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What Causes Headaches And Tightness In Left Arm?
Question: Hi,
I have been having the same issues for quite some time and am really driving myself crazy. I have been having headaches since March 2015. I have never been the type to suffer from headaches. In March, I had a headaches that lasted for a few days before my period. It lasted about 3 days. In April, I had a similar headaches that lasted during my period and stayed for a few more days (about 7 days in total). The same thing happened in May, although that headaches lasted for a few weeks...It would come and go, but it was present for at least 20 days that month. Ever since then, I seem to get a recurring headache. I was very excited that I had not experienced the headache at all during the month of July, but instead started experiencing being anxious all the time, along with tightness in my left arm. I visited my doctor in XXXXXXX and he prescribed me with ibuprophen as needed and thought that I likely was experiencing menstrual-related headaches, but the headaches had gone away for a while so I didn't stress about it. I ended up going to the ER for the tightness in my left arm along with shortness of breath and of course I ended up being diagnosed with a panic attack. I had been feeling "normal" for the last few days, but suddenly this headache is back and has not responded to ibuprophen. It is difficult to describe the discomfort. It feels like it starts as a tightness in my neck and just feels full...I have also noticed that if I look up, it almost feels like I have drainage in the back of my throat. I am set to see my doctor for a follow-up again in early August, but am very concerned that maybe this is a tumor or something else sinister. I had an MRI in November that was clear. Do you have any thoughts on what this could be? I thought it was menstrual related, but this month, it has come right in the middle of my cycle. I am very nervous.
I have been having the same issues for quite some time and am really driving myself crazy. I have been having headaches since March 2015. I have never been the type to suffer from headaches. In March, I had a headaches that lasted for a few days before my period. It lasted about 3 days. In April, I had a similar headaches that lasted during my period and stayed for a few more days (about 7 days in total). The same thing happened in May, although that headaches lasted for a few weeks...It would come and go, but it was present for at least 20 days that month. Ever since then, I seem to get a recurring headache. I was very excited that I had not experienced the headache at all during the month of July, but instead started experiencing being anxious all the time, along with tightness in my left arm. I visited my doctor in XXXXXXX and he prescribed me with ibuprophen as needed and thought that I likely was experiencing menstrual-related headaches, but the headaches had gone away for a while so I didn't stress about it. I ended up going to the ER for the tightness in my left arm along with shortness of breath and of course I ended up being diagnosed with a panic attack. I had been feeling "normal" for the last few days, but suddenly this headache is back and has not responded to ibuprophen. It is difficult to describe the discomfort. It feels like it starts as a tightness in my neck and just feels full...I have also noticed that if I look up, it almost feels like I have drainage in the back of my throat. I am set to see my doctor for a follow-up again in early August, but am very concerned that maybe this is a tumor or something else sinister. I had an MRI in November that was clear. Do you have any thoughts on what this could be? I thought it was menstrual related, but this month, it has come right in the middle of my cycle. I am very nervous.
Brief Answer:
Tumor very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
In my opinion, tumor or other serious conditions are very unlikely to cause your symptoms.
This is to say regarding to symptoms, your age and negative MRI.
I think two are most probably conditions that cause your symptoms:
1. Anxiety and stress disorder
2. Cervical spine degenative disease
The situation will be clear after the next medical examination where, according to my opinion, a careful neurologic examination and imaging of cervical spine should be done.
If those two evaluation techniques result negative, your symptoms are caused by anxiety and stress disorder and a Psychologist evaluation needed as well.
Hope I helped you. I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Best regards.
Tumor very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
In my opinion, tumor or other serious conditions are very unlikely to cause your symptoms.
This is to say regarding to symptoms, your age and negative MRI.
I think two are most probably conditions that cause your symptoms:
1. Anxiety and stress disorder
2. Cervical spine degenative disease
The situation will be clear after the next medical examination where, according to my opinion, a careful neurologic examination and imaging of cervical spine should be done.
If those two evaluation techniques result negative, your symptoms are caused by anxiety and stress disorder and a Psychologist evaluation needed as well.
Hope I helped you. I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
MRI 7 months before is reassuring.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Almost all tumors and especially those found in young people need at least a couple of years minimally to cause symptoms, so with 7 months MRI you could be shure enough that you don't have any tumors.
Fluid draining in your throat most probably originates from sinuses and could be related to headaches if you suffer from sinusitis.
Hope I helped you. Take care.
MRI 7 months before is reassuring.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Almost all tumors and especially those found in young people need at least a couple of years minimally to cause symptoms, so with 7 months MRI you could be shure enough that you don't have any tumors.
Fluid draining in your throat most probably originates from sinuses and could be related to headaches if you suffer from sinusitis.
Hope I helped you. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Thanks for the opinion. It helps me feel a little better.
One more question, do you think it could be a bleeding Aneurysm? I want to wait for my follow up appointment, but I am wondering if I should go in earlier...
One more question, do you think it could be a bleeding Aneurysm? I want to wait for my follow up appointment, but I am wondering if I should go in earlier...
Brief Answer:
Aneurysm is not your case too.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Bleeding from an aneurysm is not your case too, because if there was an aneurysm, it should have been discovered by MRI ( even small and unruptured aneurysms are showed by MRI) and your symptoms doesn't fit with those of subarachnoidal hemorrhage.
In my opinion, there is no need for rush, however this depends on you and your concerns.
Best regards.
Aneurysm is not your case too.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Bleeding from an aneurysm is not your case too, because if there was an aneurysm, it should have been discovered by MRI ( even small and unruptured aneurysms are showed by MRI) and your symptoms doesn't fit with those of subarachnoidal hemorrhage.
In my opinion, there is no need for rush, however this depends on you and your concerns.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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