head pressure, muscle stiffness

[Citizen T]

For the past 2 years, I've had all the following symptoms (unchanging 24/7)...a feeling that something is physically resisting the movement of my eyebrows (up/down) and eyes (left/right mostly).  You cannot tell just by looking at me because the movement is fine but to me the tension and resistance is noticeable to a high degree.  It's a very uncomfortable feeling of tension/pressure across my forehead/eyes and during the worst of time  I hear sounds of wind rushing through my ears in a quiet room.  Also my nose feels stuffy/dry yet my sinuses are clear...when my nose opens up a bit my symptoms aren't quite as bad..and when my symptoms are worse so is my stuffy nose.     If i sneeze or do the valsalva it all feels better for a minute

There is a small meningioma in my supra orbital area, but I've had a normal eye exam, MRI/mra/mrv and CT and my vision is never effected.  

You know it really does feel like my cranial forehead muscles and ocular muscles are turning to stiff rubber...it's so hard to describe but it's so severe that its almost disabling...if you could only feel what I feel you'd know something is bad wrong...

I've been tried on many different drugs to no avail.  Maybe this requires thinking outside the box, what could lead to this chronic condition...some sort of cranial nerve problem?   The pressure and tension and swolen nose, it's just awful so please help, i can't go on  :-(

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
   The symptoms that you describe are not specific for any single disorder.  The sound of wind rushing in the ears is a common form of tinnitus that may be caused by ear problems (noise exposure, hearing loss, Meniere's disease, ototoxic drugs), neurologic disease (such as multiple sclerosis) or psychogenic disease (caused in the mind).  There are also headache syndromes that involve nasal stuffiness/discharge and may lead to chronic muscle spasticity.  It is possible that your meningioma may be contributing to this type of headache in you (you do not have to have the typical "headache" to have the headache syndrome.  I would recommend that you see a neurologist that specializes in headaches and oto-neurology.  You will likely be helped with a preventative medication like Elavil taken once daily.  You may also need botox and/or kenalog/lidocaine injections, and/or a trial on indocin/steroid taper.  I would also suggest a good ear exam including audiologic testing.  An EEG (brain wave test) may also be helpful, since meningiomas can give rise to seizures (although this is less likely).
I hope this has been helpful.

[Ldyk513]

Please help. It is Friday and I have had a headache since Tuesday afternoon, 3pm. It started in the back of my head on the right side as a sharp stabbing pain. A trip to the ER & CT Scan later revealed nothing. Saw the Dr. Wednesday head a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night however proved horrid. I took a shower and climbed into bed and around 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure and pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. I took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Around 1:15am I fell asleep but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head. That followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. It took 20 minutes to shake the chills and then I was fine however I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep on a 45 degree angle. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache but was ok and now here I am @ 6:44pm with the pressure returning to the front top of my head and a bit down my sides into my jaw. I am scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday but don't think I could bear another night like this. The motrin seems to take the edge off but not a huge help. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Other than this headache I feel fine. My doctor thinks it  could be a migraine but why the burning??? And why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

Please help. Its Friday & I have had a headache since Tuesday 3pm. It started in the back of my head on the right side as a sharp stabbing pain. A trip to the ER & CT Scan later revealed nothing. Saw the Dr. Wednesday head a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night however proved horrid. I took a shower and climbed into bed and around 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure and pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. I took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Around 1:15am I fell asleep but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head. That followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. It took 20 minutes to shake the chills and then I was fine however I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep on a 45 degree angle. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache but was ok and now here I am @ 6:44pm with the pressure returning to the front top of my head and a bit down my sides into my jaw. The motrin seems to take the edge off but not a huge help. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Other than this headache I feel fine. My doctor thinks it  could be a migraine but why the burning??? And why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

Its Friday & I have had a headache since Tuesday 3pm. It started in the back of my head on the right side as a sharp stabbing pain. A trip to the ER & CT Scan later revealed nothing. Saw the Dr. Wednesday head a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night however proved horrid. After a shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. I took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Around 1:15am I fell asleep but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head. That followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. It took 20 minutes to shake the chills and then I was fine however I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep on a 45 degree angle. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. Motrin takes the edge off but not a huge help. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Other than this headache I feel fine. My doctor thinks it could be a migraine but why the burning??? And why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

Its Friday & I have had a headache since Tuesday 3pm. It started in the back of my head on the right side as a sharp stabbing pain. A trip to the ER & CT Scan later revealed nothing. Saw the Dr. Wednesday head a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night however proved horrid. After a shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. I took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Around 1:15am I fell asleep but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head. That followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. It took 20 minutes to shake the chills and then I was fine however I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep on a 45 degree angle. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. Motrin takes the edge off but not a huge help. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Other than this headache I feel fine. Migraine but why the burning & why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

I have had a headache since Tuesday 3pm & its friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. Trip to the ER & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw the Dr. Wednesday head a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night however proved horrid. After a shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. I took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Around 1:15am I fell asleep but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head. That followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. It took 20 minutes to shake the chills and then I was fine however I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep on a 45 degree angle. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. Motrin takes the edge off but not a huge help. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Other than this headache I feel fine. Migraine but why the burning & why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

I have had a headache since Tuesday 3pm & its friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. Trip to the ER & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw Dr. Wed a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night was bad, shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. Took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Fell asleep @ 1:15 but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head, followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. It took 20 minutes to shake the chills and then I was fine but I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep on a 45 degree angle. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. Motrin takes the edge off but not a huge help. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Other than this headache I feel fine. Migraine but why the burning & why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

I have had a headache since Tuesday 3pm & its friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. Trip to the ER & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw Dr. Wed a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night was bad, shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. Took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Fell asleep @ 1:15 but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head, followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. Took 20 minutes to shake the chills but I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep sittting up. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. Motrin takes the edge off but not a huge help. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Other than this headache I feel fine. Migraine but why the burning & why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

I have had a headache since Tuesday 3pm & its friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. Trip to the ER & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw Dr. Wed a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night was bad, shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. Took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Fell asleep @ 1:15 but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head, followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. Took 20 minutes to shake the chills but I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep sittting up. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. I have had some spots in front of my eyes.Migraine possible but why the burning & why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

Headache since Tuesday & its friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. ER trip & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw Dr. Wed a bit better but area tender where I had the initial headache & still is. Thursday night was bad, shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. Took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Fell asleep @ 1:15 but was awoken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head, followed with the chills and then a case of diarrhea. Took 20 minutes to shake the chills but I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep sittting up. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. I have had some spots in front of my eyes.Migraine possible but why the burning & why the sore spot where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

Headache since Tuesday & its Friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. ER trip & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw Dr. Wed a bit better. Thursday night was bad, shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. Took 200mg motrin @11:30 and then again @12:30am. Fell asleep @ 1:15 woken at 4:10am with severe pressure all over my head, followed with the chills, nausea & then a case of diarrhea. Took 20 minutes to shake the chills but I couldn't lay back down and had to fall asleep sittting up. Friday I had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Migraine possible but why the burning & why is the tender area where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

Headache since Tuesday & its Friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. ER trip & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw Dr. Wed a bit better. Thursday night was bad, shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. Took 200mg motrin @11:30 & again @12:30am. Fell asleep @ 1:15 woke @ 4:10am w/severe pressure all over my head, followed by the chills, nausea & then a case of diarrhea. Took 20 minutes to shake the chills but I couldn't lay back down & had to fall asleep sittting up. Today had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Migraine possible but why the burning & why is the tender area where the original headache was?

[Ldyk513]

Headache since Tuesday & its Friday. Started in the back of my head on the rt side as a sharp stabbing pain. ER trip & CT Scan revealed nothing. Saw Dr. Wed a bit better. Thursday night was bad, shower @ 10:30 the pain started. I had pressure & pain on the right side of my head as well as my scalp burning in certain areas. Took 200mg motrin @11:30 & again @12:30am. Fell asleep @ 1:15 woke @ 4:10am w/severe pressure all over my head, followed by the chills, nausea & then a case of diarrhea. Took 20 minutes to shake the chills but I couldn't lay back down & had to fall asleep sittting up. Today had a bit of a dull ache & now @ 6:44pm the pressure/pain is returning to the front top of my head. I have had some spots in front of my eyes. Migraine possible but why the burning & why is the tender area where the original headache was?

[wtmac]

A related discussion, facial tension and burning lip syndrome was started.