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Left side head pressure, tender spot, neck issues

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kg81
kg81

Hello, I am new here but I am a little concerned. I am a healthy 35yr old male however I have been dealing with left side head pressure for the last 5 weeks. I don't get a real bad headache but its mostly just pressure and its pretty much with me 24/7. I have noticed when I lay down or go to the gym with my headphones on it is not as bad but always there, I seem to feel it more when standing but again its always there even when sitting at my desk at work. I will list a few of my symptoms below in a moment but I did want to mention the last 2 years have been rough after going through a tough separation with my fiancée and only seeing my son a couple days a week instead of daily so my stress and anxiety was really bad for a while however I am dealing with that better now so I have a hard time believing this is stress related. I am a very anxious person and do not do well at the doctors, my blood pressure and heart rate go through the roof even just at a check up.

The last few months I have not felt like myself, I have had a bad stomach my whole life but it got worse around November 2015 and I was having chest pains and tightness, long story short I saw my doctor multiple times and was diagnosed with GERD and I also had an EKG and Stress Test Echo on my heart which all came out fine thank god. Now a couple months later I was finally feeling a little better, chest issues and stomach still kind of there but no where near as bad and then randomly get hit with this head pressure one Sunday night after just laying on my couch. I went to the doctor after 2 weeks of the head pressure and he tried 2 weeks of muscle relaxers thinking it was my neck, my neck is super tight especially left side where the head pressure is and he told me to stop going to the chiropractor. I was going to the chiropractor for just a couple months before all this happened because my neck and left shoulder always hurt (I work out in the gym and think part of it is from that, I used to lift very heavy but I don't as much anymore). The funny thing is a week before this head pressure started my chiropractor did his usual neck crack on both sides and I remember it almost hurting, feeling different then normal and sent pain through my head. I honestly wonder if he did something to me and if this is from my neck however almost 6 weeks and still feel the same? Advil doesn't do much, muscle relaxers didn't work. I am doing neck stretches and just bought a hand held massager this past week for my neck and head. My doctor did not think brain tumor at my visit based of my symptoms and said my reflexes were good.  Sorry for the long post but hoping for some help, my doctor is now referring me to a neurologist but I am trying to hard to push it off a little more hoping it gets better, I have enough medical bills and I am trying to tell myself this has to be from my neck or something that will heal eventually. I know brain tumors are pretty rare but of course I am having anxiety over that.

Symptoms:

-left side head pressure 24/7.

-some pressure in left eye and ear but not terrible.

-neck issues, especially left side, recently got a massage and the massage therapist said my upper back and neck were extremely tight. Chiropractor although I haven't been in a few weeks doctors orders said my C-1 or 2 joint cant remember which one was out of place. I have been doing neck stretches and using a tennis ball.

-some lightheadedness and fatigue, nothing crazy and could be stress since I think about this and worry all day.

-just noticed this week I have a tender spot on the bone top left back side of head.

-no weight loss, no fever, appetite ok for the most part, stomach ache some days but no vomiting.

 I do get a little bit of facial tingles in the left side of my cheek and especially my chin, it is not constant and comes and goes. This did start a couple months before this and I went to the dentist because I still have 3 of my wisdom teeth. He did say they could come out and my bottom right one was coming in a little crooked and could be causing some pressure. He did I could hold off for a bit and it wasnt an emergency and that could be causing some of my chin numbness and tingles. Also I am constantly popping my ears because they feel a little blocked and my nose feels a little congested but this has been going on for a while and is not something new, maybe allergies

Hopefully some suggestions and feedback will help, I will see neurologist if this doesn't improve but again I am trying to wait just a little longer on that.

7 likes, 265 replies

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  • lashonda98667
    lashonda98667 kg81

    Posted

    I have all of your symptoms I think it's something in my neck that is causing these headaches I do remember I slept wrong and I woke up the next morning with a neck pain I made it worst by trying to get it out with my neck massager it was son bad I could just turn my next I had to turn my entire body around to look around I have gone to urgent care for the headache I was given a shot it didn't help at all just like tylenol and Advil however I did get some relief by take some mucin Ex sinus pressure I am still confused by this helping and I don't have a running nose but I do feel pressure at times I have gone to a chiropractor same as you state same normal routine no relief from pain also I've had acupuncture no relief with so at this point I am very scared to see a neurologist because I know a MRI would be ordered so please keep me posted (Kg81)
    • kg81
      kg81 lashonda98667

      Posted

      Sorry to hear your suffering too. These last few months have been crazy for me and especially the last 6 weeks with this constant head pressure, I wake up with it and I go to bed with it. It is so frustrating and of course I am starting to think the worst even though I am sure it's not serious but u never know. It's really effects me at work, trying to enjoy my kids etc. I just pray this goes away soon and it's just muscular or my neck but if I stay this bad much longer I'll have to take the next step, some days are such a struggle. I to am nervous about the neurologist since I am sure they will have me do an mri and I'll probably freak and once again think the worst. I am such a baby with doctors and u would never know it by looking at me, 200lb bald guy in good shape with tons of tattoos but I can't handle anything to do with doctors or hospitals lol. My mother jokes if I ever have to have surgery for something what am I going to do?
    • lashonda98667
      lashonda98667 kg81

      Posted

      I guess you and I have so much in common I am the same way when it comes to doctors and I know my doctor is going to want me to go and see a neurologist also and of course I going freak out too and assume the worst but I have to face my fears because I want to get better today was not a good day for me at all so tomorrow I'm going to call my gp for appointment tomorrow I've been dealing with this for about 3 weeks off and on its not getting better or worse but I'm not use to this I'm praying that this is something can be fixed let me know if you get in with a neurologist and I will do the same😀
    • lilia0904
      lilia0904 kg81

      Posted

      I was waking up with a headache and going to bed with one, so there was no oxygen going to my brain. I think you need to go see your Doctor as soon as posible.I been using a CPAP for about 1 year now and it did help with my headaches, hope you feel better
  • kg81
    kg81

    Posted

    I'm open to suggestions, not sure what was in that last post and why it was deleted? I am so frustrated, head pressure and tightness same spot all day everyday. I keep telling myself it has to be my neck and it seems like to much of a coincidence that this started a week after I had a bad neck adjustment but at this point I really don't know?? I am sure I'll end up at the neurologist but I am really trying to give it another week or two.
    • kg81
      kg81

      Posted

      Also forgot to mention I did have blood work around the time this started and my doctor said everything looked great with that..... I'm so confused by this and of course I keep thinking tumor but then tell myself no way! I'll sit back and hope for some responses, thanks.
    • TJ5555
      TJ5555 kg81

      Posted

      Did you get a MRI or ever figure out what this was?  I've had stress/anxiety the past couple months and for 2 weeks have had constant left pressure in one spot on head that sometimes pulsates.

    • sean58445
      sean58445 kg81

      Posted

      Hey just wondering if you found out what was wrong. Having the exact same issues. Worried its temporal arthritis. Any info youve gained would be appreciatted!
  • tierra03336
    tierra03336 kg81

    Posted

    I've been dealing with the same issues for about 6 months now. I have severe pressure in the left side of my head right above my ear, left side of my neck from behind my ear and going all the way down my neck, and in my left eye. I get this about once a week sometimes twice and it usually stays for about 3 days straight. No breaks in between. I have seen a neurologist. They have scheduled me for an MRI. I've also had a CAT scan taken and nothing showed. Idk why this all of a sudden started. I was also told my a massage therapist that my neck and shoulders are EXTREMELY tight. When I try and massage it myself I can feel the tightness. It almost feels like leather it's so tight. I'm thinking it's my neck. Maybe a pinched nerve. I looked up the symptoms and found your thread. Please let me know if you find out anything and I will do the same. Thanks

    • todd2112
      todd2112 tierra03336

      Posted

      I have had these symptoms for 6 months now as well and there is still no end in sight for me. Symptoms all on left side of face: numb cheek going to neck and eyebrow, very tight constricting feeling of the neck, occasional pressure on the top of the head pushing down causing a lightheaded type of feeling

      I have had MRIS & Catscans of the neck and head with and without contrast and they came back fine. I have seen my primary doctor, 2 ENT specialists, a neurologist, a TMJ specialist and they all think its muscular and say its "chronic muofacial pain" which means they have no idea what it is.

      On my own I have gone for massage therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractor and the only relief I get is from certain forms of physical therapy, but they are short term results. Besides that the acu and chiro really made the symptoms worse.

      4 days before all of this I had a front tooth bonded(it was chipped and bonded 30 years ago) and it changed my bite. I think the muscles are putting pressure on the nerve of my face.

      Know that you are not alone, but so far I cant really recommend any help with this as I am still suffering. The only thing that helps a bit at times is a good physical therapist that does alot of neck work with you.

    • patrick26295
      patrick26295 tierra03336

      Posted

      Back left side of head tingly, top of left ear the same. It started with left tooth and left ear ache, also mild headaches in rear of head. Any answers?
    • amanda48965
      amanda48965 tierra03336

      Posted

      I know this is a two year old post but did they ever tell you what was wrong?
    • kathleen53214
      kathleen53214 amanda48965

      Posted

      Hi Amanda theres all different reasons but it's related to your posture how you hold your head down and it's a nerve that pinches which causes this try and hold your head up because holding your head down will cause this pressure on the side of your head as soon as I feel the pain I jump into the shower and rub my shoulder to release the knot that is impinging on my spinal cord causing the tightness this should release the tightness in that region keep working on that knot and once you get it out it will relieve the pressure also get your self a pack of 3 massage balls as you can use these to get the knots out you get a pack of three there great also antinflamotorys it's just a nerve pinching try these actions as they work also have a MRI on your neck good luck hope this helps you kathy

    • JSchallhorn
      JSchallhorn amanda48965

      Posted

      Hi Amanda!

      For me... it was muscular/tension.

      I take 10 mg of Amitripyline every night, for maintenance really.  But what actually stopped the pain completely was, my first dose of Amitriptyline and a massage.  I went in for a 30 min deep tissue massage, where my girl focused mainly on  my face/head/neck/shoulders... she went over my temples, and my jaw... and literally, within 30 minutes my pain had subsided.

      I went 3.5 weeks with pain/discomfort, I had major emotional breakdowns and anxiety attacks leading up to my MRI (which came out clean, along with a CT).  After a clean MRI I knew it had to be a musculoskeletal issue.  I clench my teeth too, so factor in some TMJ... my desk job... disc degeneration and scoliosis... highly prone to stress and anxiety... and you end up with a major migraine attack, followed by 3.5 weeks of tension/cluster/temporal headaches which freak you out and make you think you're dying of a tumor.

      I needed a chill pill (muscle relaxer) and a massage.  

      I'm feeling amazingly better, and working on maintaining that through relaxing techniques, eating healthy and one 10 mg med a day.  (I Hate taking medication, but I'm doing it for sanity and well-being).

      I hope you all feel better... stuff like what we all experience, isn't easy.

    • amanda48965
      amanda48965 JSchallhorn

      Posted

      Thank you for getting back to me I've had 2 cts and an MRI brain and bring cspine all came back normal the cspine should disk protruding

    • faisal75091
      faisal75091 todd2112

      Posted

      I have been having all the symptoms you mentioned for the last one and half months. 

      Went to three different Neurologists, and also have done the MRI. The MRI indicated no problem.

      But the pressure still persists and my left jawbone becomes very stiff.

      I was wondering with your problem. Is it cured? What actually happened to you?

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