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DiscussionHead feels like it will explode daily. Severe cognitive difficulties
Brain & Nervous System | Last Active: Jan 30 4:40pm | Replies (110)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "This is my second post on this subject. I wanted to share some more details on..."
Keep a daily log with time of day of your symptoms at that time, the time and what medications you take, the time and what you eat and drink during the day. Also write Down time you wake up and time you go to sleep. Include time of exercise. Take this to your appointment with your neurologist and give your list to the receptionist to give to the dr. Basically a daily log. When you take medication make short note of pain and where pain is and how you feel. Hope you get some help. Include in log at the time of taking medication how you felt before and how you feel after taking medication after about 30 min, one hour, and two hours.
@nathansmith7143
If I were you or if you were my son, this is what I would do:
1. Get a MRI of my cervical spine by an orthopedic spine specialist to check for compression/flattening of spinal cord/nerve roots/nerves and blood vessels.
2. Get updated MRI of my brain (new neurologist) to check brain matter changes and vascular structures. It may be good to do a functional MRI and EEG.
3. See cardiologist for bloodwork/EKG/ultrasound of carotid arteries/vasculature in neck. They may be able to do a tilt table test and ankle brachial index test.
4. See a psychologist for an assessment to check memory function and emotions for a baseline for where you are now.
@nathansmith7143
Have you seen an ophthalmologist to check your eyes?
My heart aches for you and what you're going through. I would suggest you keep calling the neurologist... be persistent.
Suggest Upright MRI and cervical / spine.
Symptoms sounds similar to :
Cranio-cervical instability (CCI) is a medical condition where the ligaments that support the connection between the skull and the upper spine become weakened, leading to excessive movement and potential neurological issues. Symptoms can include chronic headaches, neck pain, dizziness, and cognitive difficulties ( also vision signs and symptoms)..
Have you had imaging down on your neck? Thinking about how my cervical problems give me a dull headache almost constantly. But I also get migraines which I am using Aimovig injection, it has been life changing. One more thing, i sincerely hope you find answers, chronic pain even if not severe is really tough to cope with.
C2 and C3 send nerves to the back of your head. The cervical neck can negatively affect the autonomic nervous system giving you the symptoms of ahedonia etc. https://caringmedical.com/prolotherapy-news/symptoms-dysautonomia/
An upright MRI can give marked view of pressures on the central canal. This might be especially helpful if you don't wake up with the headache.
See RFA, "Posted by summerstar @summerstar, Aug 27, 2023" for comparison only. My Cervical radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was mostly successful and did not include any of the problems summerstar experienced.
In my case I suffered with severe pain headaches for decades. Those ongoing and frequent pain headaches subsided after two RFA treatments in 2017. Not sure how much later head pressure became an apparent new side effect. To date headaches with pain have been more of a nuisance, infrequent and tolerable but the head pressure has continued and has gotten progressively worse since my serious bout with West Nile Virus in late 2021. A recent MRI of the brain did not indicate any serious problems other than being 78 but I continue to deal with this intolerable head pressure headaches. I welcome anyone's response.
I have degenerative disc disease. Arthritis in my neck basically. That's what I was thinking you may have. Nothing scary.
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You really need to have more test done. Blood work, thyroid checked. Many people have issues that don't make any sense,but your body is trying to tell you something. Please go have more test done! Don't give up