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headaches possible Chiari Malformation or Lyme Disease HELP!

Hi im an 18 year old male in good physical condition, i've smoked for a good 2 years but have really cut down in the past few months. My symptoms started in march of this year w/ a nonstop headache that is somewhat painful, it resides maybe once a week. i started getting really scared and depressed, i had anxiety problem before the headaches and this just made it worse. sometime early summer visual symptoms arose, including flashes floaters spots, many people have suggested lyme disease or chiari. I had a ct of the head done and everything came up healthy, i've been to optomologist twice, once before my vision went sour and once after, eyes are considered healthy except im a myope. The only other symptom i can think of is sometimes i get sharp pains in head, this resides very fasts and lasts a couple of seconds, and my neck is stiff and some other joints seem achy in the morning. physical activty or mental activity does not bother me, mostly just sitting around doing nothing? anyone that can give me further suggestions would be helpful ! thanks
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Avatar universal
Check for mercury poisoning possible from recent dental work.  Go too the mirror open your mouth if you have silver fillings(mercury fillings) crowns or bridgework you may be mercury poisoned. For more information call DAMS National Office at 1-800-311-6265. Please google "Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome"

Cheers
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Avatar universal
chiari malformation does not show on x-rays and is oftem missed in ct scans.the headaches from chiari are usualy in the back of the head and around the eyes,but it is not an uncomman thing to get one sided headaches too. I have chiari and get the floaters and flashes of light from time to time. when i was your age i didn't have alot of the muscular problems they didn't progress untill i was in my 30's .i would suggest that you request a mri to rule out chiari,also if it turns out that you have it it may never progress to the point where surgery is nessesary. get tested for lime too as it is also a good possability

good luck
Donna
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Avatar universal
Your symptoms sounds similar to mines. I started with flashes and floaters and have been having these terrible headaches that last all day everyday and also have been getting dizzy. I had a c/t scan done and everything came back normal. I also went to several eye doctors that stated my eyes are very healthy. I have an appoinment with a neurologist for further testing. If you have not seen one then try to make an appointment. Not knowing is the big problem but dont stress yourself because I have been researching these signs, and the dx goes on and on. We won't know until we find some help.
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Avatar universal
Here's some good info re Lyme for you.

Musculoskeletal System
Joint pain or swelling or tenderness
Stiffness of joints, back, neck
Muscle pain or cramps
Bone pain

Neurological System
Tremors or unexplained shaking (especially at night)
Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
Weakness or partial paralysis/stroke-like symptoms
Pressure in the head
Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
Increased motion sickness
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Sudden jerking of fingers or entire limbs
Pain in spinal column

General Well-being
Unexplained weight gain, loss
Extreme fatigue
Swollen glands
Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
Symptoms seem to change, come and go
Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.  (If it was mild, you may not even recall this.)

Eyes/Vision
Double, blurry or dim vision
Increased floating spots
Pain in/behind eyes, or swelling around eyes
Over sensitivity to light
Flashing lights
Optic neuritis

Ears/Hearing
Decreased hearing in one or both ears
Buzzing or clicking noises in ears
Pain in ears or sound sensitivity
Ringing in one or both ears
Pressure or feeling of fullness in ears

Digestive and Excretory Systems
Diarrhea, irritable bowel
Constipation
Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping)
Frequent urination that is not normal
Upset stomach (nausea or pain)

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Shortness of breath, cough
Chest pain or rib soreness
Night sweats or unexplained chills
Heart palpitations or extra beats
Heart blockage

Psychological well-being
Mood swings, irritability, rage
Unusual depression
Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
Feeling as if you are losing your mind
Overemotional reactions, crying easily
Too much sleep, or insomnia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Mental Capability
Memory loss (short or long term)
Confusion, difficulty in thinking, brain fog
Difficulty with concentration or reading
Going to the wrong place
Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
Stammering speech
Forgetting how to perform simple tasks

Head, Face, Neck
Unexplained hair loss
Headaches, mild or severe
Twitching of facial or other muscles
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Tingling of nose, cheek or face
Stiff or painful neck or creaking
Jaw pain or stiffness
TMJ
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Avatar universal
symptoms could definitely indicate lyme. why not go get tested? headaches, shooting pains, achy joints, stiff neck and shoulders etc.. are all symptoms.
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Avatar universal
A chiari headache is supposed to be mainly in the back of your head. People describe it as a pressure, crushing feeling. I have ACM type 1 but I have no symptoms. I actually thought that I did for a while and I completely freaked out. But, there was this guy that had made a post on this website and he said that maybe a massage therapist would help. I thought that it probably wouldn't work but, I went anyway. I cannot tell you how much better I feel! I had a lot of right sided problems (slight numbness in face, cramp feeling in right leg and arm, etc.)These problems are still there a little bit but, for the most part, I really feel better. God bless that guy for recommending it. Maybe that would help you too.

The massage therapist told me that when you are really anxious, like me, your muscles get very tight and, after a while, they start to stay in the tense position. Massage therapy shows the muscles that they can go back to the normal, relaxed state.

Also, the only way to see a chiari malformation (this is just from what I understand) is to have an MRI of the cervical spine. Even if the tonsils are hanging lower than they should be, that does not mean that it is causing your problems. A CINE MRI can tell if your spinal fluid is flowing OK around your brain. In my case, my MRI shows that even though my tonsils hang down some, the bottom part of my brain is not smashed in my skull and spinal fluid has room to move. Try not to worry (I know, easier said than done).
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