Headache for a week?

Question

heres the deal....i had left temple pain...and i heard a little bit of popping...so i went to the hospital...they did a cat scan...it was normal....spinal tap.....it was normal....after that i felt a headache from the spinal tap....but now the same headache is back...it wakes me up at night...and also when i blow my nose i feel pressure in my ears...also a little bit of blood when i blow it but other than that its clear.....................can you give me an idea of what this could be?my doctor also gave me an order for an mri if i was still anxious...should i go have it taken?the headache is on and off...sometimes a little burning...somethimes a sharp pain

also a history of anxiety

Answer 1

I do not mean to scare you but this can be very serious. I beg that you go to your doctor and tell them that you are now blowing your nose and it's clear with spots of blood. This could be a tell-sign of a "CSF" leak from the spinal tap (CSF = cerebrospinal fluid).

I really hate to gross you out, but please taste the discharge (don't roll your eyes!!!) ... is it sweet? CSF is sweet, and that's one way to diagnose it.

This could be nothing, but it could be something. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Yes, get your MRI.

If all tests come back negative, please allow me to introduce you to chiropractic care for headache management. Its one of the best treatments for headache, but what we need to determine if it's a chiropractic condition, or if it's an emergency or medical condition. How long has this been going on? [e-mail]

Don't forget to chose a best answer.

Answer 2

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas (natural muscle relaxers) daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, (if this does not do it you probably need a chiropractor as well) you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 3

Please do not take imitrex without talking to your dr. first. It's relativly safe- I take it -- but there are cardiac side effects and med interactions you need to be aware of. If you've had tests, it sounds a lot like sinus - either infection or inflammation. I get that a lot and is/are the exact same symptoms I've had the past two weeks. I'm on my second round of Z-pak. I'm on Zpak constantly and occasionally a medral dose pak - low dose graduated prednisolone to reduce inflammation, especially the ear popping. My nose will bleed just a little too, irritation, kind of like blood in your animals stools (if you are an animal person) - and it's just diagnosed as an intestinal inflammation from eating something freaky, i.e. nothing to be excessively concerned about (if you've had the appropriate tests, which it sounds like you have). Once again, you've had tests, and only speaking from my personal experience - it sounds like allergy/sinus problems. Go back to the doc and tell them you have nothing to lose at this point and to please give you a script for an appropriate antibiotic - they will probably start you on amoxicillan because it's "first line" - cheapest, least side effects. Request Z-pak, inexpensive, only take for one week, very popular. Good luck.

Answer 4

The fact that you say a bit of blood comes out when you blow your nose concerns me. Also the popping sound. Blood coming out of the nose is an indication of intracranial bleeding. There are various signs and symptoms for that, and I am not saying that is what it is, because I know little of your situation. A cat scan shows more of bone structure. Have you had a regular x-ray? X-rays are typically used to diagnose and assess bone degeneration or disease, fractures and dislocations, infections, or tumors.

Answer 5

Headache is a pain in the head, scalp or neck. Headaches can be caused by minor problems like eyestrain, lack of coffee or more serious reasons like head injury, brain tumors, encephalitis and meningitis. Taking painkillers continuously can have harmful side effects, so it is better to modify your lifestyle. More information available at

Answer 6

Hi , it sounds like a Migraine headache, with a little bit of sinus infection trying to set in. The popping noise is coming from your sinus's. Need to see a specialist, like a neurologist. It is also possible that it is a stress headache.

Answer 7

There is always the possibility of a sinus infection. The pain may be "referred" to the temple. But I assume the doc checked for that. But see if a cold compress to the temple and sinus relieves the pain.

Answer 8

Yes, go have the MRI. Also, contact your doctor .... you sound like you have a sinus problem or something worse. It's up to you to keep the doctor up to date. I don't think that your symptoms are anxiety related at all. Good luck.

Answer 9

for any headache over a few hours take imitrex or maxalt.
any time you have spinal fluid removed you will have a headache when you stand but not when you lie down.
everyone has headaches
everyone has their nose bleed at times.
stop your headache with the imitrex and your anxiety will lift and you will think clearly to figure out what starts your migranes

Answer 10

GO TO A DIFFERENT DOCTOR