Pulsating Feeling in Head When Lying Down?
 

It started sometime over the past 2-3 weeks, but I've noticed that my head has started to shake/pulsate a little (in rhythm with my heartbeat). It's most noticeable when I'm lying down to sleep or resting my head against something. When lying down, it feels like a generic pattern where my head will move in tune with my heart beat three times and then vibrate slightly on one side. To get a degree of the force of the movement; I can feel my head shaking slightly when lying down, but it is very hard for someone else to notice it unless I get my heart rate up and then lie down for observation. Randomly, I also noticed today that I could see my heart beat pulsating in the skin area by my ankle bone (when lying down).

I do not believe this is a "true" PCS symptom, but I believe it is somehow related and I've noticed that this physical movement is pretty constant (albeit not really noticeable unless lying down). Additionally, I believe it is making my vertigo worst as my head is actually moving slightly due to the added pulsating pressure, which in turn gives my head the sensation that it is moving (slightly) in circles.

I was wondering if anyone else has had any experiences with this physical, pulsating sensation / vibration in the head. I'm not really sure what can be causing this. I recently had an ENT visit, which included an ENG and audiological exam (both of which came back normal, indicating a "central" vestibular issue). Additionally, I had a CTA of my head and neck and the MDs said that they both looked normal, and that there was no abnormal artery impairment/blood flow issues (in those areas of my body at least).

I'm pretty confused as to what could be causing this "new" symptom, as I haven't changed my diet (eat very clean), I have been avoiding a lot of overstimulating activities I had previously been engaging in (TV, computer time, etc.), and have actually decreased my workout intensity/times I go per week. Also, I don't believe it's stress related, as for the most part, the severity of most of my symptoms have gotten much better and overall I feel better. This pulsating in my head, vertigo, and general off-balance symptoms, however, have not really improved much.

Apologies for the scrambled post, but any similar experiences, knowledge, or advice would be appreciated.

Sometimes, there is a new symptom that is not really new. It just becomes a focus of attention and once the brain 'keys' on it, it becomes an almost overwhelming sensation. I am not saying this IS your case but it is a possibility. The concussed brain can get obsessed with a simple sensation because it has lost the ability to ignore or disregard that simple sensation.

Do you also notice a "whooshing" sound at those times?
Are your neck muscles tight or in spasm?
If so, you can get PT for the tight muscles , that may resolve the worst of it..

During my acute RSI/TOS injury stages I had spasms in my scalenes and SCM,
those made the neck muscles tighten down on my arteries , so much so that I could hear in my head , a whooshing pulse sound.
Found out later it is called bruit, my chiro told me about it, none of the MDs I described it to gave any indication of what it might be..:(

This *might* be a symptom of increased intracranial pressure.

http://www.ihrfoundation.org/intracr...nsion/info/C18

Thanks for all of the replies. At the recommendation of my ENT, I decided later this week to see my primary physician about getting scheduled for routine blood work/urinalysis to rule out anything other underlining issues that might be going on.

During the routine checkup phase, however, they took my blood pressure (BP) and noted that it was extremely high; I didn't think anything of it, because I generally feel uncomfortable when I'm sitting in a DR's office, but I had gotten my BP taken two times earlier in the last week when I originally went to the ENT for the first and for the CTA review. Both times, my blood pressure was high as well.

I should hear back in a couple of days on the results, but does anyone have any knowledge of having really high blood pressure occur a few MONTHS AFTER a concussion? I'm assuming the head bumping experience I have been encountering over the past couple of weeks is a direct result of the increased BP, but could this be inter cranial hypertension? My headaches have been much better / almost non existent (except certain instances) as well.

Pretty confused as to what could be causing this, because as I mentioned earlier, I have been, if anything, less stressed over the past couple of weeks, eat very healthy, been getting enough sleep, doing all the right things to relax/heal, etc.

Any insight / knowledge on high BP post concussion, would be much appreciated!

I had an increase of intracranial pressure caused by the auto accident/concussion and it made me have weird tinnitus and high blood pressure and other symptoms like severe headaches. They administered a spinal tap and it completely went away, no problem. If that's what you have, they'll figure it out and give you the right treatment. If you don't have headaches, or other debilitating symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Oh, it took them 6 months to figure out that's what I had before it was treated.... Crazy, right? :rolleyes:

Thanks EsthersDoll - what kind of tests did they administer to determine the intercranial pressure? Or did they just administer the spinal tap and say that bc they reduced the excess spinal fluid and subsequently felt much better that you had increased pressure? My headaches have gotten much better, but when I exercise (I know this increases pressure a lot) I get slight pressure sensations sometimes and my eyes get mildly bloodshot/watery (one eye in particular).

Additionally, I have this physical issue that no one I've seen has been able to diagnose (it was discovered during my vestibular therapy exercises) that has been annoying / I believe primarily responsible for a lot of the pressure (believe a nerve or something might be pressing up against my optic nerve) I have been experiencing.

I will try to describe the sensation, but when I have my head tilted downward (in a chin tuck position) and hold my hand out in front of me, I can hear a flushing sound in only one ear when I move my hand downward (leaving my head still) and follow it with only my eyes. The sound/feeling intensifies the faster I move my hand/eye movement, and the sound in the ear basically sounds like the same flushing sound you experience in your ears when you open your mouth wide and move your jaw around.

I know this is a quirky sensation, but it's pretty annoying that no one has been able to give me any answer on what's causing this and I believe if I could figure out what's physically causing this, it could alleviate some of the pressure sensations.

The spinal tap IS the test. They use a spinal tap in order to measure the pressure. The one I was given was administered incorrectly. The very severe pain I had that was increasing over six months time completely went away within about 5 minutes after the spinal tap.

The fact that you brought up the optic nerve is especially interesting to me because on one of the many trips I had to take to the ER during this tortuous 6 month time period, I was specifically experiencing severe pain behind one of my eyes and when I told my neuro about it, that's what made her want to order the spinal tap to measure the pressure.

Tell your neuro all these symptoms you are experiencing. Ask them straight up whether a spinal tap would be worth while for you.

Of course, I'm not a medical professional and it could be lots and lots of things (maybe) so just make sure you tell your neuro all this stuff to help them figure it out.

Long shot 5 years later, but did you ever figure out what was going on? I have almost the exact same symptoms ...

Esthers Doll has not posted in a long time. She did finally see some improvement but I forget what she attributed her improvement to.