HopeSprings Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 The first place I feel it (bad feelings) in the morning is the back of my neck and head - I guess the sensation is pressure. It's been really bad the past few days - it actually feels like it's swelling. Does anyone else have this getting out of bed or otherwise? I don't like this week so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sif Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 I get so much pressure around the back of my head that sometimes it hurts to put it down on a pillow. It seems to happening pretty randomly and I can't seem to find a trigger for it. My neck tends to get stiff too.It used to be accompanied by some really nasty stabbing pains but thankfully that doesn't seem to happen much anymore. I kept being woken up with a feeling like someone had stuck a knife in the back of my head. I even tried narcotic pain meds but they didn't do anything so I stopped.It started a couple of months before my POTS symptoms kicked in so I'm not sure if it's related. My ears sometimes feel very full when it happens so I think it might be allergy/hayfever related.. antihistamines don't seem to do much though and my front sinuses are clear. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine seemed to offer a bit of relief (especially for my ears) but I can't take them anymore.. I think even looking at them would make me stupidly tachy, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Csmith3 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Sif - you may be experiencing sinusitis in the sphenoid cavities. This usually results in pain at the back of the eyes and, if it is bad, pain at the crown of the head. When I get it, and it is worse when lying down so it is immediately obvious when I wake up, I think it feels like someone has hit me on the back of the head with a frying pan (not that I have experienced this). I find that any sinus pain leads to tension in my neck and into my shoulders. It is grim and I confess I reach for the 12 hour slow release sinus pills and if it results in tachycardia after a couple of days of taking it, so be it because it drives me mad and nothing else touches it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sif Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Sif - you may be experiencing sinusitis in the sphenoid cavities. This usually results in pain at the back of the eyes and, if it is bad, pain at the crown of the head. When I get it, and it is worse when lying down so it is immediately obvious when I wake up, I think it feels like someone has hit me on the back of the head with a frying pan (not that I have experienced this). I find that any sinus pain leads to tension in my neck and into my shoulders. It is grim and I confess I reach for the 12 hour slow release sinus pills and if it results in tachycardia after a couple of days of taking it, so be it because it drives me mad and nothing else touches it.Thank you, Cath! I don't have any pain behind my eyes or in my face but I do get it in the crown of my head. It's mostly around the back of my head behind my ears though.Chronic sinusitis runs heavily through my family though so I think it's definitely something worth mentioning to my doctor. I really wish I wasn't so sensitive to sinus meds! I tried nasal irrigation but the water got stuck in my head somehow and then kept randomly pouring out of my nose during the day, LOL.. thankfully I was at home all day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julieph85 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Yes I have that exact problem. Horrible pain in back of neck and at base of skull. It feels like pressure mixed with pain. I also get very lightheaded with it and the muscles in my face feel tired and burn from lactic acid. It is weird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopeSprings Posted February 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Yes I have that exact problem. Horrible pain in back of neck and at base of skull. It feels like pressure mixed with pain. I also get very lightheaded with it and the muscles in my face feel tired and burn from lactic acid. It is weird!Yes Julie. Does it happen when you get out of bed in the morning? I've been dreading getting out bed because I know it's going to happen and when I feel back there it's puffy! It's hard to tell what is puffy - I think it's those muscles that attach from the back of your head, down the neck into the shoulder blade. I've been icing the back of my head this morning - I don't know what else to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julieph85 Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Mine also feels puffy and it starts about 20 to 30 minutes after getting out of bed. It almost feels like all the muscles in my head and neck are tight and it gives me a weird headache. It also gives me a sensation of wanting to clench my teeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellgirl Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Used to have this all the time...I think it went along with the rigidity, spasms, etc. and when I was more symptomatic...My medications really help with this, and it is not as much of a problem anymore. My muscles are more relaxed, and I'm not as tight, or tachy either...Ask you doctor about this. I hope you start feeling better.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzyallie Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 Yeah me too back head pressure right now it's there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 I will get it at variable times. Had it really badly when I got out of bed on Monday. Made me so sick, I was wondering the house in a daze just trying to figure out what I was trying to do.It's a significant pressure/ pain at the junction between skull and c-spine. Often comes with significant nausea as well. It's not the same as my migraines though. I will also get it in the evening and sometimes it just occurs. It started when I first got sick with POTS. Personally I can't localize this particular pain/pressure to any one point of origin like a muscle or tendonous attachment. It's just "there" and pretty intense.Sif- those sharp stabbing pains might be your occipital nerve being irritated. Does it feel like when you hit your funny bone? Like a "twangy" type pain? If so, you might ask your doctor about getting an injection by a pain specialist into that area. I had that pain on top of my migraines and just wanted to rip my head off. It was miserable. For me the injection totally took away that twangy nerve-type pain...but unfortunately didn't stop my migraines. Oh well, I'll take whatever relief I can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mully2014 Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 I've had many concussions and we always thought that was why I have the constant head pain but now we believe it is because of having the POTS. Several of the doctors agreed that was the casue and pretty much told me to deal with it and focus on controlling it through the POTS side. SO I've been living with this pain 24/7 for a year and a half and it is miserable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.