[ThrivenGee]

#31225

Hello,

In May of this year I started to develop vertigo like symptoms (lightheaded, jaw pain, teeth pain, occasional headaches, rubbery arms and legs). Scheduled an appointment with my PCP and he diagnosed BPPV and prescribed steroids and the Epley maneuver which did not seem to help much. Two weeks later I returned still with the symptoms and he prescribed another steroid and the Epley maneuver. Still not feeling much relief I went to my Chiropractor who did a few neck adjustments but it didn’t seem to help much. Next step was my dentist (since the problem started a few days after having fillings replaced) which led to no result. Next stop was an ENT who did a hearing test and performed the Epley maneuver, which again did nothing. A few weeks later I found myself in the ER with really bad symptoms, the performed a CT scan and didn’t find anything. They called it vertigo and prescribed me Meclizine (which did nothing). PCP then said it was probably just anxiety and prescribed me some anti-anxiety mediation. My symptoms continued and I started to notice a correlation between feeling the symptoms the worst when moving my neck and also noticed neck pain and sometimes a tension headache. I started to do research of my own and came across an article about Cervical vertigo and the symptoms were identical to mine. I then requested my PCP do a MRI per the advice of my father’s neurologist. I received the results from my MRI but I’m having trouble understanding what it means and if it explains my symptoms. I’m scheduled to see my PCP on Thursday but really want to know what I’ll be walking into and was hoping you may be able to offer some advice. Below are the findings from my MRI:

FINDINGS:

VERTEBRAE: Normal vertebral bodies and posterior elements.
VERTEBRAL ALIGNMENT: Normal, including the craniocervical junction and
cervicothoracic junction. No spondylolisthesis. There is preservation of
the normal cervical lordosis.
CORD: Unremarkable in signal and morphology.
C2/C3: There is a central broad-based protrusion producing indentation on
the anterior portion of the canal. The neural foramina are patent. There is
CSF surrounding the spinal cord. There is no cord compression.
C3/C4: There is a right paracentral broad-based protrusion producing
indentation on the anterior portion of the canal. The neural foramina are
patent. There is mild narrowing of the right lateral recess.
C4/C5: Normal disc height and morphology. Normal spinal canal and
neuroforamina.
C5/C6: Normal disc height and morphology. Normal spinal canal and
neuroforamina.
C6/C7: Normal disc height and morphology. Normal spinal canal and
neuroforamina.
C7/T1: There is mildly bulging producing indentation on the anterior
portion of the canal seen in the cytology only.
NECK SOFT TISSUES: No prevertebral soft tissue swelling. There is no
cervical adenopathy.

IMPRESSION:

Normal signal intensity along the spinal cord. There is no evidence of
compressive myelopathy.
No acute fracture of the location of the cervical spine.
Central broad-based protrusion noted at C2-C3 and C3-C4 producing
indentation on the anterior portion of the canal. The signal intensity
along the spinal cord remain preserved. There is narrowing of the right
lateral recess at C3-C4.:
FINAL

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#31232

Symptoms of vertigo consist of the room feeling to be spinning around you and can be positional (holding your head in a certain alignment). Your complaints of “lightheaded, jaw pain, teeth pain, occasional headaches, rubbery arms and legs” are more consistent with “dizziness” which has a whole litany of potential causes. It would be highly unlikely that your MRI findings in your neck are associated with your complaints.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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