Brain Fog Breathing And Swallowing Difficulty Dizziness Tinnitus
Brads story will resonate with many of you. He will describe the same symptoms and combination of symptoms that many of our patients suffer with when they first see us.
Brads story is unique, it may not be typical of the patients we see. Brad with treated with Prolotherapy injections and neck curve correction techniques. Not everyone will achieve these results as the results of treatment will vary.
We specifically want to highlight his case because he has some unusual strange sensations in his ear and breathing difficulties because of his problem with his contracting diaphragm.
Patient symptom list:
- Ringing in the ears and a sensation in his ears of hot wax. He also reported it was as if spiders were crawling in his ears.
- Severe dizziness. The patient describes that he would be in a car and then out of nowhere he would get dizziness and it would feel like the car was flipping end over end.
- Brain fog
- Contracting diaphragm
- Patients description at 1:32: I would just be sitting or standing there, doesnt matter which, and all of a sudden I couldnt breathe. Finally, I would take a big gasp of air, and finally, I would be able to breathe.
Can Acid Reflux Cause Asthma
Patients with asthma are known to experience GERD and are likelier to develop acid reflux than people without asthma. This is because acid reflux can cause damage to the esophagus, leading to chronic coughing.
Overproduction of acid and constant exposure to stomach contents could also compromise the lungs, making it more susceptible to irritants like dust.
Developing Asthma Due to GERD
Its not just asthmatic patients who can be affected by GERD. Turns out that patients who are non-asthmatic can have respiratory problems due to reflux symptoms.
Wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty are tell-tale signs of asthma. Commonly diagnosed in childhood, adults can also develop asthma late in their lives due to a variety of reasons. Some patients can develop asthmatic symptoms while others go on to experience chronic asthma symptoms and eventually develop adult asthma.
Asthma can be caused by a variety of stimuli including exposure to allergens and persistent flu. Doctors tend to identify acid reflux, or GERD in particular, as the cause for asthma when:
- Asthma symptoms worsen after a meal
- Asthma begins during adulthood, after the patient experiences reflux symptoms
- Asthma doesnt get better with traditional asthma treatments
Is It Always Serious?
Regenerative Medicine Treatments For Cervical Vertigo
The emerging field of Regenerative Medicine addresses issues such as cervical vertigo, among many others. Using cutting-edge technology, experts are able to provide treatment for a wide range of conditions. CellAxys offers two forms of Regenerative Medicine:
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy: this form of therapy involves taking a patients own mesenchymal stem cells. These cells are harvested from a patients bone marrow. They are then processed to be more concentrated, then reinjected into the problem area. In the cervical spine, they would be injected into the facet joints. Mesencymal Stem Cells contain healing properties which could be used to repair the damage that has occurred.
- Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy: this form of therapy begins with a blood draw. The blood sample is then placed in a centrifuge, which is able to separate the platelets from other properties in the blood. Platelets contain proteins and growth factors that allow healing to occur wherever they exist in the body. The concentrated platelet solution is then injected into a patients injury site, similar to mesenchymal stem cell injections.
These forms of treatment use imaging techniques such as live X-ray or Ultrasound to guide the needle to the injury site. This ensures that treatment is as effective as possible.
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Development Of Neck Pain And Dizziness
While neck pain or a problem within the neck has not been scientifically verified as a cause of dizziness, it is commonly reported by patients and clinicians.3 Some potential ways that dizziness may occur as a result of a painful problem in the neck include:
- Neural problem, such as damage to a proprioceptor in the neck
- Vascular compression or narrowing, such as to the vertebral artery that supplies blood to the brain
Other causes of neck pain and dizziness occurring together are also possible, but more research and/or better diagnostic tests are needed to determine if dizziness can truly stem from an issue in the neck.1–3
Doctors Too Are Looking For Answers Including The Relationship Between Neck Pain And Dizziness
Above we read about people and their stories. Their stories contain fear and confusion and sometimes conflicting ideas with their doctors as to what is wrong with them. Doctors too are looking for answers, including the relationship between neck pain and dizziness.
Lets look at an April 2020 study from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, in Norway. The paper was published in the journal Physiotherapy Research International.
In this paper, the researchers wanted to know if dizziness severity and degree differed between patients who only suffered from dizziness and patients who suffered from dizziness and neck pain. In other words, how did neck pain contribute to dizziness as compared to people with dizziness without neck pain?
Here are the summary learning points:
- The patients in this study with dizziness and neck pain were recruited from an ear-nose-throat department and a spine clinic.
- They were divided into three groups:
- patients with dizziness only ,
- patients with dizziness as their primary complaint and additional neck pain and finally,
- patients with neck pain as their primary complaint accompanied by additional dizziness .
Results:
Neck pain is associated with certain dizziness characteristics, increased severity of dizziness, and increased physical impairment when compared with dizzy patients without neck pain.
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The Connection To Cervical Neck Pain And Dizziness Was Not Only Not Understood But It Was Also Rarely Studied
In 1998, just over 22 years ago, the connection to cervical neck pain and dizziness was not only not understood, but it was also rarely studied.
Listen to what German researchers wrote back then in the European Spine Journal. This research is important today as it is often used as a starting point of the cervical neck/dizziness connection debate: In this research, treating cervical neck instability made vertigo go away.
The research paper begins:
To our knowledge, quantitative studies on the significance of disorders of the upper cervical spine as a cause of vertigo or impaired hearing do not exist.
To test their hypothesis that upper cervical disorders caused dizziness, the German doctors examined the cervical spines of 50 patients who presented with symptoms of dizziness. Prior to the orthopaedic examination, causes of vertigo relating to the field of ENT and neurology had been ruled out.
- The patients were treated with physical therapy and were available for 3 months of follow-up.
- Thirty-one patients, group A, were diagnosed with dysfunctions of the upper cervical spine.
- In group A, dysfunctions were found:
- at level C1 in 14 cases,
- at level C2 in 6 cases, and
- at level C3 in 4 cases.
- In seven cases more than one upper cervical spine motion segment was affected. Dysfunctions were treated and resolved with mobilizing and manipulative techniques of manual medicine.
What Does Neck Pain With Dizziness Feel Like
While dizziness typically has a rapid onset, neck pain may develop either gradually or quickly. Many people with neck pain accompanied by dizziness experience one or more of the following:
- Dull ache or general soreness in the neck, which may also go into the shoulder or up into the head
- Sharp or electric-like pain or tingling that may come and go, possibly radiating down into the arm and/or hand
- Unsteadiness or imbalance when trying to walk, stand, and/or go up or down steps
- Light-headedness or a feeling of the head floating or disconnected from the body
- Feeling faint or suddenly sleepy, such as about to lose consciousness
- Visual disturbances or blurry vision in one or both eyes
- Pressure or fullness felt in one or both ears
- Tenderness in the neck, shoulders, and/or head, which may worsen when pressed
- , such as from a sore or stiff neck
Some cases of neck pain and dizziness may be made worse during certain movements, such as:
- Rotating the head to the side
- Standing up, especially quickly
See Home Remedies for Neck Pain and Dizziness
Some people with severe or recurring dizziness may not even notice the associated neck pain unless asked about it. Other people may be more bothered by the neck painwhich could be sharp and/or include electric-like pain radiating down into the armand only occasionally experience dizziness.
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Head And Neck Anatomy For Balance
For the body to maintain balance, it relies on 3 sensory subsystems:
- The vestibular system, located primarily within the inner ear, detects motion and acceleration. It also constantly interacts with the brain and spinal cord to adjust the body accordingly to maintain balance and posture.
- The visual system gathers information from the eyes regarding the bodys relation to its surroundings.
- The proprioceptive system is comprised of proprioceptors in the muscles and joints throughout the body, which send information to the brain via the spinal cord about their relative positioning. The cervical spine is densely populated with proprioceptors. In particular, the upper cervical spines proprioceptors are thought to play a key role in helping the head and eyes stay balanced.1,2
The brain is constantly comparing information from all three of these subsystems to maintain balance. In theory, if any of these subsystems sense a problem or relays faulty information, it could lead to dizziness.1,2
In addition to the spinal cord, many critical nerves and blood vessels travel through the neckconnecting the head with the rest of the body and playing an important role in balance.
What Are The Symptoms Of Cervicogenic Dizziness
The symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness are not limited to the actual feeling of dizziness, or lightheadedness. Other common symptoms include:
- Disequilibrium, or the feeling as though one is going to fall when standing or walking
- A sensation as though one is swimming
- Sleeping difficulties due to neck pain
- Posture problems due to neck pain
- Hearing loss and/or tinnitus
- Nausea
- Shoulder pain
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Could It Be Lung Cancer
Shortness of breath and back pain are not typical signs of lung cancer. However, lung cancer can cause shortness of breath or chest pain. However, if the cancer spreads to the bones, it can cause pain in other parts of the body, such as the back or hips.
Anyone diagnosed with cancer will require treatment by a cancer specialist, or oncologist. A person may need surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Here Are Some Of The Tests They Reviewed For Patients Cervical Vertigo And Cervicogenic Dizziness And Brief Reasoning Behind Them:
The Duke researchers were very comprehensive. Here are some of the tests they reviewed for patients in chronic condition and brief reasoning behind them:
Lets point out again that the Duke team suggests that diagnosis is difficult and is sort of like peeling an onion, there are many layers that need to be peeled away, Cervicogenic dizziness is a diagnosis of exclusion.
In research published by Caring Medical: Chronic Neck Pain: Making the Connection Between Capsular Ligament Laxity and Cervical Instability lead by Danielle Steilen-Matias. Our team also suggested that the diagnosis of chronic neck pain due to cervical instability is particularly challenging. In most cases, diagnostic tools for detecting cervical instability have been inconsistent and lack specificity, and are therefore inadequate. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of cervical instability may better enable practitioners to recognize and treat the condition more effectively. For instance, when cervical instability is related to injury of soft tissue alone and not fracture, the treatment modality should be one that stimulates the involved soft tissue to regenerate and repair itself.
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The Link Between Spine Pain And Dizziness
by Paul Salinas | Aug 28, 2015 | Head Pain |
In a previous blog post, we discussed the connection between spine pain and vertigo, as well as how back pain treatment can be used to relieve the symptoms of vertigo. It is very much worth noting at this point that vertigo and dizziness are not synonymous terms, although they are often used interchangeably. Vertigo is a type of dizziness however, there are other types of dizziness that are unrelated to vertigo.
For example, if you have ever felt lightheaded or as though you were going to faint, those sensations could be classified as dizziness, but not as vertigo. On the other hand, vertigo refers to the feeling as though you were spinning or as though everything around you was spinning, even though you or everything around you were perfectly still.
In addition to being associated with vertigo, spine pain can also result in feelings of non-vertigo dizziness, including lightheadedness and disequilibrium, or the feeling as though one is going to fall while standing or walking. At Frisco Spine, we can diagnose and treat dizziness related to spinal conditions. As experts in spine pain and dizziness, our Frisco physicians provide a full range of both surgical and non-surgical treatments that can restore comfort and function to patients struggling with the symptoms of dizziness.
Find Out The True Reason For Your Dizziness
If frequent dizzy spells are starting to impair your lifestyle, visit Spine Correction Center in Fort Collins for help. We can often diagnose the causes of dizziness and look into treating the underlying cause.
For more information, please contactSpine Correction Center at 658-5115.
About Spine Correction Center
No two plans are alike since no two people are alike.
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Preventing Back Pain And Dizziness
1. Practicing careful lifting techniques when moving heavy items can assist in preventing acute back injuries. Regular workouts can keep your back flexible and strong, which reduces your injury threat.
2. Keeping a healthy weight also can reduce back pain. Added weight puts extra stress on your body, which can lead to pain. Being overweight likewise increases your danger for a cardiovascular event, such as stroke or heart attack.
3. Smoking can additionally impact your spine, leading to back issues earlier in life. If you smoke, stopping can enhance your health in many ways.
After All The Lab Tests I Was Still Dizzy
Often a patient will tell us that they had a myriad of lab tests looking for the source of their frequent, occasional, or most of the time dizziness. At the end of these tests, the patient started looking for other doctors to help them. When they are sitting in our clinic they will often tell us, after all the tests, I was still dizzy and worse, there seemed to be no plan to help me.
Further, the controversy surrounding a diagnosis of cervical vertigo stems from confusion and comparison with other symptoms related to whiplash-related injuries and inner ear disorders. Below we will review studies, which detail in-depth, screening procedures that exclude possible causes of dizziness.
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So What Do We Have Here And What Does It Mean To You Something Is Pressing On Your Nerves And Arteries Causing A Dizzy Situation
Possibly that injury such as whiplash or degenerative disease or diseases possibly hEDS has caused cervical spine instability. A thicker Longus Colli muscle may offer the clue necessary to help isolate cervical spine instability as opposed to other causes for your dizziness. The thicker muscle may indicate that the cervical spine ligaments are weak, your cervical vertebra is out of place, and something is pressing on your nerves and arteries causing a dizzy situation.
Sick To Your Stomach Can Spine Pain Cause Nausea
The majority of the population has suffered from back pain at one time or another in their lives. Most people have also suffered from stomach problems like nausea. So, when you have back pain and nausea at the same time, some people wonder, can spine pain cause nausea?
Spine pain and gastrointestinal issues can have many causes. So while it is impossible to answer whether your spine pain is causing your nausea without understanding more of your conditions, it may help to understand some of the ways in which they may be related.
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Functional Examination Of Motion Segments Of The Upper Cervical Spine Is Important In Diagnosing And Treating Vertigo
Why do we find this one sentence so remarkable? Because this one line may be the answer for many of you reading this article. Lets explain.
The researchers suggest that you must examine the motion segments of the upper neck because it is the unresolved vertebral segments that are causing the problems. In our 26+ years of service in treating cervical neck disorders, we have found that many patients who come through our doors do not have an accurate diagnosis or assessment of their situation.
As you can see in the video below, DMX is a motion picture of the bones while a person is moving. It is a dynamic diagnostic tool, versus a static one. The scan is produced in real-time, while the person is moving his/her neck. Pain typically occurs with motion. By being able to see the bones in motion, DMX picks up abnormal or excessive motion whereas MRI, CT scan, and static x-rays do not.
