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Constant head pressure and headaches
This is my second post on this subject. I wanted to share some more details on the matter to see if I can get anymore direction/advice.
For over a year, I have been dealing with constant head pressure in the back of my head. Sometimes my head aches along with the pressure, and my eyes frequently ache as well, thus weakening my vision. With these head issues come extreme cognitive setbacks. I feel like I have forgotten much of the past, and I can hardly think because I have to try and think through pain and this sludgy head pressure. My head feels like it will explode 24/7. In addition to head/brain symptoms are digestive issues, on-and-off anxiety with no rhyme or reason to it, breathlessness when I talk, and achy limbs. Another thing about the head pressure situation is that it just feels like I can't emotionally connect with anything (like depersonalization maybe?). It doesn't feel like I have the capacity to feel any joy whatsoever. I never experience a complete sense of relief or relaxation. In other words, life is hell and I cannot enjoy it. I can't really get out and do much either thanks to the extreme head symptoms. All in all, life is a huge mental struggle where I am fighting for the will to keep going. I WILL keep going, but it's impossible to ignore the hell I am currently dealing with.
I have fallen on my back while wearing a drum once about 3 years ago. Other than that, no injuries. I have plans to see a neurology department somewhat near me (if they get back with me). I have already seen 2 neurologists who weren't of any help. Muscle relaxants, antidepressants, pain killers/migraine medication, and numerous supplements have already been tried and were little to no use. I have seen numerous other doctors (functional medicine, PCP, ENT, etc.) along with 2 ER visits and haven't gotten anywhere. A supine MRI of my brain showed no abnormalities either.
I am just fearful of my life. I haven't considered a spinal leak issue yet, although I don't get any relief when I lay down. I could also consider pursuing a cardiologist for blood flow to the brain issues, but I don't really know where to go from here. I just wish my poor brain function (lack of emotions, poor memory, weaker vision) made sense. I don't know if there's anything else that could be contributing to my symptoms?
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@aw1 I'm writing this message to ask some questions, as I have many of the same symptoms as well, but I have yet to be diagnosed (plan to be diagnosed in ~3 months).
You mention you had similar symptoms to Nathan. Do your Occipital Neuralgia symptoms include the same depersonalization issues that Nathan had? I'm certain I have those depersonalization issues, and you also having them would make me consider ON as a possibility even more. Also, how would you describe your ON pain? I've been looking into ON forums, and they mainly describe their pain as nervous in nature (zappy, shocking, sudden). Some describe it as only pressure, but that seems rather rare. Do you have the same constant pressure that Nathan described? Or is it more zappy and nerve-like?
Any answer to these questions would be greatly appreciated!
@matthew9324
Hi Matthew, sorry to hear you suffer many of the same symptoms.
Yes, I do suffer the same constant pressure that Nathan described. It does vary intensity but rarely goes completely. Worse when concentrate on an activity for a period of time. I was very sensitive to noise some months ago but at least that symptom has reduced now. I did suffer zappy horrible pains in the first weeks of the constant pressure which was probably why I had an MRI. I also had a CT scan with dye to check blood flow. But nothing abnormal was found. I've also recently seen a vascular consultant who advised my issue isn't vascular and still waiting on neuro referral for nearly a year now.
I think I have some but minimal depersonalisation issues. I'm still seeing the chiropractor and also a massage therapist who has knowledge of treating injuries. Chiropractor is not sure if ON is all or part of the cause. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being the worst. When I started seeing the chiropractor and using a neck stretcher last October my symptoms dropped from 10 down to 5 but needs regular use of the neck stretcher. A few weeks ago I then also started weekly with the massage therapist (chiropractor approved) and the symptoms have dropped between 0-3 for 1-2 days after treatment but returns to 4-6.
I do find exercise helps, cardio machines at gym, walking, swimming. I try do include something every day. But the underlying condition is not easy to live with as is invisible to others. With no definite diagnosis and has been going on for over a year now. An ENT specialist mentioned I may also be suffering from Post Concussion Syndrome which is difficult to diagnose. Anyway, hope this is helpful.
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1 Reaction@aw1 Thank you for your response! I'll be sure to keep your points in mind. I wish you the best of luck.
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!
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1 ReactionGo 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.