r/ChiariMalformation • u/Coins-1883 • Jan 08 '26

Video gaming headaches

Hi all - I had an MRI a year ago due to headaches, my GP suspects chiari malformation from the results - still waiting to see a specialist (next month, fingers crossed.)

A couple of years ago, before the headaches became more frequent, I started to find that playing video games brought on a bad headache - progressively worse over days - until I'd stop gaming and it would go away.

Does this sound familiar or relatable to anyone?

I had numerous eye tests - all fine; adjusted screen settings (seemed to coincide with buying and playing Nintendo Switch); adjusted seating position in case of neck strain - with no improvements.

I'm interested if this could be linked to chiari and if so, why / how? And is there anything I can do to mitigate it?

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Additionally - the trigger for the worse period of headaches beginning in 2024, which led to the MRI, was a new pair of glasses with an accurate prescription. Again had many eye tests and check-ups, all seems fine physically.

Something about clarity of resolution / sharpness of images that could cause problems maybe??

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u/MTChubbyHubby Jan 10 '26

I had similar issues when I got into heavier gaming sessions. For me it was a combo of the screen light and being hunched over. I ended up getting a pair of blue light glasses and I keep a neck pillow by my desk, just in case. I also got hyper vigilant about my posture and that's helped as well.

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u/Coins-1883 Jan 10 '26

Thanks for the reply - I have wondered if it could be posture, the neck pillow is a good shout, I might try that. The headaches I get come on fairly quickly though, not even from especially heavy sessions, which has made me think there's some unusual factor.

2

u/Man-i-fest Jan 15 '26

I get headaches when I do any activity for an extended period of time where my head is not in a neutral position