Hello there,
I have been experiencing something kind of similar. I just came across your post in trying to find answers. I think I figured out what it was for me, I’m praying this helps you. Have you looked into whether your ears are clogged/plugged? It might feel like they’re not if you’re really used to it or you may just not notice it. It all has to do with the eustachian tubes which affect the pressure in your ears which can cause WAY more symptoms than what is listed online.

Please please look into it. Ears often look more normal than they are too.

healthline.com
/health/ear-barotrauma

healthline.com
/health/why-does-my-ear-feel-clogged

I made this account to say I have many of the exact symptoms as you. Depersonalization, constant head pressure emanating from the back of the head, medicines being useless, cognitive difficulties, nothing showing up on MRI, memories fading away, etc.

However, I don’t have a couple of your symptoms. I don’t have breathlessness when I talk or achy limbs. My limbs instead feel like they’re distant, not really numb but less sensitive than before.

School used to be so easy for me, but now it’s a living nightmare. It doesn’t help that I also have ADHD. I find myself only able to focus on my head issue. I’ve spiraled into a deep depression and I don’t know how long I can keep going.

The only thing that helps is getting massages. It seems to calm the pressure down a little. There was one time I got a painful massage (note, the massage didn’t include the head, only the spine up to base of skull), woke up the next morning feeling normal for 3 hours. It was beautiful. I didn’t realize how depersonalized this issue made me feel.

The fact that the massage helped and didn’t include the head makes me think it’s a spinal issue, possibly CCI. Another thing to note is that my issue started soon after I got a phone, so my issue could be due to my head hanging low (but remember, correlation does not mean causation). Maybe try getting a deep massage and see if it helps.

I don’t think CSF leak could be it, as most brain MRIs can tell that. Also, All my blood tests turned out normal, so I don’t think it’s a serum-based deficiency.

If you find anything out about your issue, please let me know. I think I’m struggling with the same issue, and even an ounce of relief would be amazing.

Graphics

nathansmith7143

Sorry, this is a late reply, only just came across your post.
But I've been suffering very similar symptoms which started summer last year (started about a week after a fall) and as you described has been horrendous to live with. To cut a long story short, seen many doctors, consultants, ENT, CT scan, MRI nothing abnormal found. Out of desperation I went to see a chiropractor last October and for the first time made some progress with the symptoms. The chiropractor diagnosed as 'occipital neuralgia' - 'sub occipital trigger points' in the neck. Subsequent treatment has substantially reduced symptoms, although not yet totally symptom free. I also found using a neck stretcher brace for 10-15 minutes at a time helped.

Whilst the cause of my symptoms may be different, a chiropractor check is worth a try if you are still suffering. Note: my chiropractor has only used gentle therapy to treat this condition (no neck cracking!).

This sounds almost identical to my issue. We've basically went thru all the same tests but I've also not had my neck or spine checked. The severity of mine comes and goes with short periods of time with me basically feeling normal-ish and damn, that's so nice.

Sorry for delay - migraine had knock me out...

Not sure if you have had this - My Neurologist ordered a CT Scan with imaging, to see if blood vessels in brain were blocked. It's an IV fluid something that gets pushed into vein while in the CT machine.

Good Morning Lisa,
It came on as increased food cravings, increased fatigue, nausea, auras (light flashing or prism - color separation), numbness hands and arms (dropped cellphone and tablet a few times), light sensitivity, dizzy, wake up sweating, brain ice pick stabbing and throbbing.
Lasted 10 days.
Relief - stay inside, rest throughout day, triptan, Vyepti Infusion have to wait 3 months for next (had two migraine infusion but they didn't last more than 3 days).

My new normal since 2020, headaches 24x7, poor sleeping (wake up every 1 to 2 hours), fatigue, loss of taste and smell (which is weird when I get the phantom smells - something burning), brain on fire - burning sensation after reading for 30 to 45 minutes or concentrating, throbbing headaches, thirsty, brain fog, tremors internal and hands, depression, dizzy, light headed, motion sensitivity, nausea, eye stutter (and dropped frames when seeing object in motion). I have had tinnitus since 1978 and allergies 1980 - two sinus surgeries 1998 and 2025.

Try to put symptoms in back of mind so I can get anything done, even if it's only one or two things a day.

Hoping you have found a solution by now and sorry for oversimplification here, but have been going through exact same thing and just found that I was severely dehydrated. Having water (even when I do think I have had enough) has been helping to some extent. Please see if this is something that may apply to you!

Go to an MFR therapist try a couple until you get a good one. They need to strengthen your body and realign the muscles for you so you can strengthen your own body. The muscles glued together as we age and they need to be unglued. When they get unglued the pressure and painstops. Your balance returns.

Hi, 40m here. Sorry to hear of your ailments. I have been experiencing something very similar since Sept 5. Pressure is mostly in my forehead area. It has been constant and varying in severity but its always there. Then came the waves of "anxiety" just a feeling of immense mental discomfort. Complete lack of appetite or any desire at all. Stomach discomfort constipation, insomnia, breathless when talking, and a host of others. My last trip to urgent care they gave me some cocktail that included toradol. I felt pretty good for like 24 hours before it came back. It has been much less severe and thankfully has not returned to the previous extremes. Thinking the toradol helped, I began taking 800mg ibuprofen daily and they seemed to really help. Able to eat and sleep much better but still no appetite. Even a few moments where i acrually felt good, like myself but they came by and went quickly. They were a nice reminder of how things were tho. Triptans did nothing. Brain mri clean. Sinus ct showed some inflammation and a possible csf leak, but ent said it looked OK and my nose isnt usually running. Neuro has me on a course of prednisone right now, 60mg seem to have a similar effect as the ibuprofen, but the pressure is still constant but the other symptoms are very quiet. Gi had no answers, acupuncture and herbal extracts, vitamins, supplements, and still at a loss. I do vape and I cleaned my shower with bleach before symptoms began but still struggling to find anything else that effects the pressure one way or another. I will be sure to keep you updated if anything else and please do the same. Best of luck to you in your search.