Head Pressure/Tightness

[Brandy131984]

For over a year now I have had pressure/tightness in my head. Migraines run in my family, so I shook it off for a couple of months, thinking thats all it is, but after nothing was helping and I was waking up EVERY day with pressure/tightness and headaches, as well as pressure around and behind my eyes, I decided to go see someone about it. At first I went to our local clinic, the doc there done a CT scan of my brain. They said my brain was ok, but they seen inflammation on my left ear drum and sent me to an ENT. I went and seen the ENT, he said he did not see anything wrong with my ear. So he sent me to an ENT specialists. He did not find anything either. So he figured it to be my skeltal muscles and put me on muscle relaxers and I had to do a jaw exercise. Well, after a couple of weeks, it wasn't getting any better. I even started having fast heart beats, getting out of breath, chest pains and felt like I was going to either pass out or die one. So I called around to see a neurologist, I spoke with a nurse in the office there and she told me OVER THE PHONE that it sound like a mild stroke and I needed to get there pretty fast. So, I did. Once I got there, I had to wait a few hours and then they carried me in and done an MRI. Finally after being at that hospital for 20 hours the doc came in after watching the MRI and said that everything was normal and that my brain looked very good and he diagnosed me with migraines and put me on some meds. The med was amtriptlyne(prob. mispelled). He told me to take them once every night before I got to bed and go on with my life. After 2 weeks of taking them, they finally got in my system. They seemed to help for about a month or so, but then everythign gradually got bad again. I tried to get back in contact with this doc for my follow up appt. and never could get anyone to call me back. I still had another 5 month supply of the meds left so I figures, I will finish taking them and that maybe it takes it a while to get in your system. Finally all the refills ran out and I had nothing. Still could not get a hold of this doc. I decided to go to another nuerologist. He put me on topamax (which made me lose my mind) after almost 2 weeks of taking this mied I couldn't stand the side effects anymore. Just the like the other nuerologist, I couldn't get a hold of this one again either. So I went to anothr neurologist, he also said migraines and put me on meds. I am currently taking Keppra, Magnesium Oxide and Maxalt. Whenever I call this doctor for ANYTHING, he pickd up the phone his self and talks to me. After 2 weeks of taking the meds he put me on, I wasn't any better. I started having anxiety attacks almost every day, it took everything I had to do ANYTHING, and I would have to take breaks constantly. My heart would start pounding, I would get out of breath, light headed and dizzy. I made an appointment to have my eyes checked to see if this could be the cause. I was diagnosed with astigmatism, damaged optic nerve and slightly damaged cornea. I had to get glasses. The day after getting my glasses,(keep in mind I ordered the lens' with anti-reflectors) whenever I would watch t.v. or get on the computer with them, there would be a massive glare. I called the eye doc and I have to go see them again this coming Monday. March 15, 2010. and let them make sure my glasses are correct. Now, even without the glasses I am having a glare which I did not have before. I have been reading about anxiety and wandering if there is a possibility that anxiety is causing alot of this. I understand the astigmatism is causing alot, but could there be anxiety as well?  By the way I am 26 years old, a wife and a mother of two, a 7 year old girl and a 5 year old boy. I really need help to find out whats going on with me. Anyone who tries to help me with this I will greatly appreciate it. Thanks is advance,
Brandy

[Tuckamore]

Hi Brandy,

I am glad that you felt a bit better. It appears that there are others that are experiencing similar issues. Hopefully together you can share information and help one another get to the bottom of these problematic symptoms.

I really think you are approaching this in the right manner. The important thing is to keep at it and not ignore it. I will look forward to your updates.

Peace,
~Tuck

[my3sonss]

Hi, I have been dx with Migranes in 2003 and I have had the burning sensation, pressure and shooting pains in the back of my head.  I received 2 separate injections of Steroids in the back of my head.  It did help for about a month and the symptoms returned. I also had pain behind my eyes and facial pain along with pain in the back of my head, neck and shoulders.  I started having ear symptoms to where I was hearing a sound like a heart beat, it was kind of hard to describe.  I saw an ENT and he told me everything look fine. My MRI was also normal.  My Neuroligist put me on Frova 2.5mg  and Cymbalta for the migranes and told me it could be an aura right before I was going to have a migrane (the sound).  I also have had visual disturbances right before my migrane started.  I see zig zag lines and get dizzy which Is a sign of an Occular Migrane. Finally after going back time after time I finally have a regimen that makes me so much better and the migranes are under control.  I receive Botox injections every 3 -6 months. My Dr. injects in the Temporal area, behind my ears on the scalp, the base of my head, neck and on the top muscles of my upper back.  Some Insurance Companies do pay for this procedure if the DR sends a medically necessity form.  I hope this helped and I hope you find a regimen that works for you.

[kimberdalez]

I know what its like to have headaches every day and to have eye problems.  I had a spinal tap done under florascopy ( xray to guide the needle ) and that worked well for me.  I did feel like crap for a few days after and it wasnt a pleasant proceedure but the spinal fluid can be tested for so many things and give answers you wouldnt normally get and it also told what my pressure level was.  If you spinal fluid pressure it high it can cause headaches and eye problems.  Here is something you might want to check out www.ihrfoundation.org but if this doesnt sound like what you are going through you may still want to talk to you Dr about a spinal tap.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon

[mikewaterfall]

hi

was just going through the messages, i am almost facing the same kind of problems
i had it for 8 months nearly the head pressure and tightness the shortness of breath, heart beating/pounding, weakness in my body,the eyes,feeling of dying, feeling im having a kind of a stroke, panick attacks,breathlessness,exhausted at times as if ive done a hard days workout, i had a few tests done, but not going to bother going ointo them as you know somtimes noone can help.

Anyways cutting the long story short, people may tell you its anxiety depression, you see, if you didn't feel the pains and problems you wouldn't have felt depressed and anxious in the first place, you'd be doing what you normally would be doing, you're problems might be 2 but your anxiety causing 5 other pronblems extra making them into a 7 lol, im only saying this because i experienced this, i really dont know what went wrong with me, i do know that i have had health problems which caused anxiety and depression, drs love to say its anxiety/depression. All i want to say is, try to distiguish between the 2 which ou feel are anxiety and which you feel are not, then you can focus on what to do with your syptoms.

Drs saying depression straight away is like treating a person with a kidney stone with painkillers, you're not fixing the problem you're just fixing the pain that comes from the stone.Same with the depression/anxiety they are the outer response of the main cause in many cases. Don't give up, it's always good to research, but you need to make your self aware of what anxiety, depression even a hypochondriac symptoms can be, anyone can go through them and not realise.

I did get the glare problem you mentioned, wel maybe its different, where id look at the tv and when i look at a plain wall i couldn't see it properly, i could see parts of the tv or like shadows. I did go to optician with photo phobia, eye pain, even the eyes burning, i was given anti inflamatory drops and infection eye drops, they have gotten rid of this glare issue.

my weakness is getting better, i started walking form walking bike riding lol, its helped alot, i realised  panic attaks i was causing myself, such as breathing problems,breathlessness, feeling of fainting, even though i stil get that but its not that bad as it was, i was able to stop wasting my body energy and time with panic attaks and just focus on my real symptoms. Thats the only way you're going to get somwhere, if you're confused about you're symptoms, expect the drs to be too. its a terrible situation

thanks, just wanted to share how anxeity,panic attaks, depression can hide/cover
a real health issue and that its important to think past them and note what your true symptoms are. But obviously its easily said then done, can take a long long time.

[Brandy131984]

I havn't had an MRI done on my neck, no. But I have considered having it done. Right now I am focusing on making sure my prescription for my glasses is correct and then I am going to see if anxiety meds will help. If nothing changes with this. My next step I believe will be to get an MRI of my neck and spine. This morning when I got up I have the head pressure like I do ever day and my eyes are still the same, really seeming hard to focus my eyes on anything, but I have to admit, I feel better today then I did yesterday. Thanks again,
Brandy

[Tuckamore]

Thank you for providing more information. I have never heard to the symptoms you describe with your eyes. They sound horribly frustrating. It's something you will want to discuss with your opthamologist.

I am sorry to hear about your neck and shoulder pain. Have you had an MRI or the area? I will not see a chiropractor, just a personal opinion. I see a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). They are physicians and much more skilled and educated at realigning the body and the issues that misalignment may cause. If you haven't seen a good DO I suggest that you consider it. They practice at many clinics just like an MD as they are physicians. Some even go into cardiology and other specialties.

~Tuck

[Brandy131984]

Thanks so much for replying to my post. When I say glare, I mean that when I look at the t.v. the colors seem to drag off of the tv into the floor. Lights are also the same way. My eye doc did tell me that I could have been born with the damaged cornea, or if I had done something to injure it. As far as  I know, there has been no way for me to damage it. Also, I didn't post something else in the top. I have neck and shoulder pain as well. Its hard for me to turn my head and I have been to a chiropractor. As far as I know, he didn't find anything wrong. I am planning on going back to see the chiropractor next week though if he can see me then, again thanks for your response.
Brandy

[Tuckamore]

Hello Brandy,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am sorry to hear about all your painful and mysterious symptoms.

I agree that many of your symptoms sound like Panic Attacks. The pounding heart, shortness of breath, feeling like you are about to lose consciousness or die are classic symptoms of an Anxiety Attack or Panic Attack. In my opinion you may benefit from an anti-anxiety medication and I would discuss this with your physician.

I am puzzled by the term "glare."  Can you explain it better or use a different word? I know that at night the headlights "glare" and I do not see well. But I don't understand what you mean when you are not referring to lights.

I have astigmatism also. It's fairly common and I have been diagnosed with it since I was a child. It actually refers to the shape of your cornea. Astigmatism is an irregular curvature of the cornea.  It occurs in nearly everybody to some degree. For significant curvature, treatment is required. As a child I did fine without corrective glasses, now even glasses do not always help. I experience blurriness at nearly every distance. But I have no "glare"...other than the head lights of a vehicle.

My optic nerve is also irregularly shaped, a condition they beleive that has present since birth. What reasons are they giving you for damage to your optic nerve and cornea...or are they saying that this is a condition from birth and is normal for you? I guess that astigmatism could be considered damage to the cornea but that is not generally how it is described nor is it viewed as a "damaged" cornea.

Anxiety and stress can do cause some horrid and unusual symptoms. It is a fact that when I am stressed my chronic pain levels are very elevated. I never understood the significant impact stress or anxiety can play in our pain or symptoms.

Again if you can explain "glare" better it would be appreciated. I wish you well and hope that you will share with us the results of your next appointment. I will look forward to your updates with interest.

Our members may also have some suggestions or information. Weekends are sometimes less active than week days. Thank you for posting.

Take Care,
~Tuck~