Neck injury / Whiplash symptoms
in Health ·
Can someone please walk me through these results? I’m specifically stuck on this C8 part...
Home ›
Mark Martin14 › Posts
Posts by Mark Martin14
5 posts shown.
Neck injury / Whiplash symptoms
in Health ·
Hey,
I just went in for another round of testing:
EMG results:
findings:
- mild chronic neural lesion in the C5 and C6 myotomes bilaterally, plus C7 on the right side
- moderate lesion in the left C7 myotome
- moderate-to-severe lesion in the C8 and T1 myotomes bilaterally
Can someone break this down for me? Like, what am I actually looking at here? What’s the move after getting news like this—what should I be doing next? How bad is this really, and is there any way to fix it... honestly, I'll take any insight, opinion, or personal experience you guys have.
Is a chiropractor worth seeing for this? Also, is it possible that the muscle cramping I'm feeling is actually just a pinched nerve? And what exactly are those spinal nerves sitting next to the vertebrae?
I just went in for another round of testing:
EMG results:
findings:
- mild chronic neural lesion in the C5 and C6 myotomes bilaterally, plus C7 on the right side
- moderate lesion in the left C7 myotome
- moderate-to-severe lesion in the C8 and T1 myotomes bilaterally
Can someone break this down for me? Like, what am I actually looking at here? What’s the move after getting news like this—what should I be doing next? How bad is this really, and is there any way to fix it... honestly, I'll take any insight, opinion, or personal experience you guys have.
Is a chiropractor worth seeing for this? Also, is it possible that the muscle cramping I'm feeling is actually just a pinched nerve? And what exactly are those spinal nerves sitting next to the vertebrae?
Neck injury / Whiplash symptoms
in Health ·
I'm wondering if it's actually normal to still be dealing with these kinds of symptoms even after four months have passed?
Is there any kind of self-care stuff out there that actually works?
Is there any kind of self-care stuff out there that actually works?
Neck injury / Whiplash symptoms
in Health ·
The diagnosis is S13—basically a dislocation, some kind of strain or subluxation of the cervical joints and ligaments... something along those lines.
-It just happens spontaneously, I guess. It creeps up on you slowly and then fades away just as slowly. Sometimes it helps if I lie down and try to properly reset my neck, but even then, it doesn't just stop; it lingers for about an hour before things settle down. So, yeah, I’m trying to avoid straining my neck as much as possible when this stuff hits.
-The sensation is more of a tightness rather than actual pain, though there's this weird weakness accompanying it. Occasionally, if I touch the left or right side of my neck, I'll feel a slight twinge of pain, but honestly, the pain isn't what worries me—it's that feeling of weakness coming from the tension. In 90% of cases, there's no pain at all. I woke up once in the middle of the night because of it, but generally, it just makes it hard to fall asleep.
-I started checking my blood pressure a few days ago during these episodes, and it's always fine. Even when I went to the ER, the doctor told me my pressure was totally normal.
-As for treatment, I haven't started anything yet because the American healthcare system is moving at a snail's pace. The routine has been: see the neurologist—everything seemed okay there, but they wanted a CT and a physical therapist. Then I go to the physical therapist, and they want a CT and a Doppler scan. I finally got those done, so now I’m heading back to the physical therapist with the results, and eventually back to the neurologist for an EMG. I just want to get some kind of treatment plan moving as soon as possible.
Do you guys have any other advice now that I've answered everything? Feel free to DM me if that's easier... I really just need someone to point me in the right direction...
Thanks for the help and for taking the time to reply.
Oh, and I've felt some mild tingling in my right arm a few times—just brief, random instances.
No dizziness, just weakness and that general feeling of being wiped out...
-It just happens spontaneously, I guess. It creeps up on you slowly and then fades away just as slowly. Sometimes it helps if I lie down and try to properly reset my neck, but even then, it doesn't just stop; it lingers for about an hour before things settle down. So, yeah, I’m trying to avoid straining my neck as much as possible when this stuff hits.
-The sensation is more of a tightness rather than actual pain, though there's this weird weakness accompanying it. Occasionally, if I touch the left or right side of my neck, I'll feel a slight twinge of pain, but honestly, the pain isn't what worries me—it's that feeling of weakness coming from the tension. In 90% of cases, there's no pain at all. I woke up once in the middle of the night because of it, but generally, it just makes it hard to fall asleep.
-I started checking my blood pressure a few days ago during these episodes, and it's always fine. Even when I went to the ER, the doctor told me my pressure was totally normal.
-As for treatment, I haven't started anything yet because the American healthcare system is moving at a snail's pace. The routine has been: see the neurologist—everything seemed okay there, but they wanted a CT and a physical therapist. Then I go to the physical therapist, and they want a CT and a Doppler scan. I finally got those done, so now I’m heading back to the physical therapist with the results, and eventually back to the neurologist for an EMG. I just want to get some kind of treatment plan moving as soon as possible.
Based on what you're describing, you might be a candidate for targeted medical massage performed by someone properly trained, paired with plenty of local NSAIDs (like applying Luboreta during the massage, or using Voltaren afterward) for at least 5-10 days. It could also make sense to look into low-dose muscle relaxants for about 2-3 weeks (for example, Normabel 2-4mg morning and night, adjusting the dose based on how well it works and any side effects).
Of course, all of this should only be done after consulting with your attending physician, since they actually have the full picture of your clinical status and medical records.
Do you guys have any other advice now that I've answered everything? Feel free to DM me if that's easier... I really just need someone to point me in the right direction...
Thanks for the help and for taking the time to reply.
Oh, and I've felt some mild tingling in my right arm a few times—just brief, random instances.
No dizziness, just weakness and that general feeling of being wiped out...
Neck injury / Whiplash symptoms
in Health ·
I'll try to keep this brief:
1. Got rear-ended in my car.
2. X-rays of my cervical spine didn't show anything.
3. Then, after feeling all weak, I ended up getting a CT scan of my head and neck.
The diagnosis was S13 bulging in three spots—nothing too crazy, I guess.
4. My Doppler showed asymmetric vertebral artery flow—elevated at 45 on the left and 55 on the right.
Everything is mostly fine until my neck starts tightening up and I get this wave of weakness. It feels like I’m actually going to pass out, followed by the shakes and turning pale—probably just fear, honestly.
5. Since it’s been four months since the accident, I’m wondering what I should do about this weakness whenever my neck muscles start seizing up.
6. There are times when I go a whole week without any symptoms, but then I'll drive, and once I hit a corner and the car starts doing its usual "shaking and rattling" thing, the tightness comes right back.
And yeah, I'm genuinely worried I might actually collapse...
Any advice, tips, or personal experiences would be appreciated.
1. Got rear-ended in my car.
2. X-rays of my cervical spine didn't show anything.
3. Then, after feeling all weak, I ended up getting a CT scan of my head and neck.
The diagnosis was S13 bulging in three spots—nothing too crazy, I guess.
4. My Doppler showed asymmetric vertebral artery flow—elevated at 45 on the left and 55 on the right.
Everything is mostly fine until my neck starts tightening up and I get this wave of weakness. It feels like I’m actually going to pass out, followed by the shakes and turning pale—probably just fear, honestly.
5. Since it’s been four months since the accident, I’m wondering what I should do about this weakness whenever my neck muscles start seizing up.
6. There are times when I go a whole week without any symptoms, but then I'll drive, and once I hit a corner and the car starts doing its usual "shaking and rattling" thing, the tightness comes right back.
And yeah, I'm genuinely worried I might actually collapse...
Any advice, tips, or personal experiences would be appreciated.