Are symptoms related to arachnoid cyst?

[bobona]

I was diagnozed with an arachnoid cyst in the right temporal lobe with dimensions of 2.9 x 1.3 x 1.6. Since the cyst was detected, I have been having weird symptoms: mild headaches almost every day (not on one particular side but kind of moving around), heavy-head feeling (like my bran is about to "shut down"), pressure in the ears (like the feeling when a plane is taking off), fatigue, slight numbness in both arms. Two neurologista have told me that the cyst is not causing the symptoms, so I should just monitor it from time to time (e.g., every 6 months or so). I really want to believe them, but it seems like too big a coincidence--I can't help but feel that the symptoms are somehow related to the arachnoid cyst (it is true that my symtoms worsen during my period). Does anyone have an experience with this type of cyst? How fast do they grow? What else could these symptoms be related to?

[Penndo]

Are you still having the problems with the painful scalp?  I have this from time to time.  I was originally diagnosed 4 years ago with my arachnoid cyst but the Dr. felt is was not symptomatic enough to warrant surgery.  I now have poor balance, nerve pain, vision problems, weakness and yes the painful scalp thing.  It litterly feels like the roots of my hair ache.  I just associated with the Fibromyalgia DX I have been given as well.  I usually don't mention the painful hair thing because it sounds so strange.  I am going to the neurosurgeon to figure out what they are going to do with my cyst as it has become quite large 5.5 x 3 cm.  Hoping you are doing better.

[vicekop]

Sooo frustrated!  Ive been having numbness on the left side of my face and skull the past year and a half. I had a CT scan that showed 'something' so was ordered for both and MRI and MRA. The MRI showed I have a cyst on the brain that 'isn't life threatening but needs to be watched every 6 months to a year'. In the meantime, the numbness continues to frustrate me. I can feel that I have an itch on my left region, be it on my eye, forehead or scalp, but when I go to scratch it...NO RELIEF! In the meantime,  I keep getting told 'nothing is wrong'. Sighhhh

[rayfan36]

Good afternoon, all. Reading all of your posts, I don't feel like I'm crazy! I'm on my second Neurologist who keeps telling me, "you were born with it, nothing we can do you just have to live with it and we will watch it." yeah well in 1999 (I was 23) when it was first found it was the size of a silver $, now it is the size of a grapefruit (right temporal lobe), ummmmm yeah something wrong with that picture! But my headaches, vision issues, "fogginess" as I call it, has nothing at all to do with it. I asked if it was possible that when I was ill with meningitis type symptoms back in 1995, could that have caused this...straight up no. did not want to entertain that idea, 1 neurosurgeon said yes it was possible but did not go any further with it. There have been a few time my face went numb but nothing was done there, just checked for stroke symptoms and released. I did have a cervical disc fusion a year ago and that helped with some issues but that did not help the vision problem, memory or nausea with  headache. So frustrated that no one wants to help.

[Penndo]

My scalp does get very pain full  at times.  I never understood why.  I would literally feel like the roots of my hair ached and I would touch my scalp and it felt somewhere between a bad bruise and sun burn,  I don't know how else to describe it.  I avoided telling many people about that because I just figured they would say it was anxiety or something to that effect.  I have a large arachnoid cyst originally diagnosed in 2011.  the doctor just took a wait and see approach.  Now 4 years later,  I have been through considerable amounts of pain and problems not knowing if the cyst was part of the problem.  Now, I am being referred to a neurosurgeon for evaluation and treatment.  I just somedays tell my husband and closest friends  that my hair hurts as crazy as that may seem.....  

[wendylou66]

I had surgery for an arachnoid cyst last March (17) my balance got better and so did my memory but I now have pain in my scalp too, I think your description of it is pretty good. I hope this gets better though and am contemplating getting doctors help (just to see if this is normal more than anything)

[v_dopey]

Hi there I am new to forums forgive any mistakes. Reading all of the above I think you must all be in the states - here I Britain we are decades behind you. I found out that I had a large primary arachnoid cyst on the on the left side of my brain after having a routine scan when I accidentally knocked myself out walking into a plank (Laurel and Hardy have nothing on me when it comes to being clumsy). I have suffered from literally blinding head aches, pressures in the head, times when I am in so much pain I am locked in the fetal position when the smallest movement causes extreme pain - right now I have deafening tinnitus and a pressure pain. I always struggled in school and was constantly amazed at how everyone else found it so easy to concentrate - I basically had to teach myself i am now 51 and have degrees in maths, science,  education and art. All the doctors seem to offer here is a shunt (a pipe from the brain to the stomach) which I have heard bring their own set of problems. Two years ago i had key hole surgery to have the cyst drain (basically they drilled into skull just above my left ear) - the morning of the proceedure the surgeon ask me which side it was on which didnt inspire much confidence. The day after i work in a splendid new world feeling how most of the rest planet must feel without head pains - unfortunately the cyst filled back up - i understand that removal of cyst is more common in thUS i am looking for somebody experienced in removal here, I also suffer with the arm and leg numbness as previous have mentioned.
Basically my philosophy on life is a day without laughter is a day wasted and even with all of the pains I have on a daily basis there are very few days I haven't laughed with someone. Forgive any typos, to top it all off I am dyslexic.- remember laughter can sometimes be the best tonic - I wish you all well and a positive future.

[CathyMarySherman]

I have had a craniotomy for my arachnoid cyst. Now I am 9 months post surgery.  I'm very grateful that my pressure headache went away at the time of the surgery; and has never returned.  But I would like to hear from others who have had the craniotomy to know how long it might take to regain balance.  I don't know if I'm trying too hard; or not enough; because I have regressions.  Now I'm just taking significant rests 2 times a day; and doing no activity for over 90 minutes.