Unsteady feeling

I am 52 years with a history of lower back problems, GERD and mild hypertension, which is controlled with medication. All my blood chemistry parameters are well within normal.  For the past month I have suffered sporadic episodes of a tightening of the back of my head followed by an unsteady or off balance feeling.  This mostly occurs when I am walking and can be stabilized by sitting or standing still.  It rarely occurs at night and never when I lie down. I am able to continue my daily routines and have had no problem working out in my health club and playing my weekly basketball game.  I had a similar episode 2 years ago that lasted for a few months.  Then I saw a neurologist and did a CT of my brain, ENG for my inner ear and x rays of my neck. The CT and ENG were normal.  I was told that I had spondylyosis in my neck and was given physical and massage therapy and after a few months the phenomena became very occasional until now.  I returned to my orthopedist, who has sent me to a chiropractor who noted that my upper back and neck muscles are very tight.   Should I wait to see if the chiropractor helps or begin to check out other possibilities?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Are you on any medication from the orthopedist ? Chiropractic treatment is useful, but it has not been shown to be more effective than medicines.

You need to get a fresh MRI of the cervical and upper thoracic spine. There could be a new development, as spondylosis is a progressive disease.

Regards