Strange sensations in your head since the COVID-19 pandemic: Should You Be Concerned?

The COVID-19 pandemic created a panic among many of us. Of course, nobody is absolutely safe from contracting the virus. Although we often associate the disease with symptoms affecting the lungs, another symptom is reportedly headaches. This is why now more than ever, it’s understandable to be concerned if your head has suddenly started to experience ‘strange’ feelings and pain.

In this blog post, your specialist for pain management in Aventura shares the possible causes of the pain in your head. More importantly, we’ll discuss whether your symptoms should be a cause for concern.

What Are the Most Common Odd Head Sensations?

When we talk about strange sensations in the head, each of us might refer to different experiences. Often, people describe the sensation as ‘strange’ because it’s not exactly painful or comparable to the typical types of headaches that most of us are familiar with. 

Among the weird head sensations might experience include:

• Head pressure as though you’re underwater
• Feeling like your head is in a clamp
• Your head feels heavy
• There’s a tingling, pins-and-needles sensation
• Wave sensation
• Feeling like your head is full of cotton wool
• Your head feels “spacey” or “puffy”

If you feel any of these or anything similar, know that you are not alone. Many people also complain and wonder about these strange sensations. Now, what could they mean and when is it time for you to be alarmed? 

Because we are surrounded by COVID-19 24/7 in the media, it is natural to think that your symptoms may be related to that. However, before jumping to conclusions, you should first consider that your symptoms may in fact be the result of other unrelated conditions, which we will now outline below:

Pressure-Related Head Sensations and Pains

Many patients who seek our pain management doctors and complain about headaches report that their symptoms include feelings of head pressure and tightness. The severity and duration of these sensations vary from one person to another. Furthermore, some patients feel pressure all over their head while to others, it is restricted to certain parts such as the temples, forehead, or either side of the head.

The causes of head pressure can vary based on where it is felt:

• Entire head - Tension headache, head injury, or concussion
• Either side of the head - Migraine, a dental problem, or ear problem
• Forehead - Tension headache or sinus headache
• Top of head - Tension headache
• Neck or back of the head - Tension headache, a dental problem, head injury, or concussion
• Eyes or eyebrows - Sinus headache
• Cheeks or jaw - Tension headache, sinus headache, or a dental problem
• Temples or ears - Tension headache, sinus headache, a dental problem, or ear problem

What are the Most Common Causes of Pressure in the Head?

Head pressure has various potential causes, but the most common stem from tension and sinus headaches.

• Tension headaches - Pain resulting from tension headaches is often mild to moderate. This type of headache gives you a feeling that an invisible band is squeezing your head in. It is also the most common type of headache, affecting over 40 percent of people worldwide. It is related to stress, poor posture, anxiety, and fatigue.
• Sinus headaches - If you feel pressure in your jaw, nose, ears, cheeks, and forehead, it’s highly likely that you have a sinus headache. This is caused by inflamed sinuses due to colds, allergies, and sinusitis (sinus infection). It is often accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the condition causing it. For instance, you may also have a fever if it is caused by the flu.
• Ear problems - If you experience dull yet constant pressure in your ears, temples, jaws, or either side of the head, you might have an ear problem. This can be as simple as earwax blockages or as serious as a ruptured eardrum.
• Migraines - These are among the most common reasons why patients come in for pain management in South Florida because they tend to recur. Migraines also bring with them a host of other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Migraine headaches can also be so severe to the point of being disabling. Unfortunately, the exact cause of migraines is not yet full understood.
• Head injuries or concussion - Did you recently get into a situation or accident that made your head bounce, shake, or twist? If so, it’s possible that your headache is due to head trauma or a concussion. It’s crucial that you get immediate attention if you think you might have a head injury caused by a sudden impact or whiplash. If you were involved in a car accident, for instance, it is recommended you visit an auto injury clinic as soon as possible.

Other Conditions to Watch Out For

The conditions listed above are among the most common causes of pressure in the head, but there are also other problems to look out for. These include:

• Hunger and dehydration
• Fatigue
• Medication side effects
• Muscle strain in the neck
• Infections
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Stroke or ministroke
• Brain aneurysm
• Brain tumor

Indeed, some of these are serious conditions, but there’s no need to panic. The first thing you should do is consult the right specialist. They will evaluate your symptoms and order tests before giving a diagnosis and recommending treatment.

Head related pain? Get Reliable Pain Management at Pain Care Specialists of Florida

If you are experiencing strange sensations in your head and you’re unsure where they’re coming from, it’s best that you see a pain management doctor. Our pain care specialists in Florida, Dr. Luis Escobar & Dr. Lucien Alexandre, have the qualifications and years of experience required in expert pain management. Providing professional interventional pain management at 3 convenient locations 

• Pain management in Aventura, 
• Pain management in Pembroke Pines, 
• Pain management in Hollywood,

Our pain specialists will work hard at determining and treating the source of your symptoms and pain. 

Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule a consultation with our doctor at any of our three locations. 

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.