Pressure Headaches

[bedgerly]

To Whom It May Concern,

For about the past year a have been experiencing a slight pressure in the very base of my skull, it felt like a small rock was resting there. It would only interfere majorly with my daily functions once or twice, though most of the time I could not think correctly and felt like I was in a fog. Lately it has increased to include the left side of my brain behind my ear. This pulsing pressure headache has occured 24/7 for the past three weeks. This includes bouts of dizziness and nauseness I have been unable think clearly and it is interfering with my work and social life. I have just had an MRI which has shown that everything is normal, yet the headaches will not go away. If you have any ideas of what maybe causing this it would be very helpful, for I feel that my doctor does not know.

[juleni]

Bedgerly,

Please see the following websites:  http://www.pseudotumorcerebri.com/,   http://www.ihrfoundation.org/,  and especially, http://groups.msn.com/pseudotumorcerebri/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us .  It could be this condition (Pseudotumor Cerebri or Intracranial Hypertension - same thing but two names).  You must see an ophthomologist to check your eyes and see if they see optic nerve swelling.  Also, you may need a spinal tap to check for increased pressure, just like nikki2129 said above.  Start with the ophthomologist.  (Pseudotumor always has a normal or clear MRI, but is diagnosed by optic nerve swelling or spinal tap.)

Julie

[nikki2129]

I would suggest a spinal tap to check for increased pressure.