Autonomic Dysfunction and cervical stenosis

[JSkrill]

Does anyone here know of any relationship with autonomic dysfunction and cervical stenosis?  I have found a little bit scouring the internet but nothing substantial.  

The reason I ask is that I was involved in a MVA and two weeks later all of my symptoms started.  After the MRI's I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and a annular tear at C5-6 with moderate central canal stenosis.  Since most of my symptoms seemed more likely to come from the Chiari Malformation I went ahead and had that procedure with a world class surgeon.  It has not helped.

I have had extensive workups and the only thing that is diagnosed is autonomic dysfunction and the c5-6 herniation.  I know without a doubt that the herniation is causing problems such as pain, numbness, and tingling.  I am just trying to find out if the stenosis can cause or mimic the other symptoms suggestive of AD.  I find it really bizzare that I was perfectly normal before the wreck and now can't stand up of walk to the rest room without being out of breath and having my pulse shoot to 130.

Please do not take this as disrespect, but don't reply telling my to ask my doctors about this.  I have and have gotten the run around.  I am here for information, I don't expect anyone to diagnose me.

[Ball123]

There are some speculations that cervical issues could cause both chiari and AD. This is definitely not accepted yet in the medical community though.

What about chiropractic manouvers or cranio-sacral therapy etc? Do you think something like that can help?

[rsvp2me]

I am so sorry to hear of yet another that suffers from these symptoms. I have been treating at OHSU for years and have had NO LUCK. For a teaching hospital you would think they have "some knowledge" but alas, they dont. I have been  brushed off and referred to so many "specialists" all with the same answer....dont know, cant explain, therefore it must be in your head and see a shrink!
It is easier for them to say its a perplexing multitude of symptoms with no clear diagnosis therefore its must be mainly caused by a psychological condition. OHSU has nothing to offer but a dead-end and empty pockets. I have searched the States looking for a DR that is at least willing to investigate and help with the management of the symptoms. I have seen every department specialist for each area affected from GI, Spine Center, Cardiology, Psych, Physical Therapy......nothing. They arent willing to touch me because they dont want to invest the time and energy. Lets be real here, the combined symptoms are overwhelming to the medical community as they are to us and many physicians do not want to take it on.
If you have had any luck, I would love to know which physicians you have seen. (I have most likely come across them during the past 5yrs I have been advocating for myself, my life).

[Viva001]

Thanks so much!  
Dr. Rosner is my NS, & he performed an extensive cervical laminectomy on me in 2000; he performed a Posterior Fossa Decompression on me for Chiari malformation in 2012.
I don't consider myself as having FMS, because I know the cause.
I am SO much better that I get into trouble when I overdo (like now, packing up a household).  I am still troubled by dysautonomia, which is very wearying--it can be nausea, gastroparesis, sweating--but always insomnia.
I was fascinated to hear about Benign Hypermobility, because that red flag is rampant in my family, and also I have had bruxism my whole adult life.
I look forward to reading your research!

[sblythe]

This is a fascinating thread for me. I am a physician, but share the frustration of several here at being misdiagnosed originally when I had a herniated C6-7 disc. My surgery went well - but several years later I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia because of constant muscle aches in shoulders and thighs. I had no classic "tender points" seen with FM. So I am intrigued by Dr. Holman's work showing that some people diagnosed with FM actually have spinal stenosis. I long suspected that I was developing spinal stenosis - now it has reached a critical point and has become obvious and the MRI reveals that I will soon need to have my neck rebuilt.

But I am also interested in the possible link between this and autonomic dysfunction - as some here have raised. In the past year I have developed "cough syncope" - a series of deep coughs will make me almost pass out. This doesn't happen often, but has happened twice while driving and is very scary. I suspect a relationship, but cannot find anything in the literature.

[AndrewJHolmanMD]

Please see www.PositionalCordCompression.com for information and supportive papers.  There is a wealth of knowledge about autonomic dysfunction, the cervical spinal cord, hypermobility syndromes, POTS and pain/fatigue.  Or Google my name for two lectures.  Happy to speak to your doctors if that may help.
Andrew J Holman MD
rheumatologist
Seattle

[geneticstuffup]

Hi. I too have been given the run around for years. Yes spine issues can cause issues dysautonomia, especially POTS. It's hard enough proving that you have it involuntarily as a symptom even before you find a cause. Many doctors flat out refuse to believe that muscular skeletal innervated the sympathetic system and putting your system into a constant fright mode. This would normally be accompanied by excessive urination but also constipation. Im only 37 and all I got was that it was anxiety. Then they blamed lung surgeries I've had even though my spine had heart beats of it's own. It's highly debilitating and NOBODY will understand unless they have it. Dizzy, fullness in head, wooshes of adrenaline upon standing, supine bradycardia but upright tackycardia. Fine one minute, then the next bang! I have degenerative spine. I'm 37 AND IT'S RUINING MY LIFE. I am pretty sure most issues stem from stenosis or nerve compression from T1 to t5 and lesser extent c6 to c8. Better off to listen to people who have it on a forum that doctors I'm afraid. Problem with long term slow degeneration disease is that nerves desensitize, pain threshold increases and there can be minimal pain but lots of muscle tension. So the hyper pots that people get diagnosed with is often an underlying thoracic spine compression. The reason it's so rare is due to doctors being ignorant regarding muscular skeletal health in general.