Question
I'm 28 years old, and I've been dealing with chronic neck and upper back tension for about 4 years now, resulting from working at a computer full-time. It began as a 6-week headache, which finally went away, but ever since, I've had muscle tension in my neck and upper back, especially surrounding my shoulder blades.

Three months ago, however, I began getting dizzy spells when I sit and when I wake up in the middle of the night, which has made it difficult to sleep a full night. When this started, it would trigger an anxiety attack, something I had never had problems with up until this point. Once I associated the vertigo episodes with my neck problems, the anxiety mostly dissipated.  

Since the dizzy spells began, I've cut out coffee (which was heartbreaking to give up) and sugar, both of which seem to make me more prone to anxiety attacks, especially when my neck is extremely sore. What's most concerning is that when I eat or drink anything with sugar (more than a bite-size candy bar, for example), my heart seems to race or beat strongly, and I get the feeling of an adrenaline rush throughout my body.

On days when my neck feels extremely tight, I feel like my sinuses are congested and the vertigo seems to happen more often. I'm at the point now where I can recognize when the dizzy spells are going to happen during the day while sitting (at the computer, on the couch, etc): It starts with a brain-fog-type feeling, where I feel like I can't hear or think clearly. Immediately after, I get the feeling that I'm spinning to the right, lasting a couple seconds. Sometimes, the left side of cheek feels numb or hot, and down my arm into my left pinkie and ring fingers feel numb. At night, the dizzy spells happens each time I wake up throughout the night. I've also noticed that I get stabbing pains in my calves on the days when my neck feels especially sore, but I don't understand how the two are connected.

I attempted to do lower back and stomach exercises that I thought wouldn't aggravate my upper back and neck, but in the days after the exercises, the vertigo during the day reappeared. My theory was that I should strengthen the muscles that support proper posture, but it's frustrating that it seems to make the symptoms worse. So far, all the exercise I seem to be able to do (and makes me feel better) is walking and stretching.

I went to a general practitioner who did a blood test for diabetes and leukemia, as well as for thyroid, blood, kidney and liver conditions, but it turned out completely clear. He suggested a CT scan or MRI as well, but I chose not to because of the expense (and because I'd had an MRI 3 years prior for the headaches, which showed nothing) and because I really feel like this all stems from neck problems. Every time I say this out loud, however, people look at me as though I'm crazy!

I do know I have problems with subluxations in my neck, according to an osteopath and chiropractor, and I can feel a knot to the right side of my spine close to the base of my head. My shoulders and upper back are completely covered in knots that won't seem to go away no matter how much I stretch, and all the muscles in my neck feel like tight little ropes. When I stretch my neck, I can feel it pulling all the way up into my temple and behind my ear, as well as along my jawline.

I've been to the chiropractor sporadically, but this was before the vertigo and sugar-sensitivity began. The chiropractor did some massage, followed by adjustments and some Graston to break up scar tissue in my upper and lower back (I've also had spasms in my low-back since I was about 15). The times I did go, I felt a thousand times better.

My main question is if it's possible that the vertigo symptoms and sensitivity to caffeine and sugar could be related to physical problems in my neck. Is there hope that this will go away if the problems with my neck are corrected? I would love to be able to enjoy a whole cup of coffee again!

My second question is what the best routes for care might be. My doctor (the general practitioner) said the next step would be prescription muscle relaxers, pain-killers and anti-anxiety medication, but I really don't want to go down that road. I'm wondering if I should continue to see the chiropractor who also does massage, or if I should look into trigger-point therapy or acupuncture or some other method altogether.

Answer
Nicole,

I would suspect that you have had some sort of injury in the past like a car accident or a slip or fall. Chronic headaches and neck pain don't just happen they are almost always the result of a previous injury.

I am with you on the coffee thing that is rough. If you look at things from my perspective it sounds to me like you have a misalignment of one of your top two neck bones to the point that it is putting pressure on your brainstem/upper spinal cord. A misalignment there can cause 2 things to happen 1. is interference to blood flow at the brainstem level as the misalignment will twist the cord and reduce blood flow. 2. A misalignment in the upper neck will throw the head out of balance creating compensations below which is the most common cause of neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain, hip pain etc.

Your complaint of headaches and brainfog is an indication that you are not getting enough blood into your head. A blood restriction can result in brainfog if it becomes even more restricted then a headache will most commonly result. If you eat/drink things that change or most commonly lower your blood pressure your body will have to kick start your heart and blood pressure to be sure you are getting enough blood to your head as your brain consumes a large amount of fresh blood right off your heart. You also mention that you are experiencing vertigo which is also commonly associated with irritation and restriction of blood flow to the 8th cranial nerve called the vestibulo-cochlear nerve (vestibulo meaning balance and cochlea meaning hearing).

To answer your question YES it is very likely that your vertigo symptoms are due the a problem in your upper neck. Sugar sensitivity is most commonly due to an exercise deficiency but can be due to brainstem malfunction.

My recommendation for you with the information given would be to not take drugs as they will only mask your symptoms. Drugs only mask the problem they will never fix it. I would look for an Upper Cervical Chiropractor one that specializes in Atlas/Axis adjusting only. I have 2 websites you can check out to find a practitioner closest to you. www.UpperCervicalCare.com and www.UpcSpine.com.

Also if you do choose to go get checked I would appreciate it if you send me an email in the future and let me know how you are doing.

Dr. Bl鰉