Severe Headaches

[concerned4him]

I am thankful i found this forum, and i have been reading about cerebral spinal fluid leakage. What i was wanting to ask is, my boyfriend has chronic debilitating headaches about the first of the month every month putting him down for 3 continuous days. He says it hurts behind his eyes, and at the neck area. He has some nasal dripping that is clear and just drips out of his nose. He has had several MRI and went to several doctors and they seem to not be able to figure out what the problem is. He used to drive a race car for many years and has been in several accidents, but one that he talks about bothers me. He said that he got t-boned which means a car a car hit him in the side and the impact jerked his neck he said it felt like an electric jolt in his neck like a tingling sensation. He also experiences tinnitus. Could this be cerebral spinal leakage? No medicines the doctors have given him helps. He has even had sleep studies and yes he has apnea, but the nasal secretions are so bad when he puts it on and tries to wear it, he has to take it off. His GP says that he will not ever be able to use it until this headache and nasal dripping problem is relieved. It really affects his life and has started causing him to mess alot of work because the headaches are so intense. I really hope someone can help with their imput about this situation. Thanks for reading my post, and please help if possible with your suggestions.

[concerned4him]

The doctors keep telling him it is a sinus headache, but no sinus medicine works, or antibiotics to treat the sinuses. I am really scared it is something more like CSF leak. He went to the doctor Friday and the doctor and him discussed CSF leaks and he seems to have all the symptoms. He has went through rounds and rounds of MRI's. and the doctor ordered him another one. This one is a special MRI, checking more thoroughly for dura tears that may cause a CSF leak. I really hope they find out what the problem is. It is really interfering with his everyday life. He just got over a bad one this morning after 3 days of pain. It is really weird to because it happens about the same time every month. Also, 3 days exactly, one could set there clocks to when it was going to happen. Thanks for the post. I really hope they can do something for him. I am at my wits end, and i know he is too.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Sometimes, patients of brain trauma present with neurological manifestations after months or years of injury. . This depends on the area of brain involved and the extent of damage to that area. These may include temporary or permanent weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, persistent symptoms such as memory loss, dizziness, headache, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. Headache due to head injury is characterized by a steady acute pain affecting both sides of the head, occurring almost everyday. Bouts of severe or moderately severe headache, similar to migraine may also occur. Dizziness, ringing of the ears, blurring, anxiety and sleep disturbances are associated complaints.

It is important to rule out the neurological causes by a CT head or MRI head.

It can be case of sinus headache. It occurs in conjunction with upper respiratory tract infection or allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. Sinus headache is usually dull and constant, gets worse when bending forward and may be associated with nasal discharge. Treatment includes antibiotics supplemented by interventions to promote nasal drainage, such as nasal sprays and drops and steam inhalation.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak from the fistula occurring after head trauma consists of watery, blood-stained fluid that abruptly leaks from 1 or both nostrils or an external auditory canal. Sometimes the fistula appears many months or years after injury, with a sudden gush of fluid or meningitis. Rhinorrhea may occur intermittently and can increase on bending forward, with a Valsalva maneuver or jugular vein compression. Headache is sometimes but not always present.

Diagnosis is confirmed by means of an immunoelectrophoretic study of the fluid for beta-2 transferrin (B2Tr) or, where available, beta-trace protein. Magnetic resonance (MR) cisternography and CT cisternography may be required in some cases.

Pls consult a neurosurgeon/ENT specialist to find the confirmatory diagnosis as treatment depends on the same.

Take care and God bless.