Head Pain when coughing or bending down???

Hope someone can provide some advice! about a month ago I started getting what felt like Tension-Type Headaches and this was also what my doctor called them. A dull throbbing pain in the back of the head (both side) towards the forehead over one eye. I could buy this because I have a very stressful job that keeps me in front of a computer for 8-9 hours a day not to mention a bad diet and lack of time for exercise. I also have a very busy 3 year old:) He told me to take over the counter Tylenol and asked if I would like to try some Lexapro for the stress which I decided against. The one other symptom that developed is that I have a slight to moderate pain in my forehead to top of my head when I bend down, cough or move very quickly like jumping up and down.

Several days after my visit I woke up with a throbbing headache in the corner of my left eye and pain in my forehead. I went to an urgent care on a Saturday and the doctor said I had the classic symptoms of a sinus infection although I had no fever and only a little clear congestion. She gave me Levaquin (which I was very disappointed after investigating this antibiotic) and told me to take over the counter sinus relievers. After 5 days of the antibiotic I started to get some energy back because before I was very fatigued.

So enough rambling, could this be a sinus thing still after 6 days of antibiotics? The headaches still occur when I bend over, cough or jump up and down. The pain is in my forehead to top of the head and sometimes in the back. It's never really bad but just unnerving since I have never had headaches. I do feel a bit unbalanced every now and then but it's usually if I bend my head down or lay on my back.

Any ideas???

It could be a variety of things.  But I did learn something recently about a little-known condition recently called "Arnold Chiari malformation."

Absolutely a sinus thing! ALl your symptoms are much like mine and mine were all related to a sinus problem. Anytime you bend over and feel a headache or pressure or crackling ears it can be a sinus infection. Z-paks work best for sinus infections as does ibuprofen, keeps the swelling down. Have you had a cat sacn? This can show if you have a blocked sinus (which sound slike the case). I had mine unblocked (minor surgery) and it has helped immensely. I do still get an occasional sinus infection but nothing like I was getting.

When you first feel that one symptom of bending down or feeling any pressure at all, start drinking water (NOT sugary drinks or dehydrating drinks like coffee), start taking ibuprofen 600 mgs every 4 hours and see if you can beat it on your own. Get yourself a humidifier if you live in a dry area (I swear you will be so glad you did), and if you can't beat it yourself find a doctor who won't mind calling in a z-pak prescription now and again for you.

SOme sinus infections are sneaky and you have them for a while before you realize you actuallyl have them, they sneak up on you. You have to pay attention to your body, it will give you the telltale sign, the bending over problem, the crackling ear problem or the pain behind the eye. Then start your "program" and beat it!

I had a sharp pain when ever I coughed ,bent down or tried to clear my throat this became unbearable ,I had eye tests,ear ,nose,blood pressure and a MRI scan.Doctors appointments
were a weekly thing together with long trips to 3 different hospitals.Untill I believe I found the answer My central heating and gas fire gets checked every year so when I complained about the smell of gas last year, the gas engineer said every thing was fine.Today I had this years annual servicing and he found that right at the back of the fire GAS was pouring out ,this happened if the fire was on or off. Last years engineer had missed it. Carbon-monoxide poisoning!!!!!If this helps anyone else it will be worth the hassel of registoring

Hi, you need to talk to your neurologist if the sinus thing doesn't clear up or make headache go away. They need to order an mri/mra of your brain and that may show the arnold chairi, ask if an mri of neck is needed with and/or without contrast. If no arnold chairi...ask for an lumbar puncture-you'll have to fight to get it - I have and I'm a nurse. But I was right...it's a spontaneous spinal fluid leak-it causes your symptoms as well.it happens very rarely and hard to get proper diagnosis-i'm glad I pushed, I got a blood patch and felt wonderful for a whole day!! I was me!! (Blood patch came loose, sometimes we require 2 or 3 blood patches....but it worked!!!!) I hope yours is not, but if the above choices aren't proven first, please be sure to check it out, well worth getting your life back for it!!! Prayers being sent your way! Amy

I agree with poster Batman55. I have Arnold Chiari Malformation, diagnosed three years ago. The degree of symptoms and discomfort varies in people. Average age of diagnosis is 33 - 37 years old unless you have recently had a car accident or other trauma. An MRI instantly diagnoses this. wwwconquerchiari.org is a great resource.

Please let us know how it works out for you.

There is another site, ASAP.ORG, which can refer you to a specialist in your state in case you have suspicions. Neurologists don't always know where to send you but CM is always detected in MRI.