I have an upper neck injury, too. My experience leads me to believe that when I lay down, unless my neck is in a perfect position, I get inflammation that disrupts the blood flow to my brain. For me, it can cause me to stop breathing. If I try to relax, the apnea creates some strange sensation. I get a strange almost dizzy sensation. When I relax my breathing to fall asleep, I sense the lack of breath and need to breath voluntarily.

If I fall asleep in this poor neck position, I have very stressful dreams. My body may also twitch.

My concern is that the ligaments that connect C-1 to the skull are stretched leaving the joint unstable.

I am glad you have found someone who is looking into your neck. I wish you good fortune to getting worthwhile treatment.