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Neurology (Expert Forum)
ANOTHER HEAD PRESSURE VICTIM
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
ANOTHER HEAD PRESSURE VICTIM
by stupid head pressure, Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM
Hello, I have been observing this site for some time now and now that I have finally been able to get through, I would like to say wow, because I have read numerous posts that fit my symptoms perfectly but yet we all remain without any real solutions. I would like to say before I get started with my question that I have used Elavil, topamax, inderal, verapamil, lexapro, and 1 other I can't remember right now all for at least a month each without any real improvement. I also have been through the usual CT/MRI brain scans and blood tests. (normal or course)
Anyway, my symptoms are just like all these other "head pressure syndrome" people, I have a never ending head pressure behind my forehead and eyes and my head feels like it weighs 200 pounds like a brick is sitting on top of it. It messes up my life! I feel an enormous amount of tension in my forehead and in my eyes (left and right movements) and sometimes I lose control of my eyes briefly after a sharp movement (nystagmus perhaps).
Since I guess you will have nothing new to add based on the numerous "head pressure syndrome" posts, I want to ask if maybe there is something outside the head region that could cause this, such as poor blood drainage through the neck veins? I have to wonder this because my nose is constantly swolen shut and since this is a highly vascular region I think sometimes too much blood is getting to my head? Also 1 more thing I used to get syncope on standing alot but now instead I get a deep painful throbbing upon standing that makes the pressure feel better for a sec
Dear God, help us
Anyway, my symptoms are just like all these other "head pressure syndrome" people, I have a never ending head pressure behind my forehead and eyes and my head feels like it weighs 200 pounds like a brick is sitting on top of it. It messes up my life! I feel an enormous amount of tension in my forehead and in my eyes (left and right movements) and sometimes I lose control of my eyes briefly after a sharp movement (nystagmus perhaps).
Since I guess you will have nothing new to add based on the numerous "head pressure syndrome" posts, I want to ask if maybe there is something outside the head region that could cause this, such as poor blood drainage through the neck veins? I have to wonder this because my nose is constantly swolen shut and since this is a highly vascular region I think sometimes too much blood is getting to my head? Also 1 more thing I used to get syncope on standing alot but now instead I get a deep painful throbbing upon standing that makes the pressure feel better for a sec
Dear God, help us
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Feb 14, 2007 12:00AM
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 and story that you describe is fairly common in patients with refractory headaches. These patients go through many trials of medications and medical testing with MRI/blood work etc. until their physcian or the patient gives up. As neurologists learn more about headaches we have found a vast variety of causes and treatments, many of which have been unexpected. For example, it was a shock to many doctors and patients that taking regular (more than twice per week) doses of common analgesics such as tylenol, motrin, vicodin etc can cause headaches (re-bound headaches). Your particular case sounds complex and I suspect there is much data that I do not have, but I have some suggestions that you can explore. First you mentioned a 'enormous amount of tension' around your forehead/eyes region. There are headache treatments that address this tension inorder to reduce headaches. One is Botox injections. These injections relax the muscles that trigger headaches (head pressure) [although some of the mechanism of action is unknown] and provides 2-3 months of relief per injection. There is also a surgery that relieves some of the pressure in these muscles that is also used for refractory headaches (although this is more controversial). Your complaint of pain/throbbing upon standing and your history of syncope with standing should aslo be investigated. A good first step is a tilt-table test. There is a common syndrome that often occurs with headache syndromes that is called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which can lead to the type of symptoms that you describe. There are headache syndromes (SUNCT, paroxysmal hemicrani, cluster, etc) that involve nasal conjestion and rhinorhea (runny nose) and your nasal symptoms may very well be caused by your headache instead of the other way round. Many patients relate the sensation of 'too much blood' throbbing in their head, but this does not coorelate with an acutal change in blood volume in the area, but an increased sensation (often quite uncomfortable) of the pulsing of blood through the blood vessels in the head. It sounds like you have been through a lot already, but I hope this has been helpful.
The symptoms and story that you describe is fairly common in patients with refractory headaches. These patients go through many trials of medications and medical testing with MRI/blood work etc. until their physcian or the patient gives up. As neurologists learn more about headaches we have found a vast variety of causes and treatments, many of which have been unexpected. For example, it was a shock to many doctors and patients that taking regular (more than twice per week) doses of common analgesics such as tylenol, motrin, vicodin etc can cause headaches (re-bound headaches). Your particular case sounds complex and I suspect there is much data that I do not have, but I have some suggestions that you can explore. First you mentioned a 'enormous amount of tension' around your forehead/eyes region. There are headache treatments that address this tension inorder to reduce headaches. One is Botox injections. These injections relax the muscles that trigger headaches (head pressure) [although some of the mechanism of action is unknown] and provides 2-3 months of relief per injection. There is also a surgery that relieves some of the pressure in these muscles that is also used for refractory headaches (although this is more controversial). Your complaint of pain/throbbing upon standing and your history of syncope with standing should aslo be investigated. A good first step is a tilt-table test. There is a common syndrome that often occurs with headache syndromes that is called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which can lead to the type of symptoms that you describe. There are headache syndromes (SUNCT, paroxysmal hemicrani, cluster, etc) that involve nasal conjestion and rhinorhea (runny nose) and your nasal symptoms may very well be caused by your headache instead of the other way round. Many patients relate the sensation of 'too much blood' throbbing in their head, but this does not coorelate with an acutal change in blood volume in the area, but an increased sensation (often quite uncomfortable) of the pulsing of blood through the blood vessels in the head. It sounds like you have been through a lot already, but I hope this has been helpful.
It took several trips to several neurologists before I finally found one that knew what he was looking at. I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri and they later found I had an arachnoid cyst that was obstructing the flow of CSF. On Lumbar punctures, my opening pressures were 42 and higher (average person 15-20 opening pressure)
Off for a VP shunt I went, and I must say, I LOVE IT. It has cured all of the high pressure headache symptoms. The surgery was relatively easy, went quick, recovery went well, shaved head though, and I was back home in 2 days after surgery. Every now and then, when the abdomen pain gets bad and the tugging feeling in my neck starts coming on strong, I question why I got the shunt. Than I remember all the pressure free days it has brought me and thank god for it.
Thank you Medtronic for the adjustable Strata shunt, it works great. !!!!!!!
Thanks!