Headache and Migraines Forum - head aches and dizzyness

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Q: head aches and dizzyness

asked by: mikest on April 5th, 2008

New User

hi everyone, im new to this and the internet in general so sorry if I'm asking things others already have. first of all I've had a few injuries over the last few years, a couple of years ago i slipped on the stairs and cracked my forehead on them which resulted in me having around 20 stitches, and then last year i cut my head in a similar place in a stupid accident laying down too quickly and catching the temple area on the right side of my head on a bed side table.

for a few months maybe up to a year I have been getting a lot of head aches on this (the right side) of my head, I'm really worried but I keep putting off going to a doctor, i know this is stupid but it really frightens me. they are like deep dull pains and often make me feel dizzy. Im never sick as a result of them but feel like I cant concentrate fully for long periods.

I'm sure I suffer from depression and this is probably the first time I've admitted that to anyone including myself and feel like its totally ruining my life at the minute and for the last few years, I dont know if the head aches are due to stress or something more serious and thats what I'm scared of. Do I have any tell tale symptoms of tumors etc? or do I sound like I have symptoms of tension stress headaches? I feel like I worry about worrying these days and this is the first step of trying to turn my life around and it actually feels good just writing it down on this screen.

My girlfriend said that my gp could tell if I had something wrong with my brain by looking into my eyes with a light but I find this hard to believe? Could the injuries Ive had be still causing headaches? I know I had dissolvable stitches under the skin but 2 years later Im presuming they have gone, and at the time I had x-rays of my head and there was nothing to report, Im also sure I had a brain scan.

If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated, I know people will say go to the doctors and I will be doing that when I get home from work (I work away on an offshore platform and sure this adds to my depression) but any advice on the stress/depression?

sorry this was a bit long, look forward to hearing from anyone who takes the time to reply.

Mike.

Replies(4)

MandMs

replied on April 23rd, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Hello, Mike!

Welcome to our community!
I hope you'll find ehealthforum's posts helpful.
I'm glad you have found strength to admitted things to yourself and shared with us. Talking, usually, is the first step to solve the problem.

When was your last traumatic head injury?
Are you experiencing hearing loss or ear ringing?
Have you noticed that you are sensitive to light and sound?
Do you find yourself with changed personality after the head injury (depressed, anxious, irritable)?

mikest

replied on June 18th, 2008

New User

Hi MandMs, thanks for your reply sorry its took me so long to read it! Reading what I wrote a couple of months ago has made me think. I was very down then and I feel I'm doing my best to overcome my depression. My last traumatic head injury (where i cut my forehead open on the metal stairs) was about 2 and a half years ago, then i cut my forehead on a table which wasnt as serious around 10 months ago. my headaches havent been there as much the last couple of months and I think maybe its down to coming to terms a bit to life in general.

My personality has changed since the injuries definately, im trying to beat my depression but its tough. I find it hard to become motivated to do anything that I once did like training in the gym, running, playing sport. I am also looking into changing job as the one I'm in involves alot of working away and is getting me down.

Thanks once again for the reply, just writing things on here helps.

MandMs

replied on June 30th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Hi, mikest!

There are some clinical reports that a mild traumatic brain injury can trigger depressive episode in a vulnerable subset of the population, and that the symptoms of depression can linger for many years following the injury.
Although, you had imaging tests commonly used following head injury, there are chances for undetected nerve problems from the injury and this may still cause chronic headaches and pain.
Headaches may sometimes persist for many months or years after head injury.
The headache can be mild, moderate or severe, and, does not necessarily appears immediately after the injury.
So, the conclusion is that, headaches and depression can follow a head injury.
But, isolated case of clinical depression, also, has headache as a symptom.
In both cases, antidepressants can be helpful.

Have you been taking some painkillers for the headaches?
Do you find it helpful?

CJMcTrez

replied on August 4th, 2008

New User

Head Worries

Hi all
Well, where to start, over the past 20 years I have recieved multiple head traumers, several knocks and hits to the head.

I have suffered headaches and migraines all my life possibly due to these incidents, I have been to the doctor and he shined a light in my eyes and said he couldnt see anything, and that I should just take pain killers when needed, this really annoyed me cause it seemed all I was doing was taking paracetamol or cocodamal everyday. After a while things took a turn for the worse and I stareted having blackouts, I would get crushing headaches and then get so dissorientated that I would fall to the floor unable to speak or move, I was concious but not there..if you know what i mean?

The doctors gave me strong pain killers, but they dont help, I recently had another black out and was taken to A&E, they did many tests and after I begged a little they have referred me for a scan. I feel hazy alot of the time at the moment, and a little queasy, I also feel a tenderness like a big bruise across the back of my head, and strangely I get hot spots appearing on either side of my head, which the doctor is unsure about.

I am very worried at the moment, but I know there is no point in worrying until I have had the scan, but it would be nice to know if anyone out there is going through the same conditions as me?

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