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Would a surgical puncture to the skull relieve a pressure headache?

So obviously I know that this isn’t the solution, but would a hole in the head equalize the pressure and relieve pain? Or are pressure headaches within the bloodstream or something internal?

Really wish I had a tire valve on the back of my neck to balance out.

over_clox ,

Disclaimer: Not a doctor.

With that said, my late father had a friend that had extreme cranial pressure on his brain, causing constant extreme migraines.

I was told that he’s literally the $6 million dollar man, because they had to install a shunt valve in his skull to relieve excess pressure on his brain.

So I guess even though the brain doesn’t inherently sense pain directly, I guess that excess pressure is still somehow sensed in the form of migraines.

Again, not a doctor, but thanks for coming to my brief Ted Talk.

lurch ,

you should know the brain itself doesn’t have nociceptors (pain receptors). i’m not a doctor, but i conclude that any headache does not origin from inside the skull, except if neuroligical pathways that interpret pain signals are not working properly. It may feel like the headache comes from inside, but it’s actually coming from outside or the skull itself. thus a hole would only make it worse.

3ntranced OP ,

I know the brain doesn’t have nociceptors, but the surrounding cavity surely does, so theoretically wouldn’t a positive pressure change put strain on those receptors?

bionicjoey ,

You should look up trepanning. It is the earliest form of surgery we have archaeological evidence for (like back in caveman times). Basically, intracranial pressure would be relieved by drilling small holes into the skull using flint. Something like 5% of all skulls archaeologists find have evidence of trepanning, and it’s clearly deliberate, not a war wound.

3ntranced OP ,

That’s where I originally got the idea years back. I’m like “cavemen seemed to manage DIY brain surgery pretty well, can’t be that hard”

Then again, the ancient patients could have “survived” but suffer extensive brain damage, we don’t really know.

new_guy ,

I think you might be interested on this Wikipedia article: Trepanning

3ntranced OP ,

I think a video essay on this was what originally put the thought in my head years ago

AbouBenAdhem ,

Only if the headache is caused by a hematoma (which would need a brain scan to diagnose).

NeoNachtwaechter ,

I think they have tried it out around the year 1800.

And skulls are built the same way nowadays :)

ravhall ,

I hear they have more microplastics these days

actionjbone ,

Short answer, probably not. Anatomy is complex, and the source of the pressure may or may not be at the single point where you most feel it. Even if it is a single point, you wouldn’t be dealing with what caused the pressure, and the body would seal the wound as quickly as it can.

themeatbridge ,

Do not put a hole in your skull. No. The headache is not caused by cranial pressure.

Your sinuses may be inflamed, and relieving that pressure might provide temporary relief (like pressing on your forehead) but a hole in your skull wouldn’t fix the underlying sinus problem, and would likely result in worse infections and irritation.

3ntranced OP ,

Oh dont worry, this is all purely speculative.

The pain is almost always centered right behind and above the eyeballs. Even when first waking up or not actively straining eyes, usually accompanied by barometric shift.

It’s not like ocular migraines because it doesn’t give any visual flashing or anything like you’d associate with usually.

It’s likely my sleeping, switched to shkikifuton & tatami to try and counteract backpain from soft matresses, but my neck seems to suffer instead.

linearchaos ,
@linearchaos@lemmy.world avatar

And even then you should only let your doctors 16-year-old daughter drill the hole…

/s

3ntranced OP ,

Too soon lol

some_guy ,

Don’t listen to this person. Drill a hole in your head. The documentary, Pi, showed that this works.

algorithmae ,

Even if it did, it would extrude your brain out like a can of pillsbury biscuits

3ntranced OP ,

I know there’s pressure a pressure difference but it’s not delta p

n3m37h ,

Find yourself some psylocybin mushrooms, give long term headache releif

ravhall ,

A lot of people don’t know mushrooms are a great pain reliever. Even half a gram

3ntranced OP ,

Just moved to TX so gotta learn the local flora and fungi.

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