Initial neck problems--neurological basis?

[jmchad72]

Approximately 2.5 months ago, I suddenly developed a very stiff, uncomfortable neck with dizziness and flushed face. The dizziness was fairly extreme at the time. Neck pain and dizziness were initially treated separately. I was given Meclizine for dizziness and Methylprednisolone for neck issues. X-ray of the cervical spine was normal. After several days, I continued to have neck stiffness and lower degree of dizziness. Approximately one month after initial onset of symptoms, I was taken to the emergency room with muscle spasms in neck/head. My head felt completely locked and thought I was going to pass out. A CT of head and neck was normal, as were EKG and various blood tests. I was given a cortisone shot and a week of prednisone. I took muscle relaxants for several days afterwards.

Since the emergency room visit, most of the neck stiffness and tension has been focused on the left side of my neck and head. At first, I had a great deal of tightness on the left side of my head. Tightness in my left eye and left side of face, as well as difficulty swallowing. Several times it felt like the left side of my head was being squeezed and disconnected from the right side. On a couple of occasions, my left eye became very strained and wouldn't focus with the right eye. The result was a sick headache feeling. After several days, I started experiencing weakness on the left side of my head. While speaking with someone, I suddenly felt like I was losing control over the left side of my head--numbness in face, ringing in left ear, feeling like I wouldn't be able to speak. I've had several instances of weakness or nerve activity on the left side of neck and head. Also have developed very strained muscles in left side of neck. One area behind ear is very sensitive to touch--like hitting nerve. Have developed a great deal of left shoulder pain and nausea, particularly when my neck feels especially strained. In general, any excitement, spirited discussion, or sexual activity seems to make me feel weak and even dizzy on left side of head. I cannot become overly excited in any way or I feel like I'm going to pass out. MRI of brain and cervical spine showed no clear problems. I have wondered about vascular problems but have not received any specific clinical feedback about that.

Overall, I have a low level of energy and often feel "out of my body." Sometimes I feel like my whole body just suddenly relaxes, which creates almost a dropping sensation. It's not a good relaxation. Head movements can lead to sudden, brief dizzy feelings. My head just doesn't feel right. I feel quite weak at times, almost like blood sugar levels are not normal. I've also developed muscle twitches in left arm, left side of neck and left leg. I'm scheduled to see a neurologist in a week or so. Any suggestions/feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,
How are you?
Do you have these symptoms constantly or intermittently?
There is a possibility that these symptoms are due to migraine. Neck stiffness, headache, nausea, inability to focus raise the suspicion of a migraine attack.
Since the CT scan of head and neck is normal nerve compression can be ruled out as a cause of your symptoms.
Inner ear disease like Meniere’s disease and BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) can cause dizziness and neck stiffness. Only a thorough neurological examination will help in making the diagnosis. Do keep us posted!

[jmchad72]

Thank you for your response. I had also considered some kind of headache syndrome. I constantly have stiffness in my neck and feel tension in the muscles on the left side of my head/neck. I always sense a greater amount of tension on the left side compared to the right side. Also, my head often feels a little "funny," which seems to be related to the constant pulling I feel in the muscles in my neck and head. However, the episodes of weakness in my head are intermittent. I have had 4 or 5 specific times when I feel like I'm going to lose control over the left side of my head and face and feel weakness in my left arm and sometimes left leg. These episodes last a few minutes before I'm able to recover. If I haven't eaten and begin to feel weak because of lack of food, it seems to increase the likelihood of the episodes. I have not completely figured out the nausea. Either related to a headache as you mentioned or a response to the extreme strain I feel in my neck muscles or tendons.

[SUTHRNGAL]

Have you seen a NEUR. AND HAVE YOU had any success yet?  I have had much of what you are suffering.  

I also have dizzy AND lightheadedness and serevely tight neck, floating black dots and ringing in my ears.  All tests are coiming out neg.  What have ya'll done to treat?  I am doing the vestibular pt, massage therapy...no relief.  Also what docs should I see next?  Neuro?  Thoughts of cervical vertigo???  My doc thinks it is just tight muscles in neck causing my dizziness/vertigo, ringing but noone understands the eye issues yet.  I also am having weird heat flashes and red patches at times.  And numbness often...in hands and face.  I know it is overwhelming.  Hang in there...prayers to you.