heahache while sleeping/numbness in head - Arnold Chairi

[cachargirl07]

For the past 6 months or so I have been having periods where I get terrible headaches while sleeping. I can only sleep for so many hours and my head starts to hurt so bad, I hve to get up. Getting up, however, makes them go away.  They hurt so bad I usually get up at about 4:30am and take 8 hour Tylenol. It takes about an hour before I can lay back down.  Here are a few things about me: I am 27 have heart PVC's that I take 160mg of Inderal LA and 150mg of Flecainide for each day. I was diagnosed with Arnold Chairi Malformation Type 1 about 10 years ago when having MRI's for very strange head aches. The neurologist said he did not believe it was related to the headaches then since I had such a mild form and just go on with my life. I had completely forgotten I had it, never have had any problems with it. But, I recently began seeing a chiropractor for a recently discovered disc problem. He has worked wonders and he has barely manipulated my neck since he knows I am uncomfortable with the malformation and neck manipulation. We do slight adjustments and decompression. My back is amazingly better. I do notice that these headaches do sometimes come when my TMJ is flared up. I go to bed and sometimes I wake up with the feeling that my head has fallen asleep. It is scary. Other times, I just wake up and my entire head is aching. There is no specific spot that hurts...the WHOLE head huurts from top, front, sides and sometimes back. It feels like sinus maybe, but there is never any nasal drip. Sometimes when I get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night I am dizzy. Last night it was hurting so bad again. I got up at 4:00 to go take tylenol, it almost immediately stops hurting when I stand up. So, I tried to sit up for about an hour and then it eased enought to lay back down. Could this be TMJ related? Could this be Arnold Chairi? What about the numbness? What about sinus? I am sleepless and tired. I don't even look forward to going to bed at these times. I am a single mom of 2 and I need rest. Can you help?

[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 non-specific, but could be related to multiple different factors that you mentioned.  Given your history of a chiari and a postional headache (although it usually is better with lying down), it is possible to have a build up of spinal fluid pressure called hydrocephalus, which can cause headaches and dizziness.  This can also cause a 'kinking' of the cervical cord, causing a syrinx (a buildup of spinal fluid in the cervical spine) which often causes numbness and tingling.  TMJ would be unlikely to cause the headaches that you describe, but if you are grinding your teeth at night a bite guard may help.  I would suggest an MRI of the brain and cervical spine to evaluate for the above mentioned concerns.  I would also advise caution with chiropractic manipulation given your history.
I hope this has been helpful.

[cachargirl07]

I have been seeing a chiropractor and a TMJ Specialist, and the pain is nearly gone. I only get a slight headache when I sleep too long on the side my TMJ Dysfunction is on. I am only about 30 pounds overweight.

[robertmillerfoundation.org]

Hmmmm I am not a doctor, but the positional headache sounds so much like pseudotumor cerebrii it's not even funny.... from what I understand the headache from Chiari mainly gets worse with straining and is not really positional.. The fact that you're a female makes the pseudotumor seem more likely....and if you are alot overweight then even more so....I'm going to watch this one in the coming weeks, I am very interested in what the doctor has to say---

[robertmillerfoundation.org]

by the way, if you haven't had an MRI in 10 years, it's time for a new one.....and it's time for an eye exam too....see a neurologist at an academic hospital/university.....that's your best hope for an answer.