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Sneezing lessening pressure like headache

I am wondering if anyone else has this problem when my migraines get bad and there is pressure pain I usually have to sneeze and then my nose runs a little and the pressure lessens. I know typically sneezing makes chiari headaches worse but mine rarely do instead they seem to help some.

Also the random running of my nose happens if I am straining often out of only one side of my nose.

I know this sounds weird but I am wondering if I am missing a sign that something else is going on because the pressure lessening after the sneeze with some clear nasal drainage.

Thank you for any help you have to offer.
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620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi...have you tested to see if you have CSF leaking out your nose? That would explain the release of pressure....you have an issue with CSF...what type of Drs have you seen?
Helpful - 1
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No I haven't had my csf tested at all not even a full MRI of my brain and spine to see flow. Only a normal brain MRI last year which is how I found out I have a 4mm herniation.

I have seen 2 neurosurgeons and 2 neurologists but all have dismissed any symptoms that I have because they all want to say my herniation isn't enough to cause symptoms or block the flow so I know they don't know anything about chiari. The one neurosurgeon I saw in Iowa city did say that the size didn't necessarily matter but he said my fluid levels looked fine but all he had was the images not the clip showing flow.
By testing to see if it's CSF leaking, I mean do the tissue test....let the fluid drop on to the tissue and let dry, if a Bullseye appears it is most like CSF draining out your nose and could be the cause of your issues and even your herniation. Try the tissue test and talk with your Drs about a possible CSF leak if you get the Bullseye.
Ok thank you I haven't done that yet but will try to remember the next time it happens to do that.
You are very welcome....do let me know if/when your try that how it turns out.
I haven't had a lot come out so that it drips but I have wiped it and it does seem to not dry like other times. I have had new symptoms come up within the last week like a tremor in my jaw that has gotten slowly worse and a change in my headaches they are on the right side instead of left and a stabbing pain. Then today I have a burning feeling on the top of my head, in my temple, and my nose all only on the left side plus in the back of my head feels more like pressure.

I went to a Dr because I was concerned it was a new medication but they said I wouldn't have those kind of symptoms that fast and said to contact my neurologist who just brushes everything off.

I know I feel off in some way but I don't know anymore if it has to do with chiari or another problem. Because starting before I even got diagnosed I had and still have tinnitus in my left ear constantly and my hearing has gotten worse over time.
i also have tinnitus and having surgery helped a little, but i have some days it drives ne wild.....
If you get to have a larger amount come out, see how it dries....and do tell your Dr......but it may be your Dr isn't up on Chiari and all the related conditions and issues....so do research Drs to find a true Chiari specialist.
I know my neurologist isn't up to speed with chiari because she says I shouldn't have any symptoms with only 4mm. I have seen a neurosurgeon that was trained by a specialist but he said I have no blockage so it shouldn't cause any symptoms.
Many so called "trained" Drs are not researching Chiari and related conditions to know what and how we ARE affected by Chiari.
So many look for the herniation to be big, or long.....but that is not the issue.....consider the base of your skull like a funnel....now imagine a long thin shoestring licorice hanging down....fluid can still pass through, no matter how long the licorice....BUT imagine it was an inverted gumdrop....it will cork it up, but the length is short....so why do all the Drs look at the length of the herniation....the width should be more of a concern as well as how much room is there....
Some with Chiari also have a retroflexed odontoid, this causes the space to be smaller, now add a herniation no matter the length it will have an effect on flow due to the restricted space due to the odontoid......
Did they do a CINE MRI to determine a CSF obstruction?

Keep in mind, surgery will only be of benefit if there is an obstruction......surgery is done to restore flow.

Also, size of herniation does not indicate whether or not you will experience symptoms.

My herniations were 4mm and 6mm and surgery was recommended due to my odontoid.I was having drop attacks in addition to headaches, and vision disturbances....vertigo and a number of other symptoms and I was told similar things to you....AND if surgery wasn't going to be of benefit, why am I doing better post op then preop?

Drs need to realize they do not know everything and need to listen to the patients as to how they are feeling.
No they didn't do the CINE MRI which is why I didn't get how they could tell my flow was ok but they just went off the fluid that was there in the moment of the MRI. It's been a year now but all neurosurgeons I have seen don't want any follow ups and my neurologist just wants to fix migraines and ignore anything I say is going on.

There is only one other neurosurgeon clinic in the area that I haven't seen and they don't have Neurologists at all only surgeons but I also don't have a current MRI so I don't know if I need them. I know they are specialists in chiari just usually are better than the other clinics.

I don't want to need surgery but I want a Dr to at least acknowledge my symptoms and look at everything instead of ignoring them. Just wish I knew I had chiari 2 years ago when I lived right down the road from the Colorado chiari clinic but in Iowa there are no current Drs that know much about it Dr. Menzes doesn't see patients anymore and I saw the person that he trained.
I am not sure either how they can conclude you don't have an obstruction since a CINE MRI wasn't done....it shows in real time what the fluid is doing...you have some and it is flowing or you wouldn't be able to do anything.....but if there are small disruptions in flow it can lead to the formation of a syrinx and more symptoms.
That's a shame, Dr Menezes is a good Dr to see...I wonder if he could direct you to someone else...it's also disappointing that the Dr he trained isn't open minded enough to look deeper into what is going on.

Do you have copies of  your MRI and the repots?....Any Chiari specialist will want to redo MRI's so they can use the strength of the machine they want and they can also select the slices taken too, which leads to a better look at what may be going on....I think most will want the MRI'S to be 6 months or less, otherwise they will redo them.
Sorry I mistyped they are not chiari specialists but there drs are better than mercy or unity point in everything else. They were the only place that understood what the cine MRI was.
"So many look for the herniation to be big, or long.....but that is not the issue.....consider the base of your skull like a funnel....now imagine a long thin shoestring licorice hanging down....fluid can still pass through, no matter how long the licorice....BUT imagine it was an inverted gumdrop....it will cork it up, but the length is short....so why do all the Drs look at the length of the herniation....the width should be more of a concern as well as how much room is there...."

@Stargazerlily95 So simple but yet so many supposed professionals can't seem to understand. Selma is exactly correct!! Even Chiari 0 as some call it still causes problems with some folks.

As for the nose running issue. My eyes and nose have run for years now. I will randomly have streams running out of my eyes especially. My eye doctor says it is from the CSF pressure [she also has Chiari] the Doctors that I have had pretty much ignore it. Other than Dr Di but he doesn't practice any longer.  For me it has nothing to do with sneezing it just happens constantly. Normally my vision is still 20/20 so they can't give me glasses. But when my eyes do that I can't see to even drive most times due to the watering.

Anyway, not feeling so hot today but just want you to know that you are not alone.

CW

Thank you for answering. Always helpful to hear others with similar problems because my Drs sure don't listen to anything.
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