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Head pressure is ruining my life

Brain & Nervous System | Last Active: Jul 15 7:58pm | Replies (108)

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@robin76 We found a solution to our 17 yo daughter's excruciating pulsing head pressure and loud tinnitus. Sharing in case it may help.

Background: She has Ehler Danlos and everything started when she caught Long COVID last yr. Weak connective tissue on her neck from eds, aggravated by viral inflammation and a 2 mo steroid prescription led her to feel like her head was too heavy for her neck. Diagnosed with atlantoaxial instability and mild craniocervical instability, and something called a craniocervical pannus. It's a callus that forms when the disks at the top of your spine are bumping into your brain stem because your neck ligaments are weak. If you have any base if skull pain, you may look into CCI and aai. This callus narrows the spinal canal at the base of the skull and can cause serious vascular problems ...

Symptoms / problem: please look into rcvs. Reversible cerebral vadoconstricting syndrome, and relatedly a condition called PRES. I'm the last decade they're discovering that the veins (particularly in brain, but also peripherally) can fall into a pattern of repetitive constrictions. Vasospasms. Can lead to cranialvascular hypertension (with the pressure she could literally feel the pulsing on her temple ... Would vibrate your hand to touch her temple). This can lead to thunderclap headaches and in worst cases to neurological damage. People most susceptible to rcvs have dysautonomia and vascular / endothelial problems.

Our solution: I'm not a medical doctor, but have a PhD, so when my daughter was in the worst pain I've ever seen anyone in and at times we feared for her life (and ERs did nothing, just sent a psychologist ...), I read every medical paper. Her neurologist also wondered if it could be rcvs, but had no experience and couldn't help. We got rid of the pressure, pulsing and tinnitus by removing all triggers that can cause rcvs or vasoconstrictions, and introducing supplements that are vasodialating or gently reducing inflammation. Daughter also does take 10 mg propranolol in the evening, which helps calm and heal her veins overnight. Get rid of nsaids, SSRIs, triptans, opioids, stimulants like coffee / green tea. Some acne meds are vasoconstricting. CBD products and creams are vasoconstricting and can cause pulsing cranial pressure. Look for a full list of Rcvs triggers. We even had to remove mint tea from her diet. Nsaids are a key trigger. That Ibpuorofen they'll give u in the hospt when they think you have a migraine is big trigger for vasoconstrictions.

Introduce beet root pills (they boost nitric oxide, good for veins), use feverfew or Tylenol if u must take something for head pain... But better to not take them. Because all pain pills have a kickback that can induce headaches. Instead take magnesium (citrate or oxide). Bathe in an Epsom salt bath for body ache relief. But in lukewarm water (daughter uses space heater to keep the room warm), because submerging in warm or hot water is also an rcvs trigger. Take vasodialating teas like lemon balm, chamomile. Anti inflammatory supplements that aren't vadoconstricting are also good - boswellia, Curcumin, pine bark (get high quality brand, they're clinically shown to reduce inflammation and nerve pain).

Main point is that this throbbing cranial pressure and tinnitus is somehow being caused by a vascular issue. It's the veins, you have to calm them down. You should get an MRA / Mrv to make sure u don't have any blockage.

We were at the end of our ropes. But within a few weeks of doing this protocol her head pressure, pain and the tinnitus was gone.

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Replies to "@robin76 We found a solution to our 17 yo daughter's excruciating pulsing head pressure and loud..."

@mensch00 And one more thing. The ligament injury in her neck was also causing horrible base of skull pain, but she could not tolerate any of those toxic heavy nerve pain meds. We discovered MLS cold laser therapy, a high powered laser that can penetrate deep enough to improve blood flow and heal ligaments. Regenerative medicine centers have them. She's doing that now, pointed right at the base of her skull, and it is healing the ligaments in her neck. It reduces inflammation very quickly. Provides immediate relief for base if skull pain.

@mensch00 thank you so much for writing this. All the GP says to me is up my dosage of sertraline to 100mg and it will get better. I don’t like taking them and I think they could be making it worse. I had MRI last year June and showed no intercranial pressure. Everyone I’ve seen just says anxiety. Take painkillers. I tell them it’s not a normal headache or migraine. The mornings are horrendous and unbearable. Feels like head gonna pop, so heavy. I really don’t know what else to do 😢😢😢

@mensch00
Thank you kindly for sharing your story about your daughter with us.
It was extremely informative and you brought up many valid points.
I have experience with Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstricting Syndrome after experiencing a thunderclap headache in 2020 and have never been the same since, it kicked off 9 months of continuing severe migraines. Nothing helped, the doctors stumped as to what medication to give me. I more than understand "head pressure, going to explode", head "spasms" that are excruciating...thank goodness lasting only seconds, any longer it's a definite 911 call.
I will be re-reading your post several times to see if anything can be applied to me and be helpful. Thank you again for taking the time to write your post. I hope your daughter continues to be pain free.