Hi again. I have a new username (was pinkblazerNY). I finally got in to see the chiropractor today. She has me sooooo scared. I told her all my symptoms, unbalanceness, swaying, etc... and she said she thinks I have an insufficient supply in an artery in the back of my neck???? She set me up an appointment with a neurologist next Tuesday. She wouldn't even touch my neck area. Just wondering if you have any insight on this. Thanks again.

Actually, I am glad the chiropractor didn't touch you. Don't let that scare you. When I went to the chiro., my symptoms got worse a few times, because they don't touch the muscles, just put your vertebrae back into place, and the problem with the muscles is still there. All the adjustment did for me was jerk my muscles around, aggravating my problem. A neuro. will be able to check your trigger points and see if you have a problem with these areas ( ask him to check them ) and then refer you to physical therapy. About the insufficient supply in the artery in your neck, this is exactly what causes your symptoms. I had the same problem, all stemming from horribly strained muscles in my upper back and neck. Your chiro. just told you the same thing I did, it is just scarier hearing it from a doctor. But if it is just in the muscles, it is easily taken care of. Let me know what the neuro. says, OK?

[This message has been edited by Kamden (edited 10-29-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Kamden (edited 10-29-2002).]

Thank you Kamden. I also have a new thing going on...when I tilt my head back as far as I can,( I do that when my neck muscles are so tighened, makes them feel alittle better.) I wait a few seconds and my head just shakes, like its sitting on a nerve or something. I showed this to the chiro also...she had me tilt my head back and look to the left then the right. The shaking started when I turned my head to the left, she said that means the problem is on the right artery. The shaking feels like my head is too heavy to be supported. The chiro called them tremors. I asked her if she was talking about the carotid arteries and she said no, the ones that go up each side of the BACK of our necks. I asked if she was saying they were clogged or something, again she said no, but more like kinked or pinched. I asked what would cause them to kink etc...she said could be a bone spur or something. She said the neurologist would probably order an MRI of my neck. I think that is what is scaring me so bad. Afraid they will find something. The receptionist called the neuro for my appointment and I couldn't get in until May 2003. Next thing I know the chiro went into her office and came out and told me I go next Tuesday. Now that REALLY scared me. Must be pretty serious if she didn't want me to wait that long. I've never been to a neuro before and have no idea what to expect. Did you have an MRI? I also asked her, what if it is kinked or pinched, what can be done...she said sometimes medication,traction or in serious cases, surgery. Well, just thought I'd let you know more of my chiro appt. Glad you are here to talk to. Thanks again http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

forgot to mention....I asked her if this artery thing could be caused from sitting at my computor, hour after hour, day after day. She told me no. I was surprised when she said that because thats when I get the tensed neck and upper back muscles. I've only had a putor for alittle less then 2 years. I've had so many problems in that time, a thing happening with my wrist, (had to wear a wrist support for 3 weeks),something happened with my eyes, saw bright colored prisims (sp), was told it was from putor stress, a thing with my left foot, because for some reason I always have it wrapped around the leg of my chair, lol...and now this thing. Just thought I would add what she said about her doubting it being from putor. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Pinkblazer, Remember I told you it is a very commonly overlooked problem, and that it does not occur to many doctors to check this, and some don't know how? Don't let her reaction scare you so much. She is only going by your symptoms, and look how much these symptoms scare us who have them!!! We always think of the worst!!! Your chiro. is only going by what she has learned from her training, and is not going to try and guess what the cause is. I had that same tremor problem BTW. Remember, I lived like this for 6 months, on meds. with the doctor finding nothing wrong. It is common for this cause to be overlooked. Since you talked about having problems since working at a computer, and you feel the tensed up muscles in your neck, this could be the cause. Remember, doctors are human, and don't know everything. After years of back and neck problems, I wish i had gone to a neuro. in the first place, not spent 20 years going to chiros. After your appointment, please post back here. I know how scarey it is to have these symptoms, and not know where they are coming from, and of course I too hope yours are coming from the same source mine were. Kamden

Thanks again for answering http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif You had the head shaking/tremors also? WOW....seems like you've had e'thing I am experiencing. Although you haven't mentioned, have the feeling of blood getting shut off when laying on back and turning your head. I am hoping it will just be from very tensed muscles and not from something more serious. As I stated in other posts awhile back, I asked my dr. if a vein or artery could be getting pinched and he said NO, they are very well protected against things like that happening. I have been all over the web trying to find info on pinched/kinked arteries and couldn't find a thing, only clogged. Oh well, guess I just have to wait for my appt. with neuro. Thanks Kamden http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi Pinkblazer, I had too many symptoms at the time to remember all of them. This was about 10 years ago that I first had the problem after a car accident. And it was from my strained muscles ( knots in them ) pressing on the blood vessels in my neck affecting the blood supply, so I am not sure what the doc meant when he or she said it could not be from that, because mine was. And after I started feeling better, i did quit going to PT, just because it was a hassle, but then had to go back later when I started having them again, from overuse of my muscles from work. A neuro. is the type of doc you should go to for this anyway. They know where the trigger points are, and can check to see what is causing this problem. Did you read rgraf8"s posts on here? He had loads of symptoms and was diagnosed with menieres disease a year ago, then had these trigger points checked by a neuro. and the neuro. told him these were most likely causing his symptoms, because when they were pressed, it duplicated his symptoms and he is now being sent to physical therapy. I don't know what else I can tell you, except my symptoms were also aggravated in certain positions, and a few times, I almost passed out when turning my head to one side, because it cut the blood supply off. I am not trying to diagnose you, just letting you know this is one thing that can be the cause of these symptoms. Anyway, let me know what you find out. Kamden

[This message has been edited by Kamden (edited 11-01-2002).]

Dear Pinkblazerny,
I just touched base on this board for the first time, looking for someone who might have something I have been diagnosed with. I read your comments and would like to know what other symptoms you've had? And are they on-going or just happening periodically?
You mentioned the blood flow feeling when you're on your back & turn your head and loss of balance & swaying. Those are some of the symptoms I have. Only when I turn my head in bed, or anytime for that matter, it's a whooshing feeling & my head spins. I sway or tilt to the left and have bad head/neck pain. My diagnosis is Acoustic Neuroma. It's very rare but was found on an MRI. Do you notice any difficulty hearing on one side or the other? I doubt you have this because it's so rare but thought it important to inform you in can be so many things. Please don't get hung up on one thought and go into the Doc telling him your arteries are pinched. Just write down every symptom you're having & when they began & give him/her the note if that would be easier. The Doc will do some testing & hopefully your problems will be solved. Sometimes NOT knowing is more difficult than knowing, even if it's bad news. Because once you know what it is, definitively, you can carry on.
I'm over the shock now & am facing this with some amount of strength and courage and plan to journal my way through the experience, with the journal eventually becoming a book on how to help someone get through this necessary journey. It's exciting! Good luck and God bless you, especially on Tuesday. I hope to hear from you soon. Sukers
P.S. Does anyone else have what I have?