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Crazy tension headache between eyes and pounding arteries in head
I have this headache that just won't go away, like a really dull constant pressure mostly in the front but also deep down in the center of my head towards the back. I had a CATSCAN of my head in the emergency room, and it was NORMAL. And later, the MRI was NORMAL. I can actually take my own pulse my feeling the arteries or veins on the side of my skull right in front of my ears, and sometimes i can count the heartbeat by just watching these small veins PULSATE in the top left or top right of my forehead...usually this pulsating in my forehead is present right after I am physically active, but the pulse on the sides of my skull are just about allways. Also, I seem to get some relief by the positioning of my neck, for example, I stretch or bend my neck and it makes this "squishing" sound then I have a tiny bit of relief for a few seconds, so I'm constantly stretching my neck around. Please tell me what to do because I saw a neurologist and he is stumped, he gave me Inderal and told me to come back in 3 months. I do have borderline pre-hypertension as I average 140/80, but can the pressure of blood be alot higher than that in my head alone? You know, kind of like pulmonary hypertension, only this would be cranial? How could that theory be proven or disproven, by doppler ultrasound or what? What are some other theories? (besides anxiety that was ruled out)
PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHAT TO DO, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT WHAT TO DO, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
I have been getting chronic migraines much similar to the one above with swishing sounds and counting your own pulse. Only mine dont go away for a second. Im 18 now and i've ahd them ever since I was 10. Now thats not normal is it? I dont know whats wrong with me but I do know that the more physicians I go to and complain about it I always get either a prescription of Tylenol or a prescription of different dosages of Ibprofen. Nothing helps. I was taking 3 different kinds of Excedrins daily and started getting hooked on them even though they werent helping. You're not alone I suffer from it to and don't know why. There may be somethig wrong with me and maybe theres not. But I do know if a cat scan didnt work for you then it may not work for me.
I too had a "crazy tension headache" between my eyes which happened to correspond to a flu/cold that went on for months. Finally I went to my local doctor who prescribed antibiotics and a sinus nasal spray. There are several areas in the brain/head with sinus connections . including between the eyes and deep inside your head that can become inflamed. I noticed with the sinus nasal spray that I got the most relief from the headache but after two courses of antibiotics it finally went away. The headache that I had did not respond to normal headache tablets. I realise that you still have not got this headache but anybody reading about these symptoms could investigate remedies for the sinus pathway. I do not normally suffer from any sinus related allergies so it was purely related to a cold that I caught. My only other sinus related "illness" was sinusitis where I felt that every filling in my head needed replacing due to multiple headaches. Once again antibiotics returned me to a normal state of dental cavity unawareness.
I have the same headache as you all discribe. Mine has been constant for 5 years and finaly diagnosed as an Occipitol Headache from damage to the occ. nerve. Mainly pain relief wothout meds is only aquired with an occipitol block but I have been told about a surgery called an ablation or reduction surgery for the occipitol nerve. I can't seem to find a Dr. who is willing or able to provide this service so I am forced to take pain meds daily. KNow any good surgens???
I have been going through much of what you have been going through and it all started with faintness and shooting type pain in my arm mainly on my right side. I also had headache like pain but it was more pressure type. I have been taken out my ambulance more twice in the last three years and have been tested for diabetes, have had a Brain MRI, have had sinus surgery because the pressure was ridiculous, have had three wisdom teeth plus another tooth removed and have argued profusely with my doctors/dentists because the pressure from my ear and faintness has lessened somewhat but is still present and very scary.....it has affected the way I live because I am afraid of passing out, etc..when the symptoms come on.
It was only until very recently that a TMJ doctor/Endodontist strongly believes that most of my sypmtoms are caused by pinched nerves and muscle problems in my neck, spine, and he noted that my range of motion in my neck is horrible, plug in sinus issues and a horrible work station. Throw in that I have a big overbite and grind my teeth which all add to tension in neck,etc...He recommended that I see a physical therapist and she reiterated that my muscles in my neck, traps are ridiculously tight and are most definitely pinching nerves. I have only been going for two weeks but the massages feel unbelievable and I believe I am finally on the right path after a ridiculous journey.....
I do heavy telephone work (without a headset) and my keyboard has always been up on my desk. This most definitely contributed to much of my problem and have since ordered a headset and have lowered my keyboard under the desk.
It was only until very recently that a TMJ doctor/Endodontist strongly believes that most of my sypmtoms are caused by pinched nerves and muscle problems in my neck, spine, and he noted that my range of motion in my neck is horrible, plug in sinus issues and a horrible work station. Throw in that I have a big overbite and grind my teeth which all add to tension in neck,etc...He recommended that I see a physical therapist and she reiterated that my muscles in my neck, traps are ridiculously tight and are most definitely pinching nerves. I have only been going for two weeks but the massages feel unbelievable and I believe I am finally on the right path after a ridiculous journey.....
I do heavy telephone work (without a headset) and my keyboard has always been up on my desk. This most definitely contributed to much of my problem and have since ordered a headset and have lowered my keyboard under the desk.
I have a similar headache in terms of location, frontal and back into the center of the head, and have had similar experiences in that sometimes moving my neck around with either an audible crack or a more subtle grinding noise seems to provide some relief. I have been told this is indicative of muscle tension. Your blood pressure isn't nearly high enough to cause headaches based on my reading.
Once again I am telling of the miracles of Chiropractic Care.
Yes, the people who I once called quacks...I now live by them.
I used to get headaches everyday, migraines a couple times a month plus sinus infection after sinus infection...Once I started going on a regular basis to a Chiropractor it was all different. Example...Last year between Sept. and Dec. I had 9 sinus infections, more headaches than I could count, and mutiple migraines...It has been a year since then and I have had 2 migraines (brought on by lack of sleep, bad diet and stress)
and 1 sinus infection. I go to the Chiro. once a month now for a check up. If an alignment is in order no problem...if everything looks good he does nothing. My last 2 visits everything has been right where it belongs. All of the nerves that run through your body all connect to different regions of the body and then all go up to the brain through the spine...as long as your spine is in alignment, there is no nerve interference, therefore there is no problems. Check it out..you will be amazed.
Good luck
Yes, the people who I once called quacks...I now live by them.
I used to get headaches everyday, migraines a couple times a month plus sinus infection after sinus infection...Once I started going on a regular basis to a Chiropractor it was all different. Example...Last year between Sept. and Dec. I had 9 sinus infections, more headaches than I could count, and mutiple migraines...It has been a year since then and I have had 2 migraines (brought on by lack of sleep, bad diet and stress)
and 1 sinus infection. I go to the Chiro. once a month now for a check up. If an alignment is in order no problem...if everything looks good he does nothing. My last 2 visits everything has been right where it belongs. All of the nerves that run through your body all connect to different regions of the body and then all go up to the brain through the spine...as long as your spine is in alignment, there is no nerve interference, therefore there is no problems. Check it out..you will be amazed.
Good luck
Hi doc, thanks for the follow up answers, you have truley been helpful. I just wanted to add that whenever I apply pressure to my skull (with my fingers, hands) that it dramatically helps my headache go away until I let go of the pressure and then it comes right back. For example, Putting moderate pressure over my frontal sinuses/in between my eyes area, or really over my entire forehead or top of my head (the effected area basically), I gain a tremendous sense of relief, albiet very temporary, i figured this might be a good clue for you?
thanks again!
thanks again!
...My neck allways squishes when I move my head around (less so when I'm shaking my head "no" and more so when i tilt it side-to-side). If i stretch about like this, or stretch by extending my neck strait out I get temporary relief...for a few seconds, until my head settles back into place. I have heard this can be turbulent bloodflow in the arteries, but my neck and brain MRA was negative, so I don't know if I should get a doppler ultrasound or CT angiogram. I am particularly worried about the vertebral arteries.
I did have an odd back injury related to weight lifting about a week before this began...I pulled my back and basically my entire thoracic spine became extremely stiff and i had to keep cracking it over and over by putting my hands behind my back and squeezing my shoulderblades together, for relief, about every 5 minutes or it would knock the breath out of me. After this resolved, my headache began (about a week later)
By the way, I have had frequent massages, and while this relaxes me temporarily, it doesn't help the problem overall, and my posture is fine, I have a larger frame with strong muscles.
As for a different doctor, I see a neurologist at a university hospital, who specializes in headaches. I don't know where else to go from there, and he isn't saying a whole lot except that he wants to treat me with dope like topomax, etc.
Thank you so very much to everyone, and especially the Forum Doctor for your help and support.
I did have an odd back injury related to weight lifting about a week before this began...I pulled my back and basically my entire thoracic spine became extremely stiff and i had to keep cracking it over and over by putting my hands behind my back and squeezing my shoulderblades together, for relief, about every 5 minutes or it would knock the breath out of me. After this resolved, my headache began (about a week later)
By the way, I have had frequent massages, and while this relaxes me temporarily, it doesn't help the problem overall, and my posture is fine, I have a larger frame with strong muscles.
As for a different doctor, I see a neurologist at a university hospital, who specializes in headaches. I don't know where else to go from there, and he isn't saying a whole lot except that he wants to treat me with dope like topomax, etc.
Thank you so very much to everyone, and especially the Forum Doctor for your help and support.
I am forum MD Meador, using the comment section.
You have big clues with the relief from certain neck positions. You are pinching a nerve or nerves. You need to see a physiatrist (physical medicine MD) or a physical therapist who will help you learn to loosen your nerve muscles but you need to be sure your spinal xrays show no compression or bony injury. Sometime neck traction will help but this should be ordered by the MD. Good luck
You have big clues with the relief from certain neck positions. You are pinching a nerve or nerves. You need to see a physiatrist (physical medicine MD) or a physical therapist who will help you learn to loosen your nerve muscles but you need to be sure your spinal xrays show no compression or bony injury. Sometime neck traction will help but this should be ordered by the MD. Good luck
All good comments, a drop in BP does not usually cause headaches, it suggest something else is going on like a surge in epi/norepinephine to produce spasm of the arteries.
imroswell is on track with pinning down what specific conditions are triggering the headaches. It is her approach i was trying to describe in my Answer. Be a detective in most chronic situations and don't be so tied up in the diagnosis. of course I am assuming a medical workup has failed to make a real diagnosis. Sometimes diagnoses get in the way of figuring out what is causing a symptom. Good luck to all of you.
imroswell is on track with pinning down what specific conditions are triggering the headaches. It is her approach i was trying to describe in my Answer. Be a detective in most chronic situations and don't be so tied up in the diagnosis. of course I am assuming a medical workup has failed to make a real diagnosis. Sometimes diagnoses get in the way of figuring out what is causing a symptom. Good luck to all of you.
All good comments, a drop in BP does not usually cause headaches, it suggest something else is going on like a surge in epi/norepinephine to produce spasm of the arteries.
imroswell is on track with pinning down what specific conditions are triggering the headaches. It is her approach i was trying to describe in my Answer. Be a detective in most chronic situations and don't be so tied up in the diagnosis. of course I am assuming a medical workup has failed to make a real diagnosis. Sometimes diagnoses get in the way of figuring out what is causing a symptom. Good luck to all of you.
imroswell is on track with pinning down what specific conditions are triggering the headaches. It is her approach i was trying to describe in my Answer. Be a detective in most chronic situations and don't be so tied up in the diagnosis. of course I am assuming a medical workup has failed to make a real diagnosis. Sometimes diagnoses get in the way of figuring out what is causing a symptom. Good luck to all of you.
Forgot to say that if I put my chin to my chest or lower my head to chest level, by leaning on the counter, I can make the headaches go away. They come back when I straighten up.
Orthostatic hypotension, as described to me, is a defect in the spontaneous response of baroreceptors to increase catecholamines (epenepherine/norepinepherine)and catech(?) This response would rapidly restore blood pressure upon standing. Pumping the blood from the legs back up to the heart.
A defect in this response prevents BP from rising adequately-thus orthostatic hypotension.
I test my BP lying down, sitting and then standing. The BP is quite high lying down 153-166/88-99.
When I stand up, the systolic drops 15-25 points. Diastolic changes only 5 points up or down.
But, I get lightheaded, dizzy, hear my pulse in my ears, and get a terrible headache. Am assuming this rapid drop in blood pressure is what's causing my symptoms.
I get headaches a lot. I know for me, if something stressful happens or even if I am preparing to leave for a vacation, I will get a headache. These are muscle tension headaches, and I will take 2 Advil, if I think I will need them, to avoid a headache, like on Thanksgiving when we had 15 people to feed! But, I know myself pretty well, and wouldn't recommend taking any meds, unless necessary. Headaches can also be caused by taking pain meds and when the meds start to wear off, you can get what is called a rebound headache. Also, if you stop caffiene, some get headaches that will last a few days. Your diet can be a trigger, too. If you are dieting and trying to lose weight, just the lack of calories can trigger a headache. MSG is another trigger, and lack of hydrating you body, drink liquids, (and not the alcholic kind)! For me, the most common headache is the tension kind. I hope you find your cause and you feel better soon. Headaches are no fun.
Did you mean orthostatic hypotension as in, the blood pressure in your head is lower than the rest of your body(as in not enough blood is flowing UP against gravity away from the heart)?
Or do you just mean low BP that is detected by a regular arm cuff device?
Or do you just mean low BP that is detected by a regular arm cuff device?
Do your headaches get better or worse when you stand up or lie down? Have you taken your blood pressure lying down and again standing up? If your blood pressure drops significantly when you stand up, you can get a terrible headache, swishing sound in your head, and be dizzy. This is my situation, and all MRI and CT scans were normal. Possible diagnosis is orthostatic hypotension. But, my neck is stiff and the pain radiates from the neck to the top of my head....as you indicated yours does sometimes, too. Fioricet has helped my headaches, but I have no good diagnosis. Good luck...it takes a curious, caring, inventive, and dedicated doctor to take the time to work through your symptoms and add them all up. There are headache clinics available...and I'm going to try to get enrolled in one.
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