Hi sap_vr! Your dizziness is most likely caused by tight muscles in the neck. I am a true believer that PT done at YOUR pace can help with relaxing the neck muscles. What exactly are your current symptoms? The first PT put me in the ER because she had me using 2lb weights that caused my trapezius muscle to spasm and I felt like I was going to pass out. Be careful if you continue with a PT. Your body will tell you if the exercises are not suitable for you. Have you tried an epidural steroid injection? Feel free to PM me anytime! Good luck!
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
I o get those headaches and dizziness too! I have to lie down with no sound and lights to feel even a little better! Can anybody hear your heart beating in your ear constantly or have a ringing in your ear constantly?
Thanks,
Robin
Multi-level degenerative changes with 4 bulging cervical discs, osteophyte, bone spurs, arthritis, spinal deformity, end plate changes.
C2 to T1
Yes, I used to get ringing in the ears quite often. After the surgery, I only get it on occasion. It's crazy how this can happen due to cervical issues. Sometimes I do hear my pulse or have a heightened sensitivity to my heart beat.
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
I went only a day for PT. That was my initial evaluation day. She tested strength of my arm. Everything is perfect. Later she tested my neck movement and suggested three exercise.
1. Bend your head on your shoulders. (Both directions)
2. Double chin Or tucked chin
3. Squeeze your shoulder blades together.
PT asked me to do it 10 times twice a day. I noticed my dizziness in 2 days and stopped doing any of the above.
Current my symptoms are: When I lay over on bed and turn from onside to other side…I could feel dizzy ness and going to faint down. I could feel less intensity now compare to previous.
Regarding pain: Lot of my pain symptoms is reduced in arm. Now it is almost centralized. I am not doing any exercises for it now. I haven’t tried any steroid injections.
Have you tried to use heat? Does it help? Before surgery I had similar symptoms. You can PM me if you want to chat more. Sometimes rest can help a lot, but you will need to stop the symptoms from progressing. Good luck!
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
Hey I too have had very similar symptoms, Ive found such relief in reading everyones posts simply to show I'm not alone. I'm waiting to see the neurosurgeon next week to find out exactly what's wrong. Migraines are the newest development occupinied by vomiting, getting worse..... I'm 27 and for at least the last 10 years have been pushing on spots under my clavicle to reduce the tension in my neck... It was awesome to read some one else does this and I'm not insane!!! I'd like to thank you all for your wisdom
Hi. First time poster on internet. I had 3 years of migraines that left me unable to work of even function. Lost use of left arm and had a c-5 laminectomy removing bone spur May 4, 2011 and the headaches got better and I was able to return to work. January 2012 my hearing suddenly lost 30% both ears. Last week and now left ear at 70% loss and bad ringing. Went to ENT but I believe it is a nerve issue. when they operated on the c-5 there was massive inflamation and it went up column to the c-2 where the occipital nerve passes. Any thoughts on the hearing loss?
SCM muscle tightness can cause Occipital headaches and dizziness
I have 4 herniations c3-7 and my c5-6 is the largest with nerve impingement. It took me 9 years to figure out my problem was in my neck; originally everything started out in my sinuses and I would get severe headaches. I went for scans of my brain and sinuses and went to millions of doctors because I thought they were all crazy and knew they were missing something, but they kept telling me I was fine and nothing was wrong. Until I was almost completely numb on my right side, none of my doctors ever suggested an MRI of my neck. It took me the last 4-5 years, since my diagnosis to realize all of my symptoms in my head, sinuses,shoulders, arms, hands all the way down to my toes are related to my neck injury. My SCM muscle-(it starts from the occipital bone (back of your head and attaches to your sternum and clavicle-there are 2 seperate heads to the muscle)-is also extremely tight and has become so severe that the whole muscle pops out and you can see the whole outline of it. I started researching about it and found out that severe SCM muscle-tightness, can cause pain in your: cheek and jaw,sinuses, back of head at the bottom of the skull(where the muscle originates, around eyes, top of head. It also causes dizziness and difficulty swallowing and may also be associated with: Tearing of eye, Visual disturbances when viewing parallel lines, Chronic “sore throat” when swallowing, Chronic dry cough. It also assists maintaining balance, or equilibrium.
I get severe pain in my clavicle as someone above mentioned and the SCM attaches to your clavicle. I have severe muscle knots and scar tissue all along my clavicle and it causes tightness in my chest muscles, which causes sharp pains in my underarm area. At first I thought the sharp pains might have been breast cancer and all of my doctors thought I was crazy because I am so young but made them do a biopsy and it came back as dermatitis(contact skin inflammation) which I believe is also related to my neck. Everyday I am allergic to something new, somethings I have used for years without any irritations. My whole body feels completely disconnected from my brain, which I now believe is because of my severe herniation and spinal cord impingement. It took me 13 years to realize my injury was a result of a trampoline accident when I was 13, I did a flip and landed at the edge, on the springs and lost my balance and landed flat on my face outside, on woodchips. Everything started after, but all my symptoms were in my head and sinuses for a long time. And I had other pains, but thought they were just normal and ignored a lot of it. Being so young and invincible, I didn't think the fall was serious and got right back up like nothing. My face was scratched up and that was all I could tell was wrong at the time. Sorry to keep rambling, but I feel like I can just keep on going forever. I've realized how the nerves control everything and one nerve can impact so many different areas. I went through so many tests before all of this, for all my related symptoms and my doctors made me feel like I was crazy because everything would come back normal. Now every surgeon that I show my MRI to, says I have one of the biggest herniations they have ever seen. I was suffering for so long before I knew what was wrong, but now I know everything is a result of my neck. The SCM originates in the back of your head(which is your occipital bone) so that can cause a lot of occipital headaches, eye pain and sinus issues. The real name of the muscle is the sternocleiodmastoid or SCM for short.
I am not a doctor, but have researched and read a lot about muscle and nerve innervations as a result of my injury. I learned almost everything on my own and have actually been an educational tool for my doctors who were suprised with everything I figured out on my own. Unfortunetly I have not found a cure for the pain only temporary relief with massages and ice and I am too afraid to have surgery yet, but would love to hear if anyone has similar SCM tightness and/or pain and of course any tips or feedback
I have had similar hearing loss as well, I sometimes go completely deaf and cannot hear anything except my breathing in the inside of my body. And Ironically my c5-6 is my severe herniation as well. I posted a comment about this in detail at the end of the forum, that I think may help you.
The clicking noise feeling in your muscles, is probably scar tissue. I had it for so long without realizing and couldn't believe when a massage therapist told me and I asked my doctor to confirm. I thought it was just part of my muscle knots, for the longest time.
I also experienced the same pain after a neuromuscular massage; I have a very high tolerance for pain and I thought the pain was good pain, so I didn't tell him to ease up and I was in so much pain for almost 2 weeks. My doctor said it irritated my nerves too much and that my body could not handle that. I seriously think my body went into shock.
I have read almost all the articles in this section and really appreciate all the comments. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and have always felt like it was the wrong diagnosis or there was more to it. I have severe pain in collar bona and the muscles surronding the area are inflammed. I have told the doctors about it and they just keep telling me that it is part of the Fibromyalgia. I also, have Migraines with ligt induce aura. Constantly dizzy and nubmness in hands and feet.
One doctor I went to said I could not have migraines unless I had them when I was a child. Stopped going to see him.
When I was 13 I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis and was in the hospital for 3 weeks. The common drug for the disease is Prednisone. I was told that the disease usually will go into remission but will never be fully treated.
I felt like I was always alone with these pains and will bring up some of the suggestions on this site to my doctor asap. I am glad I found this site and will continue to visit here and let you know of the progress.
Well, I did some trigger point therapy along the outside neck/trap area and for the first time in 3 years, the pain went away at least temporarily. More than any doctors have done. I got a book on trigger point therapy and did it myself, I also scared myself because it said you could loosen the plaque in your carotid artery and have a stroke, so i stopped.
Finally saw the shoulder doctor, wanted to give me an injection which i declined and he referred me to an ortho and neurologist. The shoulder ortho setup an MRI which I'm still waiting for, Neuro in June.
At least i know i'm not totally crazy or like the previous gp said "depressed" and wrote me a script for an antidepressant. He refused to approve me going to an ortho saying it was "muscle spasm". What is it for him to approve it, to outright deny me - that's a whole other story and possible lawsuit.
I also did some PT which caused the occipital headaches to start, numbness in face and tingling in arm. I discontinued the PT until I have the MRI.
Shoulder ortho said arthroscopic surgery more than likely, me, more likely NOT. Neck surgery is out for me too, they can paralyze you. As long as I know I'm not dying, I'll deal with the pain. What is it they say - rather deal with the devil you know then the devil you don't know.
Drugs is not the answer. The muscle spasms in our necks and backs are the cause. After my surgery, I had days where I felt "normal". I am convinced that my headaches and dizziness is not "nerve" related.
My headaches have been so awful recently that I started to do my own trigger point therapy and have noticed an improvement. Exercise can help, but if the muscles are already tight, then it will make the spasms worse. I've been massaging on and off during the day for the last 3 days and slowly doing a little core stabilizing exercises. So far, things have not gotten worse.
Jettycat, I feel like we have similar issues. My condition worsened when I first started PT exercises. I was eventually diagnosed with myositis and myalgia as a result of spinal cord compression. I would recommend trying the injections. You might be surprised by the results! I will tell you that if your issues are coming from the spine, then being pain free is going to be temporary. That's what I did for the longest time - I did self trigger point massages that would help for less than a day and then pain would return. I wish you much luck in finding the right mix of therapy. I am still struggling and not giving up!
Scott, if you have numbness in your hands and feet, then you should definitely see a spine specialist. I suspect you might have spinal cord compression. In my later stages of spinal stenosis, my feet started feeling heavy, my left hand was going numb and started having bladder problems. Do not wait to get an MRI!
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
Ive had occipital neuralgia to the point where it landed me in ER several times. The best drug for nausea for me was an IV of zofran. worked like a miracle. I now have Diladin, for the headaches to keep me out of er, til they figure this out, problably c3 c4 problem.. Glad to find so many with the same problem, so frustrating to figure out...so far cortisone injections, made it worse,, then radio frequency ablation, cut nerves caused intense pain,, then steriod injections in the back , not too bad..
Hi sap_vr! Your dizziness is most likely caused by tight muscles in the neck. I am a true believer that PT done at YOUR pace can help with relaxing the neck muscles. What exactly are your current symptoms? The first PT put me in the ER because she had me using 2lb weights that caused my trapezius muscle to spasm and I felt like I was going to pass out. Be careful if you continue with a PT. Your body will tell you if the exercises are not suitable for you. Have you tried an epidural steroid injection? Feel free to PM me anytime! Good luck!
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
I o get those headaches and dizziness too! I have to lie down with no sound and lights to feel even a little better! Can anybody hear your heart beating in your ear constantly or have a ringing in your ear constantly?
Thanks,
Robin
Multi-level degenerative changes with 4 bulging cervical discs, osteophyte, bone spurs, arthritis, spinal deformity, end plate changes.
C2 to T1
Yes, I used to get ringing in the ears quite often. After the surgery, I only get it on occasion. It's crazy how this can happen due to cervical issues. Sometimes I do hear my pulse or have a heightened sensitivity to my heart beat.
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
Hi Lili,
I went only a day for PT. That was my initial evaluation day. She tested strength of my arm. Everything is perfect. Later she tested my neck movement and suggested three exercise.
1. Bend your head on your shoulders. (Both directions)
2. Double chin Or tucked chin
3. Squeeze your shoulder blades together.
PT asked me to do it 10 times twice a day. I noticed my dizziness in 2 days and stopped doing any of the above.
Current my symptoms are: When I lay over on bed and turn from onside to other side…I could feel dizzy ness and going to faint down. I could feel less intensity now compare to previous.
Regarding pain: Lot of my pain symptoms is reduced in arm. Now it is almost centralized. I am not doing any exercises for it now. I haven’t tried any steroid injections.
Have you tried to use heat? Does it help? Before surgery I had similar symptoms. You can PM me if you want to chat more. Sometimes rest can help a lot, but you will need to stop the symptoms from progressing. Good luck!
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
Hey I too have had very similar symptoms, Ive found such relief in reading everyones posts simply to show I'm not alone. I'm waiting to see the neurosurgeon next week to find out exactly what's wrong. Migraines are the newest development occupinied by vomiting, getting worse..... I'm 27 and for at least the last 10 years have been pushing on spots under my clavicle to reduce the tension in my neck... It was awesome to read some one else does this and I'm not insane!!! I'd like to thank you all for your wisdom
Hi. First time poster on internet. I had 3 years of migraines that left me unable to work of even function. Lost use of left arm and had a c-5 laminectomy removing bone spur May 4, 2011 and the headaches got better and I was able to return to work. January 2012 my hearing suddenly lost 30% both ears. Last week and now left ear at 70% loss and bad ringing. Went to ENT but I believe it is a nerve issue. when they operated on the c-5 there was massive inflamation and it went up column to the c-2 where the occipital nerve passes. Any thoughts on the hearing loss?
reposted at end of forum
I have 4 herniations c3-7 and my c5-6 is the largest with nerve impingement. It took me 9 years to figure out my problem was in my neck; originally everything started out in my sinuses and I would get severe headaches. I went for scans of my brain and sinuses and went to millions of doctors because I thought they were all crazy and knew they were missing something, but they kept telling me I was fine and nothing was wrong. Until I was almost completely numb on my right side, none of my doctors ever suggested an MRI of my neck. It took me the last 4-5 years, since my diagnosis to realize all of my symptoms in my head, sinuses,shoulders, arms, hands all the way down to my toes are related to my neck injury. My SCM muscle-(it starts from the occipital bone (back of your head and attaches to your sternum and clavicle-there are 2 seperate heads to the muscle)-is also extremely tight and has become so severe that the whole muscle pops out and you can see the whole outline of it. I started researching about it and found out that severe SCM muscle-tightness, can cause pain in your: cheek and jaw,sinuses, back of head at the bottom of the skull(where the muscle originates, around eyes, top of head. It also causes dizziness and difficulty swallowing and may also be associated with: Tearing of eye, Visual disturbances when viewing parallel lines, Chronic “sore throat” when swallowing, Chronic dry cough. It also assists maintaining balance, or equilibrium.
I get severe pain in my clavicle as someone above mentioned and the SCM attaches to your clavicle. I have severe muscle knots and scar tissue all along my clavicle and it causes tightness in my chest muscles, which causes sharp pains in my underarm area. At first I thought the sharp pains might have been breast cancer and all of my doctors thought I was crazy because I am so young but made them do a biopsy and it came back as dermatitis(contact skin inflammation) which I believe is also related to my neck. Everyday I am allergic to something new, somethings I have used for years without any irritations. My whole body feels completely disconnected from my brain, which I now believe is because of my severe herniation and spinal cord impingement. It took me 13 years to realize my injury was a result of a trampoline accident when I was 13, I did a flip and landed at the edge, on the springs and lost my balance and landed flat on my face outside, on woodchips. Everything started after, but all my symptoms were in my head and sinuses for a long time. And I had other pains, but thought they were just normal and ignored a lot of it. Being so young and invincible, I didn't think the fall was serious and got right back up like nothing. My face was scratched up and that was all I could tell was wrong at the time. Sorry to keep rambling, but I feel like I can just keep on going forever. I've realized how the nerves control everything and one nerve can impact so many different areas. I went through so many tests before all of this, for all my related symptoms and my doctors made me feel like I was crazy because everything would come back normal. Now every surgeon that I show my MRI to, says I have one of the biggest herniations they have ever seen. I was suffering for so long before I knew what was wrong, but now I know everything is a result of my neck. The SCM originates in the back of your head(which is your occipital bone) so that can cause a lot of occipital headaches, eye pain and sinus issues. The real name of the muscle is the sternocleiodmastoid or SCM for short.
I am not a doctor, but have researched and read a lot about muscle and nerve innervations as a result of my injury. I learned almost everything on my own and have actually been an educational tool for my doctors who were suprised with everything I figured out on my own. Unfortunetly I have not found a cure for the pain only temporary relief with massages and ice and I am too afraid to have surgery yet, but would love to hear if anyone has similar SCM tightness and/or pain and of course any tips or feedback
I have had similar hearing loss as well, I sometimes go completely deaf and cannot hear anything except my breathing in the inside of my body. And Ironically my c5-6 is my severe herniation as well. I posted a comment about this in detail at the end of the forum, that I think may help you.
The clicking noise feeling in your muscles, is probably scar tissue. I had it for so long without realizing and couldn't believe when a massage therapist told me and I asked my doctor to confirm. I thought it was just part of my muscle knots, for the longest time.
I also experienced the same pain after a neuromuscular massage; I have a very high tolerance for pain and I thought the pain was good pain, so I didn't tell him to ease up and I was in so much pain for almost 2 weeks. My doctor said it irritated my nerves too much and that my body could not handle that. I seriously think my body went into shock.
I have read almost all the articles in this section and really appreciate all the comments. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and have always felt like it was the wrong diagnosis or there was more to it. I have severe pain in collar bona and the muscles surronding the area are inflammed. I have told the doctors about it and they just keep telling me that it is part of the Fibromyalgia. I also, have Migraines with ligt induce aura. Constantly dizzy and nubmness in hands and feet.
One doctor I went to said I could not have migraines unless I had them when I was a child. Stopped going to see him.
When I was 13 I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis and was in the hospital for 3 weeks. The common drug for the disease is Prednisone. I was told that the disease usually will go into remission but will never be fully treated.
I felt like I was always alone with these pains and will bring up some of the suggestions on this site to my doctor asap. I am glad I found this site and will continue to visit here and let you know of the progress.
Well, I did some trigger point therapy along the outside neck/trap area and for the first time in 3 years, the pain went away at least temporarily. More than any doctors have done. I got a book on trigger point therapy and did it myself, I also scared myself because it said you could loosen the plaque in your carotid artery and have a stroke, so i stopped.
Finally saw the shoulder doctor, wanted to give me an injection which i declined and he referred me to an ortho and neurologist. The shoulder ortho setup an MRI which I'm still waiting for, Neuro in June.
At least i know i'm not totally crazy or like the previous gp said "depressed" and wrote me a script for an antidepressant. He refused to approve me going to an ortho saying it was "muscle spasm". What is it for him to approve it, to outright deny me - that's a whole other story and possible lawsuit.
I also did some PT which caused the occipital headaches to start, numbness in face and tingling in arm. I discontinued the PT until I have the MRI.
Shoulder ortho said arthroscopic surgery more than likely, me, more likely NOT. Neck surgery is out for me too, they can paralyze you. As long as I know I'm not dying, I'll deal with the pain. What is it they say - rather deal with the devil you know then the devil you don't know.
Updates to follow. Wishing everyone well
Drugs is not the answer. The muscle spasms in our necks and backs are the cause. After my surgery, I had days where I felt "normal". I am convinced that my headaches and dizziness is not "nerve" related.
My headaches have been so awful recently that I started to do my own trigger point therapy and have noticed an improvement. Exercise can help, but if the muscles are already tight, then it will make the spasms worse. I've been massaging on and off during the day for the last 3 days and slowly doing a little core stabilizing exercises. So far, things have not gotten worse.
Jettycat, I feel like we have similar issues. My condition worsened when I first started PT exercises. I was eventually diagnosed with myositis and myalgia as a result of spinal cord compression. I would recommend trying the injections. You might be surprised by the results! I will tell you that if your issues are coming from the spine, then being pain free is going to be temporary. That's what I did for the longest time - I did self trigger point massages that would help for less than a day and then pain would return. I wish you much luck in finding the right mix of therapy. I am still struggling and not giving up!
Scott, if you have numbness in your hands and feet, then you should definitely see a spine specialist. I suspect you might have spinal cord compression. In my later stages of spinal stenosis, my feet started feeling heavy, my left hand was going numb and started having bladder problems. Do not wait to get an MRI!
2011 ACDF C5-6 for Spondylosis with Myleopathy
2012 L4-5 herniation causing short leg on right side; hernated disc at C4/5
Ive had occipital neuralgia to the point where it landed me in ER several times. The best drug for nausea for me was an IV of zofran. worked like a miracle. I now have Diladin, for the headaches to keep me out of er, til they figure this out, problably c3 c4 problem.. Glad to find so many with the same problem, so frustrating to figure out...so far cortisone injections, made it worse,, then radio frequency ablation, cut nerves caused intense pain,, then steriod injections in the back , not too bad..
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