Question
I am almost 39 years old and since 19 or 20 years of age, I've had neck issues--tense, sore neck and throat muscles. Besides years of wear and tear from previously holding the phone with my shoulder and typing on a computer (stopped doing this years ago), I had probable whiplash while boating in my mid-twenties. For years, my neck and shoulder muscles were tense and rigid, sore. I had an MRI and it showed c5-c7 herniations and a spur at c6 and nerve root compression. I briefly went to P.T. and learned to relax more and my neck really has not bothered me all that much, just occasionally and sometimes with my job...after using heavy duty staplers to put thick bundles of paperwork--and this action puts strain and pressure on your neck, I've noticed. So that causes flare-ups at times. BUT...what I am wondering about and what has really bothered me for the last year or so...is some light-headedness, wooziness that seems to come on suddenly and I've noticed that it happens usually when either looking down or with my head tilted to one side or the other...putting pressure on my throat, neck or right below my ears, rather. Sometimes the wooziness is accompanied by a twinging sensation around my temples and only lasts a second. The room doesn't spin, but inside my head seems to. This also happens while sitting at the computer.  Sometimes I gasp when it happens because it starles me. It's happened very frequently over the last year and before that...it only happened every 6 months or year or so (very infrequently)...with the first episode that I recall  happening back when I was 19 or 20 years old--at work...on the phone, holding it with my shoulder--putting the pressure on my neck, throat, diaphragm, carotids or whatever is making me have these woozy spells. Last year, I did have a normal unenhanced CT scan of the head, and a normal EEG. The only conditions that I know I have are Mitral Valve Prolapse, elevated ANA and Hypoglycemia (which became much worse last year when this dizziness started, by the way...but was fine until then). I am wondering if my spells seem cervical spine related or hypoglycemia related ? Since it happens often when my head's in a certain  position--I tend to think it's the spine. Also, when I had a recent spell...my left leg and foot started having some weird pulsing sensations, very faint...which had started last year, also...but I never noticed it happening with the dizzy spells...until this week.  This weird feeling in my left foot comes and goes and had been gone for a while until the woozy spell recently.  My feet are stiff and rigid...I thought because of flip-flop use...but now I wonder if it's related to my spine. Also...I had a tailbone injury in my mid-twenties and sometimes when sitting on my tailbone for long periods...at my desk, I get the woozy spells and I wonder if it's related to the lower spine and neck or both ? I have lots of issues and I am looking for a hint of advice about what it may be ? My body feels so out-of-whack this last year...and not before then. I was fine. I have gained some weight and maybe that's adding to the problem, I'm sure. My normal weight is around 135-140 lbs. and I weigh 172 lbs. now.  So...after knowing all of these facts...what do you think ?

Answer
Dear Jamie,

Thank you for your question.  

Even though medical / non-chiropractic diagnostic conclusions is not a service that I would provide in my field, I would say to you that diagnosis under the best of circumstances is something of an art.  It would be irresponsible for anyone to give you a guess by e-mail or the web about your situation.  Diagnostic work and therapeutic advice is difficult enough when done properly.  It becomes a riskier proposition when done poorly.  You would be best served getting opinions from someone with first-hand knowledge about you, not a limited acquaintance through correspondence.  

I certainly appreciate that you are looking for a specific answer.  Let me say plainly, though, that anyone who is willing to speculate about your situation by e-mail is providing you little more than a guess and perhaps a dangerous one.  

Jamie, I hope you understand the seriousness of this advice and seek appropriate information in person from a qualified provider.  

Sincerely,
James W. Healey, D.C.