A throbbing sensation in the head

Posted by kuyt @kuyt, Nov 4 2:49pm

Greeting, i am 22 years old. I'm male. I am posting in the hope that someone may have had a similar or the same problem as me. A couple of weeks ago, I feel a throbbing only on one side of my head, I think it's the temporal bone. Above the ear a little towards the back of the head. So the pulsation is PAINLESS, it doesn't hurt or cause any problems. It's just annoying and it's boring. Pulsation is not always present and I would not say that it is in the rhythm of the heart because it does not pulsate constantly but occasionally. It lasts for a few hours, then it stops, and then it's quiet for a few days, nothing pulsates, and so on. Just freak me out. I think of the worst... I consulted several doctors and specialists, but they all said that it is nothing serious and that they do not even consider patients for examination because, as they say, "simple expansion and contraction of blood vessels in the middle of the heart's work". I can't calm down at all. Please, if anyone has experienced something similar or the same, please write a comment because I'm simply a hypochondriac. Don't write that you had the same or something similar, that it hurt, because it DOESN'T hurt me.

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Hi..I was diagnosed with post concussion syndrome. My latest symptoms are pressure in the bridge of my nose, intense ringing in the ears but feels centered in my head, I feel pressure in my tongue, no swelling, butterflies in my stomach, tension across my cheeks and under my chin. When I sneeze I get the same feeling in my chest, last a few seconds until I'm done sneezing, then goes away. Shared these symptoms with my neurologist and received no answer or guidance. I inquired as to whether theses were panic attacks. My body is reacting a way I don't feel. I asked if my Autonomic Nervous System could be heightened. I hit my head on the steering wheel. Would I have injury the vagus nerve? I also developed secondary hypertension after the accident. Cardiac w/u was normal. However, I am now taking a beta blocker. I am not an anxious person but I feel my body gets anxious over the simplest things. I write down my b/p daily and it's low, now I go to the doctors and it's high. I never had an issue with my blood pressure unless I was sick. I have lost weight very quickly as I am not hungry, I don't have an appetite. My neurologist states my concussion is improving. However, I'm still taking meds and having symptoms during periods of time that I normally wouldn't feel anxious/stressed. When I feel my body reacting, I try to do something to distract it, it works sometimes. My neurologist hasn't given me any guidance. I have reached out to her twice without a response. I'm uncertain as to why she hasn't replied. I feel the least she can do is direct me to someone who may be able to help if she can't or doesn't want to. Has any fun themselves feeling dismissed by their physician? Any advice. Thanks.

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Have you ruled out pulsatile tinnitus? A rhythmic sound in the ears, a whooshing or beating noise that matches your heartbeat. It is intermittent - causes include high blood pressure (is yours under control?), blood vessel abnormalities near the ear (a brain CT scan/MRI would rule this out), anemia or even just increased blood flow during physical activity. This often occurs at rest, when your surroundings are very quiet.
An ENT physician can help you with this...and if the case, he will refer you to neurology.
Have you ruled out migraines? Pain, of course, is associated with migraines but not in every case.
Ophthalmic migraines will cause spots or wavy lines in your vision with absolutely no pain, which can last just a brief time, sometimes minutes.
And migraines can present in many different forms - by far not just your typical presentation of a throbbing or pounding on one side of the head. This "pounding" you are experiencing could very well be a migraine "symptom" which does not advance to a full blown migraine attack. A "brain spasm" so to speak which resolves quickly.
Are you seeing a good neurologist? You need one with migraine experience or even try to make an appointment at your best university medical center in their "headache center". Most top/teaching university medical centers have one...even though you are not experiencing pain, it is still a "pounding" in your head warranting further investigation.
Yes, this could all be anxiety related also. Anxiety often translates into physical symptoms which are very unusual and baffling to the sufferer, not making any "sense" as to why this particular pain is happening. Anxiety can and does very often manifest into physical symptoms that can be "strange".
Do you have an anxiety disorder? Panic disorder?
Have you ever suffered trauma to your head? Even if it was a long time ago...it can show up at any time.
And why hasn't a CT scan of the brain or brain MRI been ordered? Most physicians will first order the CT scan and move to the MRI if an abnormality is seen on the CT scan.
It sounds like you have not been fully worked up for this physical head pounding you are experiencing. And you certainly deserve to be! Change your physician if necessary!
In no particular order I would do the following:
Make sure your blood pressure is under control.
See a psychiatrist to discuss possible anxiety disorders (you already have a diagnosis of "hypochondriac" which most certainly is anxiety-related). Perhaps you need mental health medications to control your anxiety and this "pounding" might disappear. Do whatever you can to relieve stress: Relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, quiet time, inspirational readings, walking/exercise, avoid toxic people, contact a health/wellness coach - the list goes on. And I would certainly seek a mental health therapist to help you cope with your situation right now.
Contact the best trauma/teaching university in your area to make an appointment with a neurologist. Go on line and review the physicians and try the top rated, even if the appointment is months out. I would insist on a brain CT scan at the very least. Then if it is "normal" (trauma/migraines often do not show up on scans/MRIs) make that appointment at a headache center.
This simply could be an abnormality in a blood vessel in your brain which is actually quite common, this is why you need a very thorough neurologist who will order the scans/MRI for you to rule this out.
Perhaps you have done all this already...but certainly does not sound like you are a satisfied health consumer.
Since your pounding continues and you are still seeking answers, I would move forward to next steps.
This IS affecting the quality of your life, causing havoc on your mental and physical well-being.
Don't give up your search for answers...yes, probably it is a benign symptom BUT it is causing you great stress.
So do look further into it...you want to live your best life in every way. especially since you are a young man just starting out in life. The very best of luck/success to you!

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