Increased ICP

[allycat745]

I am a 26 year old female with SLE lupus and lupus related clotting disorder. In spring 2007 I got my first horrible headache. After some time they finally did a spinal tap and found my opening pressure at 34. They said it was a fluke and would never happen again, After bringing my pressure down to 17 I had two seizures. After more observation they sent me on my way. Literally six months later and to this day every six months, once in fall and once in spring I get elevated ICP. They say it is not connected to my lupus. I have none of the risk factors for pseudotumor cerebri. These are the worst headaches ever. I literally feel like my head will explode. I start throwing up within 4 hours of the onset. I almost always end up on the ER. My doctors have not come up with a plan because they do not understand it. We have done a spinal tap when I did not have a headache and my normal pressure is between 12-13. My opening pressures have ranged from 26-34. They cannot go in and tap me all the time because of blood thinners. I am at a loss and lose about a week twice a year. Help!

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question and I do sympathize with your health concern. For persistent and recurring headaches, possibilities like any pinched nerve condition, neurological disorder, migrainous, cluster, tension and refractive errors that need to be evaluated thoroughly with the help of a neurologist here. Migraine like headache can be throbbing, one sided of face & head and preceded by aura (starts with blurred vision) and occurs due to triggering factors like hormonal changes, bright light, traveling etc. Cluster headache may appear as burning, explosive in nature and tear appears from eyes. Tension headache originates with stress and anxiety disorder. Please arrange an appointment with a neurologist right away who will evaluate the further underlying disorders by clinically examine you & ordering MRI or CT scan here that may be the main reasons of your headache attacks & other symptoms and can provide you an appropriate treatment. Hope this information proves helpful to you. Take Care & Regards!!!

[allycat745]

It has never resolved on its own. I am usually put on Diamox or they do a spinal tap. Almost as soon as the spinal tap is done I feel tons better. My doctors just don't know what the heck to do with this. There is the sudo tumor syndrom, but I have absolutely no risk factors. I am underweight with low blood pressure, not on birth control. It happens twice a year; once in spring and once in fall. Literally I can set my calender to it. This is not just any headache either. It is horrible pain. I feel my brain is going to come out my forehead.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Although without being able to examine you I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that you need, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern.

Spinal headache due to raised ICP usually resolves within few days or week as many of the causes of leak go away on their own after a few days. Complete bed rest or blood patches for several days are usually recommended. Other possibilities like migrainous, cluster and tension type headache that may occur after an injury and need to be evaluated thoroughly with the help of a neurologist here. Migraine like headache can be throbbing, one sided of face & head and preceded by aura (starts with blurred vision). Cluster headache may appear as burning, explosive in nature and tear appears from eyes. Therefore, it will be best to consult a neurologist to find out the nature of headache in order to start the appropriate treatment. Hope this helps.