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Persistent facial pressure and brain fog after a neurological episode
I am a 62-year-old man. On February 7, 2025, I had an acute neurological episode with severe pressure in my head, tingling and numbness in my face and hands, numbness of the tongue, and a brief speech disturbance. CT, CT angiography, and perfusion imaging did not show an acute stroke.
Since that episode, I have never returned to my previous condition. I have a constant, strong, bilateral squeezing sensation in my cheeks, temples, under the eyes, and across the forehead. It feels like a tight band or helmet. I want to stress that this is not a typical headache and usually not pain. It is a powerful pressure and altered sensory sensation in the face and head.
I also experience burning sensations in the neck, back of the head, and shoulders, as well as intermittent tingling or numbness in the face, tongue, and hands.
At the same time, I have persistent brain fog, difficulty concentrating and retaining information, slowed thinking, trouble finding words, and speech that sometimes becomes hesitant or fragmented. Planning and carrying out everyday tasks in the correct sequence has also become difficult. Severe chronic insomnia may be contributing, but it does not fully explain the abrupt onset after the neurological episode.
Brain MRI has shown chronic small-vessel ischemic changes, but no clear acute lesion explaining the symptoms. The cause of this combination of persistent facial pressure, sensory symptoms, and cognitive-speech difficulties remains unclear.
Has anyone experienced a very similar condition after a TIA-like or other acute neurological episode, especially constant bilateral pressure in the cheeks, under the eyes, temples, and forehead without typical headache pain? What diagnosis was eventually considered, which specialists or tests were most useful, and did any treatment reduce the pressure or cognitive symptoms?
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I have all of your same symptoms for almost 3 years, with constant dizziness/rocking/swaying added 1 1/2 years ago after a first ever vertigo attack. Have had many imaging tests, been to many specialists with no answers except to try whatever medication they feel like prescribing. I cannot tolerate medications, so I’m at a loss. Mine often starts behind my ears and wraps around like I’m wearing a headband on top of burning at the top of my head like I’m wearing a red hot beanie. Pain into my face around sinus area. Can’t tolerate any seasoning or pepper on food. I could continue the symptom list, but you can probably imagine them all. PT makes it worse, acupuncture didn’t help. Seems like what I’ve tried has made it worse so I’m too scared to try a chiropractor. If you find an answer, please share.
Hi there, I’ve had very similar symptoms for 6 years, along with cicadas/crickets tinnitus.
Neurologists were no help. Tried to treat it as Parkinson’s, peripheral neuropathy . Today my primary MD suggested trigeminal neuralgia.
She prescribed 100mg of carbamazepine at night hoping it will help the head pressure and "cement face" and headache which I wake up with in the morning that lasts 24/7.
We shall see.🤔
@lynnann50 Thank you for sharing this. There are some similarities with what I experience, although the sensations are not exactly the same. In my case, it is not really a headache, but a constant bilateral feeling of pressure and tightness around my cheekbones, temples, under the eyes, and forehead.
I was also prescribed carbamazepine in the past under the brand name Tegretol, but for a different reason, not for suspected trigeminal neuralgia.
I’d be very interested to know whether it helps specifically with your “cement face” sensation and head pressure. If you can, please let me know how it goes.
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Hi, my head doesn’t ache per se, but the right side from jaw to ear to occipital socket and forehead feels like there’s pressure pushing out.
It does affect my right eye vision. It blurs out occasionally.
I’ve had all the tests, ophthalmologist, ent, neurologist, PT for neck. I’m hopeful the 100mg of carbamazepine at bedtime will help with sleep and waking up without that rush of pressure and swimming feeling, which the lasts all day. Very much like intoxication. I haven’t consumed alcohol for 15 years.
I also have neuropathy knees down, but not as anyone else describes it. It does cause my right foot to flop.
At the 100mg I don’t imagine that will be helped.
I’ll let you know.
Ps, I’m 76 and I remember we ran through the mosquito abatement fog in the 50s and 60s. I will always wonder if that’s why neurological issues are so prevalent in my age group.🤔