Head pressure is ruining my life

Wow @leighannk , I planned on reaching out to Mayo Clinic about this exactly after reading a snip from Dr Carr. How did you get an appt? Was it really hard? How did u get them to agree to do this procedure? Please help. Any insight. Thank you! So happy to hear u have relief.

This sounds similar to my experience though a bit more severe. Diagnosis is Trigeminal Neuralgia. I take Lyrica (pregabalin) and usually it helps, but it has side effects. I find working alone and avoiding large groups helps.

Could this link to someone of NPH or hydrocephalus? Good luck

I just joined (3/2325). I got tremor from my mother. Have had it 8-10 years approx in my right hand but it is now moving to my left. My mother told me there were da.ys she could not do more than sit in a chairbecause her head was bothering her. When I asked her she said it was a feeling she was unable to describe. Now I have the same feeling in my head (no ambition to do anything-the opposite of feeling great). For me it seems related to being sleep deprived for days on end. I will wake after 5-6 hours and then unable to go back to sleep and I have never been a napper. I have begged doctors for strong sleep medication -to no avail. But I got my own and when I am able to get a good sleep (7 or so hours) I am a NEW man. I am sure there is an anxiety component (with a life of its own}. So far both lunesta and nitrazepam have a very positive effect for both sleep and well being- though not sure they effect tremor at all. I have HIFU evaluation soon.

I have also taken Depakote but only on an as needed basis for quick relief of auras. My auras are infrequent. They may occur on a one a year or two year period with no head pain. I have suffered for years with head pressure similar in some ways to yours. Over decades I have found no relief from any medication and after all testing have not determined why. Your post caught my attention because I am sensitive to many medications, Depakote being the last. I find it difficult to describe the effect except that I feel crappy all day after taking just one. The only med that stopped auras was Rizatriptan and that was stopped for fear of causing a stroke. Sorry If I haven't been much help but it seems that at 78 it has become worse with age.
ps FYI for anyone else. Years ago before auras I had severe pain headaches for decades. After Radio Frequency Ablation the severe pain headaches ceased and severe head pressure appeared.

@amandanap1 On February 17th 2025 I was on my phone talking to someone when I felt an immense pressure inside my head. I had blurry vision. It only lasted about a minute or less. I did not lose my faculties and I had no other deficits. I got off the phone told my husband and went to the ER. They called a stroke call, checked my strengths and I did not lose anything. I had a CT with and without contrast. Then the next day an MRI. they showed nothing. I was in the hospital for 2 days then nothing. Since then I had a burning pain that came and went on my head. I also had feelings that something was moving in my head. I have had some pain but none that stays. It’s fleeting. I ended up in the ER 3 times with head pressure but the second and third time it wasn’t like the first. The third time I was watching TV with my husband and I notice a feeling come near my right eye and I had head pressure but not like the first time. I can’t say it was pain just a feeling like something moved close to my eye. I had that again for the second time. I thought it might have something to do with neck issues but NO it doesn’t. I will see a neurologist. In fact it is supposed to be to be the one who diagnosed my small nerve fiver that has no known cause. This pressure thing has done a number on me. I am not sure about any of it. If anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated. @rnlorena

I have pressure pain on the right side of my face impacting ear and eye. MRIs and CT scans indicate normal. I have seen a neurologist to no avail. Gabapentin had too many side effects. I switched to Lyrica( Pregabalin) and have some relief, but it never goes away completely and is slow to take effect. The pressure is like Novacaine that never wore off. I am freer of the pain if I am asleep or working alone. Diagnosis from my GP is Trigeminal neuralgia. Perhaps Pregabalin will work for you. I hope you get some relief.

@joanihm I am gonna have to do more research on small nerve fiber. Getting input with people here on Mayo is good. My skin biopsy came back positive in May 2021. I have been lucky up till now with just pin pricks. So out of the blue I now have other things. So I have other signs now. I already know what questions I will have for neurology. I am going to do some more reading on neuropathy also. I went to my regular Dr. for something else and I told him what was happening. He immediately offered me about four different meds. I said no. I am not opposed to meds but I want to have tests first. I am waiting for further testing to see what they think. Thank you for your reply. I wish you well.

All the best with the tests.

I had this happening for years. For me, it was part of a migraine condition. When I got treatment for migraine, for me Nortriptyline, I pretty much ceased to experience this sensation.