Having Pressure And Tightness On Head. Diagnosed With Anxiety. Neck X-ray Done. Aneurysm Or Tumor?

Posted on Wed, 10 Apr 2013

Question: headfor the past year i have been having off and on headachea in the back of my head. they dont really feel like pain but a annoying pressure and tightness. i have seen my dr several times and was diagnosed with anxiety. i went to a chiropractor and they dis a neck xray and said that my neck was out of align due to a car wreck i was in several years prior. they did not adjust but they did do physical therapy. a month ago the headache got bad and i went to the er and spoke with a dr and voiced my anxiety that it might be a tumor or an anureysum that could burst. after a physical examination that showes i had no abnormal vision, speech, movement or any other symproms of an anureysum or tumor he ordered a ct scan. within an hour he confirmed that i dis not have either. with my ct scan being negative should i still be worried? the headache comes and goes still but isnt all that bad. the dr told me that anureysum or tumot would have deffinatley. showed up on a ct scan.. should i still be worried that it xould be an anureysum or is my fear exactly just that....a fear due to anxiety.

Answered by Dr. Mayank Bhargava (1 hour later)

Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to Healthcarecaremagic forum.

Let me know the associated features along with mentioned.
Do you have running nose and tears/ nausea or vomiting/ vertigo or giddiness/ any aggravating or relieving factor for headache?
Is this headache aggravating on exposure to light?
What is the type of headache?
What is your blood pressure?

There are almost 15-20 types of headache have been defined and diagnosis is generally made on the basis of symptoms, You have already undergone a group of test including CT scan.

With the available described symptoms, there appears to be possibility of migraine.
Migraine is the most common type of headache with group of symptoms.
Migraine may be associated with headache, vomiting, vertigo, aggravation with exposure to sun light.
There could also be possibility of persistence of two different types of headache at a time.

You should consult with XXXXXXX medicine specialist/ neurologist and should go for thorough neurological check up.
You should go for complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

You should take Divalproex, flunarizine and propranolol under guidance of your treating doctor.
You should also take sumantriptan and tolfenemic acid for relief of your symptoms.

Hope that helps.
Let me know your other queries.
Take care,
Dr. Mayank Bhargava

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mayank Bhargava (9 hours later)

they have done a cbc and numerous other test such as a thyroid panel.....gallbladder...pancreas...liver...and kidney enzyme counts. my blood.pressure fluxuates by generally is 132/90....the only symptom i seem to have is preassure in lower back of head and neck........when it comes on it really gets my anxiety going. i havr been diahnoses with generalized anxiety disorder anf blood pressure fluxs at times i also havr sleep apnea. im 30...dnt smoke....drink....do drugs.....and am average weigjt and have no history of any intercrannial issues besides migraines in my family. with my ct being clear can my anxiety be at ease.that it is not a unruptured brain anureysum? my doctor states that most anureysums cause no syymptoms until rupture..BUT when they are in danager of rupturing they are bigger and can be seen by a ct scan and that a ct scan is very discriptive and very accurate...is this true?

Answered by Dr. Mayank Bhargava (4 minutes later)

Hi,
You are not definitely suffering from aneurysm as ruptured aneurysm is a very serious and painful condition.
For detection of unruptured aneurysm,you can go for CT/ MRI brain with angiography.
You must go for it.
Best regards,
Dr. Mayank Bhargava

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mayank Bhargava (11 hours later)

my dr said that a normal ct without contrast can show unruptured aneurysm as well....and bc i have no symptoms of one there is no need for furthur testing

Answered by Dr. Mayank Bhargava (37 minutes later)

Hi,
CT alone is useful when aneurysm has been ruptured and blood has come out.
CT/ MRI angiography will be helpful in location and status of unruptured aneurysm.
Take care,
Dr. Mayank Bhargava

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar