When I badly relapsed five years ago, a new symptom that came on was chronic head pain. Five years on, although a little bit improved overall, the head pain is still there 24/7 and has never gone in five years.
I can only describe it as feeling like steel bands are crushing into my skull, an intense feeling of pressure. When I lie down, this pressure increases, as does overdoing it. I also have a very tender sore spot on the left side of my forehead. Many days I can get sharp, burning pains, especially on the left-side of the head, neuropathic pain basically. The pressure though is constant.
I don't believe it's muscular in nature, as has been suggested, tightness in neck etc.. I also don't feel it is the same as a migraine, which can come and go etc, have extra symptoms with it like huge light sensitivity, flashing lights etc...
i have sometimes wondered whether it is to do with reduced blood flow to the brain? Yet I don't know whether reduced blood flow would cause the constant feeling that my skull is being crushed?
With the idea that it could be blood flow, I have tried the medication nimodipine which supposedly dilates the cerebral arteries, it is given to people after a certain kind of stroke. I didn't notice a huge improvement on it and came off. However, I realised that when I was on it, I was able to lie flat a bit longer before the pressure in my head became too intense, so have gone back on it, as I need several periods of lying flat each day. The nimodipine helps I think a little, but only a little.
I was wondering whether anyone else has this constant crushing pressure in their head and their thoughts on it? Or anyone's thoughts on what could be the underlying problem causing the feeling that steel bands are digging into my skull 24/7?
I should also add that I have had the sensation of blocked ears (have been checked out by a ENT doc, couldn't find anything) for 12 years when my M.e began. Also when I badly relapsed five years ago, as well as the new symptom of head pain, I started to suffer frm tinnitus, that too has remained and never improved.
Also, finally, I should note that I must stick to strict limits on computer, watching tv and telephone use otherwise the head pain gets worse.
Many thanks in advance.
I can only describe it as feeling like steel bands are crushing into my skull, an intense feeling of pressure. When I lie down, this pressure increases, as does overdoing it. I also have a very tender sore spot on the left side of my forehead. Many days I can get sharp, burning pains, especially on the left-side of the head, neuropathic pain basically. The pressure though is constant.
I don't believe it's muscular in nature, as has been suggested, tightness in neck etc.. I also don't feel it is the same as a migraine, which can come and go etc, have extra symptoms with it like huge light sensitivity, flashing lights etc...
i have sometimes wondered whether it is to do with reduced blood flow to the brain? Yet I don't know whether reduced blood flow would cause the constant feeling that my skull is being crushed?
With the idea that it could be blood flow, I have tried the medication nimodipine which supposedly dilates the cerebral arteries, it is given to people after a certain kind of stroke. I didn't notice a huge improvement on it and came off. However, I realised that when I was on it, I was able to lie flat a bit longer before the pressure in my head became too intense, so have gone back on it, as I need several periods of lying flat each day. The nimodipine helps I think a little, but only a little.
I was wondering whether anyone else has this constant crushing pressure in their head and their thoughts on it? Or anyone's thoughts on what could be the underlying problem causing the feeling that steel bands are digging into my skull 24/7?
I should also add that I have had the sensation of blocked ears (have been checked out by a ENT doc, couldn't find anything) for 12 years when my M.e began. Also when I badly relapsed five years ago, as well as the new symptom of head pain, I started to suffer frm tinnitus, that too has remained and never improved.
Also, finally, I should note that I must stick to strict limits on computer, watching tv and telephone use otherwise the head pain gets worse.
Many thanks in advance.