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Are Brain Aneurysms Painful?

A brain aneurysm, or cerebral aneurysm, is a potentially dangerous ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain. Although most individuals do not know they have aneurysms until they burst, others experience pain and other symptoms while their aneurysms are intact.

  1. Pain Without Rupture

    • Individuals with an intact brain aneurysm may experience aneurysm-related pain either as a localized headache or as pain both above and behind an eye. Additional signs may include double vision, dilated pupils and palsy (paralysis) of the cranial nerve.

    Pain Prior to a Rupture

    • Just prior to a rupture, roughly 40 percent of individuals with aneurysms experience symptoms that may include a localized headache, as well as blurred vision, light sensitivity, vomiting, stiff neck and nausea.

    Ruptured Aneurysm Pain

    • If an aneurysm ruptures, it may produce an immediate, severe headache, as well as double vision, nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness.

    Seeking Medical Attention

    • It may not be possible to tell if an aneurysm has occurred. Individuals experiencing sudden, severe headaches should seek prompt medical attention and a proper diagnosis. This is especially true when pain is associated with other known aneurysm symptoms.

    Considerations

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, most brain aneurysms do not cause symptoms or rupture. Many times, these defects are found only when tests for other conditions are performed.

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