bad dysreflexia headache

[BigDave]

I have been a c-5 quad for 21 years and have always experienced mild dysreflexia when I have a full bladder. I had a very full bladder 2 1/2 weeks ago and got a very painful headache. It took a day or so to feel better. But I still today can feel a dull ache in that side of my head when I lie down or when my legs spasm hard. Is it bad that I can still feel this after 2 1/2 weeks?

[Riaan]

I havent had any problems with my head when my bladder is full but thursday night also a first and it pained like hell the last 3 mornings my nurse would empty my bladder and then only the headache comes.it only stops after an hour about and taking pain tablets.Sci nurse please help

[SCI-Nurse]

HI,

In my experience, the symptoms of AD do not last 2.5 weeks. If you are having a headache and it is associated with AD, you should see a significant rise in your blood pressure at the time. If you do, I would suggest you look for things that could be causing AD at that time such as bladder or bowel issues, restrictive clothing, etc.

You may want to review AD principles by doing a search on this site.

AAD

[Liz321]

I have been a c-5 quad for 21 years and have always experienced mild dysreflexia when I have a full bladder. I had a very full bladder 2 1/2 weeks ago and got a very painful headache. It took a day or so to feel better. But I still today can feel a dull ache in that side of my head when I lie down or when my legs spasm hard. Is it bad that I can still feel this after 2 1/2 weeks?

When I had bad AD episodes even the tiniest of movement that "streched" my bladder (i.e. transferring) I'd get a ZINGER of a quick head pain and it subsided. So, IMHO you could still have AD like effects for a bit.

[BigDave]

I have a theory. Is it possible that these intense AD headaches cause swelling in the brain and that it can take a while for the swelling to subside, explaining why, days later, the slightest "trigger" or burst of blood to the brain can cause discomfort in that same initial headache area?

[TheDuder]

I have a theory. Is it possible that these intense AD headaches cause swelling in the brain and that it can take a while for the swelling to subside, explaining why, days later, the slightest "trigger" or burst of blood to the brain can cause discomfort in that same initial headache area?

Until about 6-8 months ago when a doctor gave me Vesicare to try, i got bad stretches of AD quite often and real bad ones left me with massive headaches to where i could feel my heartbeat in my brain. It hurt big time. Then sometimes for a few days later, even very minor bouts of AD would trigger back those headaches.

[keps]

I have a theory. Is it possible that these intense AD headaches cause swelling in the brain and that it can take a while for the swelling to subside, explaining why, days later, the slightest "trigger" or burst of blood to the brain can cause discomfort in that same initial headache area?

I've always thought that my head is somehow more sensitive after an attack of AD.
The first two attacks I ever had were my biggest ( 196/100 or something). Even after I had got rid of the stimulus, my head hurt for 2 or 3 weeks afterwards (not the head-exploding AD headache, it was just a really bad headache that hurt more with bending and lying down).

I quite often get a headache with my bowel program. After finishing, the headache will soon go...but then later, when I bend down or get into bed, my head will throb again.