QuestionQUESTION: My health issues began at age 23. In mid February 2009 I began suffering from constant dizziness. Generally I describe it as sort of like the drunken dizziness (not spins, more so the buzzing) or as if you just got off of an amusement park ride...it feels "off", unstable, etc. It does not change based on my position, though turning my head, turning around, outside movements (moving people, cars, and so on), moving lighting (ie: at concerts/weddings), etc. make it worse. I get quite tired very easily, more fatigued than usual.
In September 2009, my right shoulder (in the back, around the shoulder blade, felt deep within) started to hurt (sharp pains). This grew to a constant pain, and within a couple of weeks the pain had spread to the from shoulder, all the way down the arm into my wrist, and up the neck. My right arm couldn't lift a newspaper. My job involved a lot of computer work (I am left handed, but use the mouse with my right hand at a "desk" without a keyboard tray on a daily basis). I started using the mouse with my left hand, eventually having to move the mouse pad to my lap due to pain starting in the left shoulder and spreading throughout the arm. I switched arms based on which hurt worse that day or at that time. My range of motion is limited, though made slightly better by treatment from a NMT. The shoulders make sort of a grinding noise when moved, which has turned into sort of a popping (like it gets stuck on something). The pain also changed from the original sharp pain to an overall pain/ache. It seems as though I have a set amount of strength in the arms, after that is used up the pain is significantly worse (sometimes to the point of tears), the arms become completely useless, and this is occasionally accompanied by twitching/tingling.
After trying a posture/chiropractic related therapy (my second chiropractor) this past summer, I have developed a lot of neck pain as well as back pain. I cannot sit for very long before I feel a lot of pain, nor can I stand very long...it is a matter of 1-3 hours before the pain becomes intolerable. The back of my head has felt a bit funny since then, which I haven't paid as much attention to...but I would describe it as tingly/numb, and just plain weird...I believe it was also around this time when I developed vision issues (Dec 09 eye dr visit showed no issues to be concerned about). Vision seems blurred, it is hard to read. This past fall after seeing a new chiropractor (#3), the vision seemed to improve greatly...but as of a few week ago the blurred vision has returned.
I have about 4 pages worth of doctors/tests/prescriptions/therapies I have tried in the past (nearly) two years. An MRI of my cervical spine showed mild/moderate degeneration. With my first Chiropractor, electrodes hooked up to the front of my neck (near collar bone) and side of the neck (closer to jaw/ears) triggered my dizziness within a minute or two, though no one has had much if anything to say about this. Xrays of shoulders did not show anything. X-rays of neck/back/jaw/hips showed there was quite a bit of misalignment (this was with my second chiropractor). Chiropractor #2 claims I'm all straighten out, but as I mentioned I just developed new issues in addition to my existing dizziness/arm pain. Chiropractor #3 has found some more specific issues all over and is currently working to fix these but is unsure at this point if we're anywhere near the actual problem or if we're just hitting referral issues-or if chiropractic care is actually my answer.
My range of motion in my neck is quite limited in all directions...with the dizziness I try to keep my head my head from moving much, so this wasn't as noticeable until the neck pain.
I have struggled to find a doctor who will actually look into my case. I have had a bit more luck with chiropractors/NMT/massage therapists actually being interested in helping, however none of us are sure if that is where my issues stem from. I have tried to continue life as normal as possible but these issues have been limiting/difficult when it comes to things such as working, driving, household chores, basically anything that involves arms (no matter how small-even the use of a computer mouse) or moving where turns may be necessary (or outside motion is present).
Not sure of the significance but in case my issues are related to each other, and/or in case they could be due to poor ergonomics, I'd also like to add to the work situation I mentioned earlier..for the first 8 months I had been working on a laptop. For the next 16 months or so I was working at a work station diagnosed ergonomically incorrect by an ergonomic specialist (no keyboard tray, monitor significantly too low, poor computer chair, lacked headset, etc). I did not have any of these issues prior, issues started about 8-9 months after my start date.
I apologize for the overwhelming amount of information. I have tried to be as thorough as possible. I am currently still working with Chiropractor #3, NMT, and a massage therapist in hopes of aligning, strengthening, and loosening parts. I would greatly appreciate any feedback and am wide open to any other ideas. I am concerned of muscle/ligament/nerve damage and the potential for it to be permanent. (Though I do not know who to see about this or what tests would be necessary) Regardless, I would just like to find an answer so I know how to move on with my life. Thank you for your time!
ANSWER: nicole,
i can understand your frustration. from your history and symptoms it seems to me that the degenerative discs or spinal column mentioned in your MRI are causing instability, therefore causing misalignments in the spine. Shame on the ergonomics specialist, its not that hard to get that right. laptops are NOT ergo friendly. Unfortunatley, computer work is not so great for your condition.
first of all: your arm pain, numbness, back and neck pain are most likely all related and a chiropractor is best to handle that. second: your vision problems and dizziness can also be helped through chiropractic. the top vertebrae (Cl or atlas) has a nerve that comes out underneath it which goes directly to your optic nerve (eyes) also carries blood supply to the brain and head (dizziness), but it sounds like you may need to try upper cervical specific techniques for the dizziness. Not all chiropractors use this technique , but its worth a try. Better yet go see a physical therapist that specializes in vestibular rehabilitation for your dizziness. if you live in nyc i know of a great place for that. or look up ear , nose , throat hospital or clinic and they may be able to refer you to one.
consider the damage done to your cervical spine as permanent, which it sounds like it is from what you wrote me. Do you see a dentist for the rest of your life? Your teeth only chew food yet we take such good care of them brushing, flossing and professional cleaning twice a year. Our spine controls every single thing in the body and most never see a chiropractor. You must stretch, and strengthen the area of instability to get long lasting correction (especially because of your job and line of work) which puts added stress on the upper back/neck region. You need to find a chiropractor that works for you and someone that you trust and feel comfortable (sounds like the 3rd one is) and make chiropractic part of what you need to do to say healthy. this does not mean chiropractic is the only answer. its all the above. improper ergonomics, misalignments of the spine (which happen to all of us)some just aren't as symptomatic as you. weakness of surrounding ligaments and tendons and muscles. i believe you should try a vestibular rehab specialist first, they will give you exercises and run some tests on you. you can also google a vestibular or vertigo specialist. unfortunately they always want to start you on a diuretic (thinking there is fluid in your ear causing it) which could also be the case but i doubt it.
good luck and keep me posted.
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QUESTION: Thank you for your response, I appreciate you taking the time! One of the first drs I had seen was an ENT, said it was not inner ear by looking in it, their office sent me to a (disappointing) neurologist with an MRI of my brain. I have been also to a vestibular therapist, and kept in contact with her through email pretty consistently through the first year, and occasionally since. She does not think she can help me, but had been providing her best ideas/recommendations since I wasn't getting any direction from doctors. I have gone out of state to actually see a dizziness specialist (a sort of neurologist, I guess there are only a handful in the country#. He did a few more tests to rule out ear issues, then prescribed a bunch of meds to try #thinking dizziness may be vestibular migraine...all had terrible side effects#. I called back when I developed the arm pain and that was when the MRI of the cervical spine was ordered. After that, he only offered up another prescription to try, which I did not want to do. That is when I gave chiropractic care a shot, and have been for over a year now. Chiropractor #3 has only been a month or two and was quite disappointed at how many issues I still have with alignment after 2 others, not to mention my lack of luck with any other medical professional I have sought help from. I do trust this one, and the NMT. Like I had mentioned, we're just not sure if it is my answer or not. Chiropractor #2 said at my age, and without the degeneration showing up on his xrays, the degeneration is not significant enough. I guess that is why I would like to know if there is any other kind of testing that will show the extent of the damage. And if there's damage be to the ligaments/muscles/nerves.
If the damage is permanent, can I expect to have these symptoms for the rest of my life? As of right now my employment options are limited #what is there that doesn't involve arms, or sitting/standing for long periods of time, and with limited movement?), however IF I am able to recover, is computer work something I should avoid? Or if I continue to strengthen, stretch, etc can it be done? Or if the possibility of recovering does not exist, would these things just be a good idea to prevent further damage?
Thank you again for your time and input.
Answerthere is always a possibility of recovering from this. vertigo and dizziness can be frustrating because many cases they don't know what causes it. it sometimes can improve on its own. As far as stretches and ergonomics you need to talk with chiro 3 and get all that info from him. he can certainly help with neck pain, arm tingling and numbness. the dizziness is more difficult. i would also try an upper cervical specific chiro or ask chiro 3 if he uses toggle recoil technique or any other upper cervical specific techniques and try that for a few months.
