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Why Am I Having Painful Pressure Headaches After Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery For Parkinson's Disease?
Question: I am a 58 yr old, 180 lb male. I have lost 52 pounds since the DBS surgery. I had DBS surgery Feb. of 2017 for Parkinsons. Ever since I am experiencing painful pressure headaches on the "back" of my head. It feels like a weight on the top of my head. A CT showed the surgery was "successful" and it has helped with my Parkinsons, but the pressure persist. When I lay down the headache pressure goes away. I am also in pain management for 3 back surgeries, L3,4,5, S1 fusions (most recent one was 7 years ago)There is the question whether the pain meds was causing it. I am on hydrocodone w/ Tylenol 10-325, up to 6 per day, 7 years. My FP doctor is scheduling me for another CT scan this time the back of my head upper neck. there are times that part of my head/neck will at random almost "crackle" if I turn my head abruptly, like when driving. It does not cause or affect the pressure.
Brief Answer:
Can be due to cervical spondylosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The headache and pressure at the back of the head that you are feeling can be due to spondylottic changes in the cervical spine.
The crackling noise in the neck is the gliding of joints as you turn your neck. If your joint has been injured or becomes inflamed, the surface may thicken, creating a rubbing sound as you move. A courser noise may indicate more advanced changes in the surfaces of one or more joints. Such changes can be caused by osteoarthritis (OA) or spondylosis changes.
A physical therapy program to help with your posture and muscle balance can improve movement in your neck and may help stop the noise.
I hope this answers your query.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
Dr. Praveen Tayal, Orthopaedic Surgeon
Can be due to cervical spondylosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The headache and pressure at the back of the head that you are feeling can be due to spondylottic changes in the cervical spine.
The crackling noise in the neck is the gliding of joints as you turn your neck. If your joint has been injured or becomes inflamed, the surface may thicken, creating a rubbing sound as you move. A courser noise may indicate more advanced changes in the surfaces of one or more joints. Such changes can be caused by osteoarthritis (OA) or spondylosis changes.
A physical therapy program to help with your posture and muscle balance can improve movement in your neck and may help stop the noise.
I hope this answers your query.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
Dr. Praveen Tayal, Orthopaedic Surgeon
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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