Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have been having problems wiht dizziness, right leg shaking, neck pain,swallowing problems.  They say that I have disk in my neck that are herniated.  I go to a chiropractor.  Some days are better than others.  I also have tenderness in my sternomastoid muscle.  Is this strange?

ANSWER: Hi Peggy,

Yes, it is strange. The disc isn't related to dizziness, leg shaking or swallowing problems, only the neck pain and upper extremity pain which you don't say you have. The other symptoms are related to a concussion and a virus or bacteria, even a whiplash can cause swallowing problems, but not a cervical disc. The tenderness in the SCM is classic for a hyperextension/flexion injury from whiplash. This usually takes a few week to go away, your symptoms sound like a car accident of some kind or other similar mechanism. If you haven't had a head CT, now may be the time to get one. I would make an appointment with a Neurologist as soon as possible.


Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Dr. Timothy,
Thank you for your recent answer.  I would like to give you more information than I gave you before.  I have had this problem for almost 2 years now. I have been to about 15 different doctors, neurologist, orthopedic, internal, and ENT.  Nobody seems to know why.  I have never been in a car accident.  I did have a test one time called a barium swallow that showed that I had bone spurs in my cervical spine that were pressing on my esophagus.  I have had MRI and CT scans and still no one can figure it out.  The only person that gave me hope was a chiropractor and he said it is my spine.  Before I had this problem I was taking care of my ill mother.  She weighed almost 300 pounds.  She could not walk or stand.  I had to move her all of the time.  One time when I was sliding her off of the bed, I felt weird in my neck area and began having breathing problems.  That went away and now I am left with the above symptoms.  When you say bacteria or virus, what are you referring to?  I really need some answers.  It does hurt sometimes to raise my arms when putting on a shirt or extending my arms over my head.  When you say similar mechanism what do you mean?  I have had a head CT and nothing showed up.  Why were you suggesting a head CT?  If you could answer me again I would really appreciate it.  Thank you so much, Peggy

Answer
HI Peggy,

The CT head was suggested to rule out concussion, that is not an issue now that I have a more complete history. It is clear the Atlas needs to be looked at, this is the top bone (vertebrae) in the neck. Any instability here will cause all your symptoms except the swallowing problems. That probably is caused by the spurs pushing against the back wall of the esophagus. The only treatment for this would be surgical removal. I would get lateral stress films along with flexion/extension films of the neck. This is done with x-ray and will show any instability of the atlas by revealing changes in the atlantodental interspace. Istability can cause pressure on the brain stem which makes breathing difficult along with dizziness and all the other unusual symptoms you are getting. Bacterial or Virus causes can cause a sore throat which can be confused for SCM tenderness. Also, some virus and bacterial infections can cause dizziness since they attack the inner ear. Your D.C. should have already done this, if not, it is the first order of business. Let me know the results.

Thank you and Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com