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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Any doctors/nurses/hcp? or anyone? please can you help me!

14 replies

switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 18:54

apologies- I actually made a post already but my OP was so long-winded and I didnt get much traffic, so i'm trying again as i'm desperate for answers.

Could a misshapen skull cause severe headaches?

I've suffered from severe headaches which started suddenly in puberty (20 years ago). I used to vomit with the pain as a child. Dr at the time said it was hormonal and didnt need any investigations. It never improved but given how long I've had it, its clearly nothing serious albeit unpleasant.

But is it possible my misshapen skull is somehow causing it? I have a big deep line/groove down my skull, as if its been down the middle! It is 1.5-2cm inwards deep. The rest of my skull is curves like normal and then it suddenly drops down into the groove. A hairdresser recently felt it and commented that she had never felt something as pronounced as that. It runs along my sagittal suture and I assumed the suture closed incorrectly or at the wrong time and left me with the groove. I'm in my 30s and assumed everyone had it tbh but nobody else in my family or friend circle does.

but it made me wonder is it possible this could be causing the headaches all along? I suppose my concern is that there's less space in my head because the groove is inwards and as I started puberty and grew, the space got tighter. Is it possible something is rubbing or being squeezed and that's what started the headaches? Or is it just a coincidence and not likely to cause it?

I tried googling it but could only find information about craniosynostosis and nothing about this problem in adulthood. Any expertise or knowledge would be very gratefully appreciated.

TIA lovely mumsnetters!XX

OP posts:
Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:57

It's not something I've encountered clinically, but if the groove is objectively present (other people can feel it) and you're still suffering from headaches it may be worth making a routine appointment to discuss it.

I'd personally want to know. Although your headaches are most likely just migraines (vomiting points that way) or tension headaches.

Perpendicular3562 · 17/02/2023 19:03

pretty left field but could it be en coup de sabre morphoea? I would go see your GP asking this question. It’s rare so imagine they might need to do some research but I think I would b asking in your position. Can cause headaches. dermnetnz.org/topics/morphoea-en-coup-de-sabre

Original poster
switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 19:03

Twentywisteria · 17/02/2023 18:57

It's not something I've encountered clinically, but if the groove is objectively present (other people can feel it) and you're still suffering from headaches it may be worth making a routine appointment to discuss it.

I'd personally want to know. Although your headaches are most likely just migraines (vomiting points that way) or tension headaches.

I think you're correct- I think its migraine which is unpleasant but a lot better than some other sinister headache causes so it could be worse.

I'm not usually the type to worry about these things, but after the hairdresser commented I suppose it made me wonder. Although its easy to put 2 and 2 together and make 6 and its possible its just a coincidence!

Its definitely felt by others- its not visible as I have thick black hair but when I got my family and friends to feel it their reaction was eww😳they could definitely feel it and didnt have similar.

OP posts:
Original poster
switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 19:06

I've had it for as long as I can remember but nobody knows with certainty if I had it as a baby. Unfortunately I had a fairly violent parent as an infant and whilst I was never hurt as a baby as far as we know, we dont know for certain what went on and I was definitely dropped a fair bit. Although its exactly down my sagittal suture so im sure its more likely to be a suture-thing rather than an injury IYSWIM.

OP posts:
Original poster
switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 19:23

Perpendicular3562 · 17/02/2023 19:03

pretty left field but could it be en coup de sabre morphoea? I would go see your GP asking this question. It’s rare so imagine they might need to do some research but I think I would b asking in your position. Can cause headaches. dermnetnz.org/topics/morphoea-en-coup-de-sabre

I've honestly never heard of that before- I'll take a look!

OP posts:
abcde124 · 17/02/2023 19:28

I would book a doctors appointment, or look into a specialist appointment just to speak to someone about it Smile

Original poster
switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 19:38

abcde124 · 17/02/2023 19:28

I would book a doctors appointment, or look into a specialist appointment just to speak to someone about it Smile

thank you- yes I think I will. I was just a bit worried about seeming like a timewaster for booking a GP appointment for my skull when its something I've had since childhood! (30+ years ago)

OP posts:
abcde124 · 17/02/2023 19:41

Tbh, it should've been picked up on earlier, especially if you've been to the doctors for the bad headaches.
The fact that it hasn't been picked up on either makes me think that there was nothing to be picked up on at the time you went, or this is a new thing you've developed/ or it has become more prominent?
You wouldn't be wasting anyone's time, and anything to put your mind at rest!

Original poster
switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 19:48

abcde124 · 17/02/2023 19:41

Tbh, it should've been picked up on earlier, especially if you've been to the doctors for the bad headaches.
The fact that it hasn't been picked up on either makes me think that there was nothing to be picked up on at the time you went, or this is a new thing you've developed/ or it has become more prominent?
You wouldn't be wasting anyone's time, and anything to put your mind at rest!

to be fair to my DR I think the reason it wasn't picked up on was because I never pointed it out to them- I honestly believed everyone had it! I didnt realise other people's skulls were rounded and didnt have a big groove down it lol. Its not visible because my hair is very thick and black but when you feel it its definitely prominent. You can feel my skull going round like normal then it suddenly drops down into the dip. I definitely remember having it as a child but I dont know for sure if I had it as an infant.

The only thing I can find on google about something like this is sagittal craniosynostosis but obviously as an adult it dont think it can be that, I know the sutures fuse but if mine is indented I assume it means maybe the sutures closed too early, I can't quite understand the biology behind it unfortunately!

OP posts:
MeinKraft · 17/02/2023 19:53

Craniosyntosis? It's pretty much always diagnosed in babies though I think?

Original poster
switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 20:07

MeinKraft · 17/02/2023 19:53

Craniosyntosis? It's pretty much always diagnosed in babies though I think?

That’s all I can find when I Google it but yes apparently it’s diagnosed in babies rather than adults! I can’t find anything about if it’s normal or not

OP posts:
Original poster
switchitup567 · 17/02/2023 21:04

I’ve googled it some more and apparently craniosyntosis is not possible in adults so I presume it can’t be that. Looks like its possible it’s normal- does anyone else have the groove im talking about on their skull?

OP posts:
Original poster
switchitup567 · 18/02/2023 18:05

Apologies, giving this a bump in case anyone else knows about this

OP posts:
makeupwarrior · 18/02/2023 20:33

I’m sorry I can’t help with this but will give your post another lift to catch other posters attention who might be able to help. Good luck 🤞

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