terrible pulsating pain in head

[LT760]

i get this TERRIBLE pulsating pain in the top (and sometimes back) of my head.  it feels like my head is going to burst!!  it only last about 5 seconds and it's gone.

first time it happened, i lifted my head off pillow to rearrange my head.
another time, i stooped over to pick ball up in back yard.
i've had it happen when i sneeze, cough or have bowel movement.

recently, i got a bad cold with a cough.  almost every time i cough, i get this head pain. i was holding/walking my 12 wk old grandson last week and it happened and scared me enough to finally get into the doctor.

he ordered a CT scan and i found out today it rules out aneurysm.  although i am grateful it's not that......i'm still scared.

please help

[LifesAHeadache]

Your symptoms are classic for Chiari.  Did they tell you if it was a I, II, or III?  Based on your symptoms and decompression I'm guessing it was a Chiari I.  They rarely even do surgery for that one but you need to go to a good board certified neurosurgeon.   You need treatment, and bypass the GP, he/she is not going to treat this.  You need a specialist.    Also, yes try to post in the ask the experts, it is hard to get through but try.  I actually take a medicine called Diamox which does dry up some of the CSF.  There are medicines available so don't worry right away.  Also, check for some of the best universities in your area.  Some of them have websites that may have ask the experts.  Try to get an MRI before the visit to the neurosurgeon so he will have something to look at.  Decide who you are going to - whoever ordered or did the decompression would be best if you were happy with them.  If you were, then call the office and ask to leave a message for his/her nurse.  Then tell the nurse you have the decompression and now the symptoms are returning very quickly and badly.  Ask for a script to get an MRI so you can have it before your appt with the NS.  With the holidays, he will want the MRI for your first visit anyway.  Don't put this off and good luck.

[LT760]

thanks for your responses!

i had another visit with family doctor.  i'm frustrated as he doesn't seem very concerned. he did prescribe me indocin.

i DID have brainstem decompression done in 1995 for Arnold Chiari malformation and that is what's worrying me.....that it's something to do with that.

the 'headaches' are getting worse and more frequent.

doctor says to come back in 4-6 wks....if needed

i'm wondering, after my first post here, i noticed the 'ask the experts' further down.....
should i post this there?

[Suri123]

Hi, how about your Blood pressure. Headache which follows cough,sneeze or any act which increases Intra cranial pressure, when the triggering factor is taken care headache goes off by itself. sometimes vasular headache or tension headache requires medication so consult your physician.

[noops01]

hi,

It looks like you are suffering from primary cough headaches. These headaches occur while coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, bending over. Most of the times these are benign headaches and require no treatment but if they continue to persist indomethacin is administered as a preventive treatment. But rarely these headaches can be due to chiari malformation where a part of the brain protrudes through the spinal canal. A MRI is done to rule it out.Please consult your neurologist if these headaches are persistent. Good luck!