heavy head

[hamishdog]

recently been suffering from what i can only describe as a heavy head, with pressure,on top an at temple and forehead areas only time i get releif is when im lying down
when i stand i feel im off ballance and sometimes when im walking i feel im staggering or wandering as if ive been drinking
this has got so bad ive had to take time off work
the other thing is i often get blurred vision too
this has been going on for months now and doc thinks im just anxious

any one suffer same or can anyone help

[irish48]

Hi I have have had a puturitary apoplexy and on the same weekend had a stroke! Fortunately I have no lasting disabilities but results of MRI show that I have had several strokes - i am currently awaiting a full pituarity function test in June.  I am experiencing a "sensation" in my spine- no pain but just a strange feeling and was wondering if this is worth mentioning to my doctors.  I don't know if it's anything I should be concerned about as I have had both things happen at the same time I don't even know which condition this "may' be linked to - I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you. Up till now I was a very fit woman who ate healthily and trained and non smoker so I'm in shock by all of this to say the least.

[SamPCS]

Hi,
Thanks for the detailed response.  For Brain : I had all kinds of CT scan and CTA(with and without contrast).  MRI (with and without contrast) to check CSF leaks.  Everything came negative for CSF leak so far.  I cannot say I have a headache per se.  
I feel heavy headed (like spaced out, strange vision etc.,) when I stand, walk or sit in dining table.   When I recline in a chair or in bed I don't feel that way.  I can ask the Neurologist about Spinal CT scan and chronic subdural hematoma.  Thanks much for the valid suggestions.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the forum!
A headache that worsens on standing up and improves or disappears on lying flat is a spinal headache. This happens when the CSF pressure in the brain falls. This usually happens after spinal anesthesia, spinal taps, or spinal injuries. However in some people this happens without a cause. This is known as spontaneous intracranial hypotension.
A procedure called an epidural blood patch, if is successful, even temporarily, it generally means the patient does indeed have a spinal headache. A small amount of the patient’s own blood is injected into the space between the dura and the bony spine known as the epidural space. If this causes temporary or permanent cure of headache, the diagnosis of spontaneous intracranial hypotension is confirmed.
Other tests are a spinal tap and measuring the pressure. Although spinal fluid pressure is usually low in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension, it can be occasionally normal due to variations in the spinal fluid pressure.
A dye can be injected into the spinal fluid and entire spine’s CT scan is taken to locate the leak.
The other possibility after a head injury can be a chronic subdural hematoma. In a chronic subdural collection, the problem is not discovered immediately as blood leaks from the veins slowly over time. The initial bleed is too small to give symptoms. The symptoms of chronic subdural hematoma begin several weeks after the initial bleeding. Hence with a history of vision problems, and strange feeling in head this should be looked into.
Please discuss this with a neurologist. This may help you cure your headaches. Of course a confirmed diagnosis cannot be given on net, but there is no harm in discussing this with a neurologist.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[SamPCS]

I am suffering from same symptoms.  But for me it happened after a head injury.  Docs has no clue what can be done.  I am also off work.  did you find any relief?