Vertebral Artery Dissection/TIA

[mom123]

I am a 41 year old female who has never had any medical problems.  January of this year I dissected my left vertebral artery and suffered a TIA.  During an angiogram it was confirmed that my dissection was approximately 2-3 inches long and there was a pseudoaneurysm.  I was placed on coumadin and told to wait 6 months to see if my artery would repair itself.  I had my follow-up angiogram 3 weeks ago.  10% of the dissection remains as well as the pseudoaneurysm.  I was taken off coumadin 5 days prior to my follow-up angiogram and am currently taking 1 asprin a day.  I am scheduled to have a stent placed in my artery in 10 days.  My concern is shortly after I stopped taking my coumadin I started hearing a loud grinding noise when I turn my head certain directions.  I have been told that this is not related to my dissection.  However, I've been on line and have read that a grinding noise could be a sign of an artery tearing.  What are your thoughts?

[askmom60]

A related discussion, dentist cause vertebral arterial dissection was started.

[Scubado]

2 years ago I had a chiropractic adjustment in which during I had a sharp pain in the area of C2.  Later that evening, I had long period of a headache in the back of my head, dizzyness, nausea, visual problems and could not get up.  After a few hours the pain and symptoms went away.  Over the next couple of weeks they returned but were not as severe and then went away, except for the pain in my neck has been constant.  I also have numbness in tingling in both arms, heaviness in my left arm (same side as my neck pain).  I have also noticed some mild short-term memory loss.  I went to the Dr. (military) and Chiropractor and was told "Its not like he broke your neck or anything," and nothing was done.  The pain is still present and someone suggested that I  likely had a verbetral artery dissection and possibly a TIA.  If that is true 1) am I still at risk?  2) why does my neck keep hurting?  3)Does that leave a scar in the artery that would show up on any tests?  4. Any suggestions for follow-up?  Who should I see?  5.  Where can I find more information on this?

Thanks.  Just a little freaked out now.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

That kind of grindings noise is probably not the artery tearing - it is usually the sound of turbulent blood flow - either through a narrow artery or through a non-smooth artery. I do not know why this is occurring, and you should tell your own doctors so they can treat you appropraietly. Usually after 6 months, any clot in the aneurysm has clotted and is no longer a threat. But if there is still a persistent tear, conceivably this could could turbulent flow and a small potential for clots - check this with your doctors.

[mom123]

I'd also like to add that my neck aches periodically during the day.