent Continuous 2-Week Headache

[HarryJones]

Hello  Dr.,
Although I have a history of migraine, I have been experiencing something that is nothing like any migraine i've ever had and while I know you cannot diagnose online, I was hoping for some assurance that this is probably not a brain tumor or something horrible like that based on my symptoms:

Two weeks ago i was exhasuted and went to sleep for a full 13 hours! It was great except that I woke up with a SPLITTING headache which lasted a little over one day and finally subsided after taking 4 advil in one shot (2 didnt help much).
But EVERY SINGLE DAY since then I've had "momentary" pulsing pain on the left side of my head that lasts literally a second or two and then i feel fine again. Sometimes the pain will linger for a few seconds and go away. But it happens ALOT. At least 4 or 5 times an hour. And while it is short in duration and therefore bearable, it is somehwhat painful. The pain feels like a pulse, goes away and then comes back for another pulse. Consistently, several times an hour throughout the day. I've read that many tumor headaches start very badly in the morning and then get better. mine is not like that, its the same throughout the day. And comes in those short pulses.

Does this spound like it might be consistent with brain tumor??? My Neurologist gave me naproxen which doesnt seem to be helping very much at all. I still feel the pulse of pain.
I am scheduled for an MRI, but not until next week and I am very anxious and worried in the meantime.

Thanks for your help,
Harry

Please help.

[messymarvin]

Hello, I can relate your headaches. Bask in September I had one also that lasted two weeks, (had a history of Migraines but this was NOT a migraine) funny feeling that tylonol, Gabapentin (nerve pain med), tegratol (seizure med) and sinus meds did not even take the edge off.  I recieve treatment at a VA hosp. They sent me out in town and the ER Dr. did a spinal tap I guess the Pressure upon entry was elevated.  (never did get the exact results or why they even did one) only guess was Menningitis (meningitis).  The headache went away gradually after that. I later found out I have a vertabrae pinching a nerve and the spinal cord.  I'm guessing the pressure built up as it was being pinched and caused the headaches.  A week later I got another one that lasted for 3 days, only difference was this time it felt like my brain was on fire and I was melting Ice packs on my head but I had no fever. I went again to the VA and they thought I was making it up, and when they wanted to send my to Psych. I left.  After that last episode I haven't had any.  I see a homeopathic Dr. now and he gave me some herbal drops for blood poisoning/inflamation/venomous blood/ and something else.  I DIDN'T have these but I feel much better.  Maybe you have a pinched nerve also.  My sister thinks it was encephalitis, I just know the VA DR.s are retarded!!  Hope you get better, Try something herbal not DRUGS!!!

[WorriedMom15]

I am sorry you are having so much pain but my daughter has the same type of pain. She has been experiencing the more consistant headaches with also these sharper short lasting pains. She also has hearing issues where she can hear her pulse in her ears as well as a wooshing type of sound. In June she was was told it was migraines but more recently she was just diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri which is increased intracranial pressure. They we we had discovered this was with an eye exam and her optic nerves were swollen.

[HarryJones]

thanks for your responses, guys. my first worry is brain tumor as this is soooo strange. is my experience/symptoms very diff than a brain tumor pain?
messymarvin-- ure post was very interesting to me because i did have a c5-c6 herniated disc in my spine several years ago that required fusion surgery. i wonder if it could be related in some way. i mainly right now just would like to feel more assured that this sudden onset is not a brain tumor!
messmarvin-- also interesting is that mr dr. first prescribed naxopren whih didnt help at all so now he just prescribed gabapentin-- sounds like it didnt work for you, i wonder whether it will help me.
one thing that worries me is that i read somewhere that brai tumors dont respond to meds that help headache, and so far no meds have helped.....
will let you guys know what happens...thanks again. your thoughts and even just your communication is comforting.