Pressure in the head when I sleep - help!
 

So I'm one year out from the original minor concussion. There were a lot of small bumps and re-injuries in the first few months after it, which compounded to make my PCS a persistent problem. I mostly am okay at rest, but can't exert myself too much.

Anyway, I bumped my head with my palm very slightly about 10 days ago, on the top/back soft spot of my head. I was washing my hair too fast and my hand just slipped and my palm lightly smacked the bald spot area of my head. I didn't feel my brain shake and didn't get any headaches or nausea, so it wasn't a big deal. But a few days later I noticed that that section of my head/scalp is extremely tender and sensitive to touch and pressure.

For the last week or two I've had difficulty sleeping. When I lay down with my head on the pillow, no matter what position (right, left, or back), the pressure builds up over time to where my head has a very full feeling. Its almost like pressing down on a bruise or something. I wake up feeling a bit woozy and foggy. There are nights when I'm able to fall asleep and dream and sleep through most of the night, but when I wake up I don't feel refreshed, and its as if I only got a few hours of sleep.

What's the deal? What is happening? Is this dangerous at all?

My theory is that it has to do with too much blood flowing to my head and not exiting properly. I have had problems with elevating my heart rate, I think for the same reason. But up until 2 wks ago when I bumped my head, I slept mostly fine.

Why would this very minor bump to the head make that spot sooo sensitive and tender and like a bruise? Why would more blood flow to my head when I lay down and mild pressure is put on that spot of my head?

My concussion and subsequent re-injuries were very mild and there was no damage whatsoever to the skull. Its like my brain can be injured with the slightest bump, even 5 months later!!!

I've had a similar issue ever since my injury. Feels like I'm hanging upside down when I try to go to sleep and can't get any good sleep, feel unrested and groggy in the morning, sometimes off balance and woozy.

My ear doc tested pressure in my ears and said it's high (I believe this also means my intracranial pressure is high as well), so I was prescribed diuretics to try and reduce the fluid pressure.

Been taking them for a couple of months now and I think they're helping with my overall symptoms, but I still feel about the same when laying down to go to sleep and can't get a good night's sleep.

I think the increased pressure was the reason for my head being super sensitive to any vibration/light bumps, since the diuretics kicked in, I've had a few light bumps on the head and didn't suffer any consequences as I did before. I am now able to drive on rough roads without the fear of setting things off when I hit a pothole. Also my vision issues are way better now, can usually work a full day looking at a computer screen without having to take long breaks and feeling like hell in the evening.

Now the big question for myself is the pressure going to build up again once I stop taking diuretics or it will continue to regulate on its own.

Thanks for sharing. I've been thinking for some time now that something is wrong with my intracranial pressure, its one of my half-cocked theories about why I'm so sensitive to jolting, bumps in the road, harmless taps/bumps to the head, etc. I actually had a VNG Test yesterday with an ENT (ear nose throat) doctor, where they pumped cold and hot air into my ears and had me follow moving dots on a computer screen. I get the results back later this week. Maybe they will find something about my intracranial pressure from this test, maybe not...

Since I've had some issues with my neck I'm also wondering there could be a problem with my CSF, cerebral spinal fluid. That is what creates the fluid in your brain that is supposed to protect the brain against directly knocking against the skull.

Have you ever considered that or heard anything about that being a cause of this?

Yeah my neck was a part of my issues for sure. I saw an Atlas Orthogonal chiro last year for a while, he sorted some things out with my neck and spine. Definitely reduced some of the headaches, but hasn't really helped with other stuff.
But hey, not having constant neck pain/headaches is great.