Did I have a brain aneurysm?

[kenzieloper]

This was my experience, I was unable to get to help during this emergency and I thought I was going to die.

At the time this happened I was very healthy walking/biking upwards of 10 miles a day.

I came home and went to the bathroom, I very gently beared down to release a bowel movement then BOOM. The worst pain I've felt in my entire life just came out of no where it felt like lightning striking deep into my brain for a quick second then it went away. Then it came back went away. By this time I was already collapsed onto the floor. The pain was going along with my heart beat, it was pulsatile. I couldn't do anything except lay there and suffer thru it, I couldn't talk or move much. Vomiting then ensued.  

I have birth naturally no epidural and this pain was easily ten times what that was I really thought I was going to die.
After 4 hours of suffering the most terrifying thing in the world I began researching my symptoms and brain aneurysm fits terrifyingly perfect with what I experienced so I called my doctor. I was 25 when it happened and she sounds very sure it wasn't an aneurysm but she ordered an MRI which showed nothing, couple months later she ordered one with contrast. It showed nothing.

Why can something like this happen that is so painful it feels like you're so close to dying and yet leave nothing to show up on an MRI?

I'm so terrified this is going to happen to me again, there's no massaging this pain away or anything you can do to even drop it a few points on the pain scale. It was pure hell.

I even was vomiting during that event and it felt like my head could've exploded. Just lightning strikes or knife stabs to the center of your brain starting and stopping every second is so scary. I had never experienced any pain that went along with the beat of my heart before.

My left side where this pain was, in my neck below it it stayed sore for a few weeks afterwards. I also began having migraines almost every other day and just feel like crap most of the time.

Why can't I get answer especially when two MRI'S one with and without contrast showed nothing? I still can't get a diagnosis for it, this happened four years ago now. My neck/base of skull still I'd sore and often swollen

[Paxiled]

Are you saying this happened years ago and not since?  I'm confused I guess why you're so worried now if the problem went away.  The time to worry would be if it came back again, but apparently it hasn't.  There are a lot of things in life that can make us hurt that aren't going to show up on a diagnostic test.  When you twist your neck violently all kinds of things can happen, including what happened to you.  Too much exercise on a hot day without sufficient electrolytes or water can cause a lot of pain.  It also could have been a migraine, as you had them after that.  My first one happened when I was 13 on a day I didn't eat in the morning, it was really hot, and I went to play basketball.  I continued after that to get them periodically for several years.  But MRIs don't show that kind of thing.  If after 4 years it's never happened again, there's really no way to get a diagnosis.  And if it was an aneurysm, I'm guessing there would have been other problems, such as cognitive problems and a difficult recovery period.  I'm guessing whatever it was it wasn't that, and given you felt pain in your neck, it most likely came from there.  But I don't think you're going to be able to find out unless it happens again and you see a specialist at that time.  I'd forget about it and go on with my life, and know that MRIs can't see what isn't there and often not what is, either.  Peace.

[specialmom]

Well that sounds like a very scary and painful experience!  Here is the good news . . . nothing is showing up now.  What exactly that was is a bit of a mystery but an  aneurysm does not appear to be the cause.  The pain you had all of a sudden and that intensity sure are symptoms of an aneurysm.  But the diagnostic tests don't show it.  Unlikely they'd miss that.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20361595  

Have you asked your doctor about something called a thunder clap headache.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thunderclap-headaches/symptoms-causes/syc-20378361  

But here are also exercise headaches.  Did this occur after one of your bike rides?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/exercise-headaches/symptoms-causes/syc-20372276

Lastly, there is something called an Ice Pick headache.  It also is very painful and I've suffered this type myself.  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317234