Pressure in head

[redhead44]

Hi, I posted previously regarding pressure in my head.  My GP has now put me on 3600 mg of Gabapentin and has changed my night med. from 50 mg of Nortiptyline to 0.5 mg of Clonazepam.  After about a week the pressure was  relieved alot, but now the last couple of days I'm starting to get it back some.  My GP is trying to get my neuroligist to set up another Mri of the head or Spinal Tap.  My last MRI was 2 yrs ago.

Any thoughts or guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks
Redhead44

[Proanswers]

I'm not sure if my post came through but I too have constant pressure in my head and into the bridge of my nose.  I have Ms and no one has said they have this symptom.  I have had four Mris and will post what I learn if and how it's related to ms.  It's not a headache, it's a real pressure feeling that is both frustrating and annoying and scary.  Sometimes it's just good to say I have this too!  If I find any ways to relieve this,  I will post it.  It's not a headache so there is a difference.

[redhead44]

Hi,  Thanks for the info. and interest.  I will start from the beginning in short terms.  
It all started in Dec.2007 with tingling in my toes.  No pain, was put on antitripline then on lyrica.  Then had fasiculations in legs 3 mths later.Lyrica made me feel very edgey so went off it. Had a spell of slurred speech and tunnel vision. In 2008 Had MRI of head without contrast came back good.  Then EMG came back good. MRI of the neck (good) MRI of the spine with contrast (good)except for a deteriating disc. 2 more EMG's (good)

Numbness on heels and on the right side of spine in the middle of my back. No pain in back.Pain in my knees, right one gives out, now on Celebrex.  Pain in left heel on the inside, now on the outside, now in the ankle and up the leg.  More pain in the right knee and hip. Walk with a cane now. Have had 2 episodes of thinking I've wet myself, warm sensation, but not.
Pressure feeling in head, at times (although never had one) feels like I am going to have a seizure. When Pressure gets real bad I have tunnelled vision like I'm a step behind everything, hands tremor and body feels like it too,  get very dizzy and have trouble concentrating.  Had CTScan (good). Pressure can be in the front from ear to ear and around the face having between my eyes tingling and feels like my skin is tightening.  Or can be at the back of my head.  Seems to come when driving on bumpy roads or going up and down hills. Like my head is heavy like wearing a helmet .  Sinuses all clear.
This pressure has been with me since May '10 from the time I get up till bedtime. I am now on the meds as previously stated.
Hope this answers some of your questions and yes undx. Thank you redhead44

[COBOB]

By the way, that should have been Gd-DTPA in the post above.  After I reread it, I saw the disconnect between my brain and fingers,

[COBOB]

Why Gd-DPTA contrast?  What is it going to add to the diagnostic information?  That is the question the doctor is going to ask himself when he writes the order.  MRI is good for looking at MS lesions, but in the ER "the worst headache I ever had" is a trip to the CT scanner, not the MRI.  Structural changes, bleeds, & hard tumors (encapsulated) are better visualized on CT. Gd-DPTA is used to demonstrate a breakdown in the Blood Brain Barrier as part of the MS MRI protocol.

Pressure in head (headache) is a different kind of workup from MS.  If your looking for migraine on the MRI, that is typically seem on FLAIR and T2.  Gd-DPTA is used with T1 sequences and migraine structure do not typically enhance with Gd-DPTA.  If this was an MS MRI protocol, Gd-DPTA is part of the protocol.  
  
MRI is not always the best tool for the job.

Bob

[RedFlame]

Do you know if you had your MRI with contrast last time?  I would make sure the order includes contrast

Red

[COBOB]

The sense of "pressure in the head" is kind on an interesting symptom, since the brain doesn't "feel."  Many people with large masses (like a subdural bleed) never report pressure in their head.   The surrounding structures provide some pain data that can be referred.  In meningitis, a "sore" neck provides a clue that the covering of the brain is inflamed.  Is the feeling of "pressure" that you have, more like your head is in a vise?  Is it a pressure behind your eyes or in your ears?  Have they done an xray to rule out any issues with your maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses?

Bob

[michelleislay]

hey redhead44,

i think an mri is completely in order.  i don't know much about your history, do you have a diagnosis yet?  

it's so hard to wait these things out, but i would definitely push for the mri to happen soon.

good luck,

xo michelle