Constant head pressure/head feels fatigued/Spaced out
Posted , 38 users are following.
Back in December, I experienced the worst headache/migraine of my life. It was a feeling of undescribable head pressure(I describe it as fluid surrounding my head). Pressure/headache in the eyes was really terrible. When I thought I was feeling a bit better and got up to move around, the head pressure would return and I had to lay back down. This lasted 2-3 days. I thought I would recover, but I've never felt the same since... And I'm only 28. No prior health issues to this. I have a 5 year old daughter and to be honest, this is completely ruining my life. The head pressure has never gone away.
The head pressure was so bad on and off for the first 4 months I literally thought I had brain swelling(that's how it made me feel). It felt as if someone was moving my brain around. It's as if your head is fatigued from working too hard and it's in a constant state of shaking. A very weird, undescribable, uncomfortable, scary feeling. I had really bad brain fog. I would have moments where I would space out so bad I felt as if I was in a dream for the majority of those months. So detached. I still have those moments.
Everyday I wake up, I have head pressure(blood shot eyes). My ears feel the need to pop deep inside the cavity. Uncomfortable and unease feeling of my head(like it's fatigued) is the feeling that makes it the worst. My head feels clogged and I espcially feel it in the surrounding portion of my back eyes, ears and head. I don't ever feel normal. There might be a relief of head fatigue from time to time, but my head has never felt the same. The only thing that makes me feel somewhat normal is if I lay down.
In the beginning 4 months, putting on hats, listening to loud music, over the ear headphones only made my head pressure worse and give me terrible headaches for the remaning day in the begining.
Went to the ER twice the first few months for the head pressure symptoms and followed up with my primary care doctor. They all said stress but ultimately was referred to a neurologist, ENT & Eye Doctor to cover my basis. I've had an MRI of the brain with and without contrast done. Only thing that revealed was a few mucus cyst(which are normal I guess). I've had a panel of blood work ran which all came back normal. Checked for Thyroid function, blood count and few other things. Had a CT scan done of my sinus(no prior sinus or allergy issues in my life) and pending results on that. Not really optimistic it's going to show anything.
I don't know what to do at this point. I truthfully feel hopeless.. I need help
4 likes, 81 replies
alex40222 dustin76146
Posted
Crazy how I am feeling the exact same thing... it’s annoying, my vision feels darker than usual and I always get this weird pressure. I feel like my head is going to explode but it’s not painful, almost numb. Did you ever figure out what it was? I’m reallt scared that there is something wrong with me. I have sever health anxiety & GAD. I’m really scared about this. I get it everyday!!!
crystals51917 alex40222
Posted
Me too. Did you ever get a diagnosis? I'm so tired of feeling this way for 5 months now.
Moshclavis dustin76146
Posted
I've been dealing with this since January and it's progressively worsened. Initially, laying down would ease it up a little in the first month or two but then it just became a sporadic constant daily pressure with little pain. The pressure was very annoying... I'm worried about cancer or something but MRI and CT of the brain says it's all normal. I've used fioricet, ibuprofen and tylenol with no effect. I find that sleep helps and diphenhydramine helps at night with more relief in the morning. I also occasionally get ringing in my ears... feels like my ears need to pop sometimes too.
I've had some success with Curcumin and Boswellia extract. The Boswellia helps when you take it for a couple days. I hope other will continue to post their experiences. My doc is trying to say I have Fibromyalgia but I don't have those classic symptoms associated with it... I really don't believe I have fibro...
I've had my CRP, CEA, ESR and LDH tested too. All are in the normal ranges... Very frustrating and annoying!
Hoping for more responses!!
dom1983 Moshclavis
Posted
matt32983 dustin76146
Posted
Been having the same issue, pressure right side of my head so intense it would just make really tired. It went away for a month but now it has come back again all I want to do is sleep. I went to the Er got an mri scan and they seem to think it's a cluster migraine. I can feel it coming on a couple of days before it hits me it's like a down feeling and then the pressure starts to set in
josh12967 dustin76146
Posted
Hi Dustin,
I am in the same boat and have been for going on a year straight. I can't imagine going on like this much longer. I may have to turn to street drugs for relief (kidding).
It all started last August for me. I suspect it was related to me working out and doing weights for the first time in years. It was right around that time I begin having issues with my ears. I felt pressure in both ears like they were full. I went to my PCP who misdiagnosed me with Eustachian Ear Dysfunction. Put me on prednisone and nasal spray. A few weeks later I was out at the park playing with my son and had him up on my shoulders playing basketball. When I took him down and started walking home I felt a rush of immense head pressure. I went home quickly thinking I was having a hear stroke. I laid down but it never went away. I went back to my PCP who suggested I see an ENT. So I did and they checked my ears thoroughly and told me nothing was wrong but it could be muscle tension. He prescribed Celebrex and physical therapy. I took the Celebrex with no relief and did 4 sessions of physical therapy which also did nothing to help my condition.
On a Friday night in Mid-October I was home and feeling terrible. My wife was worried it could be something more serious and made me go to the ER. I did and they did a CT scan which ruled out anything serious. They sent me home with a prescription for Vicodine which I did not fill for fear of becoming addicted. After this I got an MRI of my neck which revealed I had a slightly bulging disc so with that I went to a neurosurgeon. Who looked at my images and concluded it was not impinging on my spinal cord and told me to see a neurologist. So I went to a neurologist who put me on some muscle relaxers and gabapentin which did not help. So she referred me to a headache specialist who also put me on hydoxzine, tazanadine, nortiptyline and Lyrica. None of these have helped but I do sleep better. I have also had two nerve blocker injections which help relief some of the pain for about 6 hrs at best which I suspect is just the local anesthetic. So they referred me to yet another headache specialist who is supposed to be one of the best in the country here in Denver. She did a surgical injection which has also not been effective. Now I am getting another MRI of my head in a week. I hope to God something shows up so I finally have an answer to what is causing me to feel this way.
I am at my wits end with this thing. Everyday, ALL DAY, I feel like my head is going to explode and my neck is struggling to hold it up. I also feel constant pressure in both ears and it affects my sense of balance and sometimes makes me feel light headed or foggy headed. It is easily the hardest thing I have ever had to personally deal with and I'm feeling hopeless because despite all the mediation, specialists and treatments I am no closer to finding an answer or feeling better which is mind blowing to me. I can't believe in 2018 we can't cure a freaking headache if thats even what it is. I am finding it hard to believe its just muscle tension or nerves at this point. Now I am looking into other possible causes and going down those avenues to slowly rule things out and get closer to an answer because I honestly can't keep living this way. Its getting to the point that just functioning normally on a daily basis is feeling next to impossible and its really effecting my family and work life to the point that I am scared it may be too much for my family to bear or it may affect my ability to do my job. So I keep trying to find an answer but its now getting to the point that I can't financially afford to keep seeking treatments at its becoming too expensive.
I hope someone here finds an answer and shares with us all. I promise if I am fortunate enough to find even the slightest bit of relief in the next few months or years I will share my findings with everyone in the hopes it may help others. Please do the same.
Josh
mike07740 josh12967
Posted
Josh,
I have almost the exact same story, i can feel your pain man. The anxiety makes everything worse. My onset was july 4th, out of nowhere. Slept for a day and have been messed up since. Went to ER 3x, had two CT scans, of brain and neck. Have also had three normal blood tests, nothing trending in any notable direction. Still disoriented with all day headaches almost a month later. CT found bulging discs on neck c3-c7, which apparently can account for symptoms if inflamation impacts nerves or blood flow.
From my research, cluster headaches, lyme disease or something viral, CSF leak, and chiari formation. Lyme disease sometimes doesn't show up on tests, so ask about that. If its something viral, they might need to do a spinal tap to extract spinal fluid bc that wouldnt show up in blood work. Try to remember if you had any less extreme symptoms before that episode that maybe you overlooked.
Its worth asking the specialist even if to rule out obscure specific conditions. I would say rest assured a world renowned specialist will help you pinpoint it, they've spent their entire careers studying these things and are looking for the problem, unlike a typical neurologist or general family doc who usually merely work with your descriptions and simple probabilities.
As for neck issues, the doctor told me a bulging disc can impact nerves that aren't just in the spinal column, so could be that. Sometimes it takes athletes months to rehab an injury with the best resources available, so maybe seek a sports therapist.
I had a weird sensation of warm water being poured on me among other random body pings, but the headaches are the worst. Hang in man. The only thing that has really worked for me is icing the base of my neck and taking a benadryl before bed to calm my nerves. And alternating pain meds, aleve and excedrin. Mine seem more bearable with my eyes open, so I try to put on a movie to zonk out at night. Also put a teaspoon of sea salt in your water to keep your electrolytes in order, drink water all day bc it helps all sorts of other issues that pop up when under serious stress.
Hope you feel better, let me know what you come up with.
josh12967 mike07740
Posted
Thanks for sharing your story. Nice to know I’m not alone. Before my headache I did have some issues with anxiety but now that I stopped caffeine that’s helped. Although now my headache gives me anxiety. I’m learning to cope with it better but still vigorously looking for an answer. I’m certain it’s mostly coming from my neck but docs say the herniated disc and foraminal narrowing may or may not be my issue. I’m just did Botox injections last week and doing test facet injections next week. Hopefully this will shed some light and maybe give me some relief. I could honestly live with it if I could just have some control over the pain and pressure. Get it down to a 4-5 every day rather than an 8-9. Any updates on your end? Would love to know.
lisa8276045 dustin76146
Posted
Hi, I have been having the same and after exhausted blood tests, CT scan MRI of brain and neck that came out normal except some degenerative discs disease seen in my neck I saw a rheumatologist who said it was post viral. He said the virus attacks your head and your weakest parts. I have had constant head pressure all day everyday for 6 months all over my head with constant light headed spaced out feeling. Nothing takes the pain away. Also I get tired eyes that won't focus properly after midday which I think must be part of the cause. Optician said visual system gets tired when I do. I have no choice left to believe them until I lastly see a neurologist in August. It kind of makes sense but is horrendous and terrifying. Rheumo said it does eventually go away 12-18 months so in the lap of the gods now.
mike07740 lisa8276045
Posted
Took me two monts and ten doctors visits to figure out.
Debilitating but not life threatening.
Occipital nerves get compromised via injury, whiplash, degenerating discs, inflammation of neck musles from stress or work, or even infections. Symptoms can have acute onset and last for months.
Cognitive impairment is perceptual because your face and head muscles are flipping out nonstop. Pain can be anywhere on head, behind eyes, into shoulders, temples, and even affect tinitus.
See a neurologist or doc who specializes in whiplash. Treatment is fix posture, PT, chiropractor, massage at base of skull, muscle relaxers, anti inflammatory steroids and diet. Use a good pillow that distributes weight of head and neck, and sleep on your back. Alternate between ice and heat on neck before bed. Glucosamine supplements for connective tissue.
caroline_1957 dustin76146
Posted
I now wonder if I’ll ever be the person I was I’m seeing a herbalist now trying the natural route
Please let me know
mike07740 caroline_1957
Posted
Caroline and Justin
I'm going in for an MRI of my neck tomorrow. Since my last post I've talked to a few more doctors and physical therapists who said these are symptoms of a slipped or herniated disc in the neck, especially if an acute event triggered it. Could be caused by doing physical activity or sleeping in a weird position and tweaking neck.
Because of the nature of the neck, the condition will constantly be aggravated and continue.
What happens is the the disc slips and pushes on or pinches nerves and other soft tissues. This triggers involuntary neck spasms or other muscle contractions and soreness, which can radiate to the head or neck. The headaches subsequently are caused by the muscle tension since face muscles are attached to neck muscles, aka cerviogenic headache, which are some of the worst. Then the psychological terror and fatigue, which can cause a secondary symptom in a panic attack or anxiety that brings it's own set of issues. Horrible feedback loop.
An orthopedic surgeon or doctor should do an MRI with contrast of your neck, preferably when you are experience symptoms so they can pinpoint exact part (spinal and/or nerve) being impacted. Apparently depending on the nerves impacted, it can affect perception, eye muscles, all which cause chaos in your mind. See a specialist who sees this everyday, not a GP who might see it once a year.
I will know my results this week, but after a month I can empathize with everyone. My symptoms got bad one day and havent really gotten better or too much worse since then. Mentally a different story.
Things that are viral or degenerative supposedly progress and dont have a symptomatic good/bad ebb flow from day to day. There is also a sensitive blood test you can have that shows markers of inflammation.
Just some things to think about.
josh12967 mike07740
Posted
mike07740 josh12967
Posted
Look up suboccipital neuralgia
Your occipital arteries run underneath or along your suboccipital muscles, the ones that connect at base of skull. There are nerve centers there that control muscles in head and face. Also there is a ligament that attaches directly from those muscles to dura matter of the brain, i kid you not. "Mycordal". Your muscles tighten, the nerves get compressed like a pressure point, and then your freaking brain casing is pulled on by the ligament as if you drank a 30 pack. Has nothing to do with shoulder unless area of nerve pressure is c2/c3. The nerves can be compromised at c1/c2 as well. This is real science, you need a neurological specialist to investigate. Key terms as doc:
Duramatter
Neuralgia
Cervogenic
Suboccipital Arteries
Eustacian Tube
mike07740
Posted
Electrolytes
Prednisone
Attavin
Some anti seizure med
...they said it works magic ocassionally when they see people with these symptoms. IT WORKED. Best day of my life, headache mostly gone and only dealing with neck, disc issues which are triggers for the nerve disfunction. It supports dustins new response because the attivan is an anti depressent, and i have no history of depression or anxiety, mine was a physical event where i was leaning my head back and spasms came oit of nowhere.