Question
Hi...

I have been having a funny 'numb' sensation in my left pinky finger, sometimes the ring finger of that hand, extending up the palm. This is combined with periodic numb 'full' sensation on the left side of my nose (yes, it IS as weird as it sounds :) I wrenched my neck terribly right before Christmas, couldn't turn it for nearly 2 weeks. Could this be a left over effect from that? I used to go to the Chiro monthly when I was in Australia but have been afraid to go again since I moved to Atlanta, as the last time I went I had a horrendous headache for a week afterward (bedridden afraid I was having a stroke from the auras and numbness in my face and body...the left side again). Now I'm afraid of letting a Chiro manipulate my neck. Advice/reassurance would be great....Cheers!

Answer
Dani,

Here's my advice/reassurance (or lack of reassurance).  Given the fact that you had a horrendous headache with auras and facial numbness, I would be careful about everything ANYONE does to your  neck.  With MRI readily available, a scan of your cervical spine would be a good idea, with a note to the radiologist to look at blood vessels.  Brain MR-Angiogram (MRA) may be needed if there is a chance you have a vessle problem in your brain.  A specialist should examine you first and determine which way to go with this, e.g. neurologist.  What research has been finding is that in people that have strokes or other cerebrovascular events following a chiropractic visit (or in many cases a visit to an ortho, DO, PT, trainer/"physios" where neck joint manipulation was performed), it's not the neck twisting that necessarily tears an artery causing the severe headaches and funny arm symptoms.  Instead, it is that the symptomatic patient is in the midst of a vascular event such as a leaking carotid artery aneurism, and the neck joint manipulation furthers it along.   It would be wise to get a neurovascular evaluation before anyone does anything to your neck, including massage, exercise, etc.   Some people simply get a bad headache from abrupt/forceful neck joint manipulation as a result of muscular strain, and this could be avoided with heat and massage prep' before the spine manipulation, as well as more skillful and careful manipulation.  But in your case, given your history that includes facial numbness, you deserve to get a thorough work-up with diagnostic imaging before getting any treatment or resorting to any NSAID medicines (they can cause strokes, too.)

I hope this was helpful.

Dr. G