Puzzling Ordeal
 

I was relatively symptom free for a good while now and had built up to working six hour days, six days a week, when I have seemed to run into a relapse. I was working Tuesday, and walking up a steep (45 degree) slope when I lost my footing and caught myself with my arm. I felt a jolt, but didn't think this could have done any harm. Wednesday afternoon I went to the chiropractor for the third or fourth adjustment I have had on my C1. That night I just felt out of it when I went out to eat with family, but I just figured I pushed too hard. Thursday I felt the same way with off balance, a little vertigo, and snowy vision. Today was the same story so I went back to the chiropractor and explained. Immediately she noted my C1 was shifted pretty badly. I thought that would fix it, but now this afternoon I still feel just as bad. Could I really have done damage when I slipped on that hill without actually hitting my head directly?

My money goes on, "You disrupted blood flow to your brain with the strain to your upper neck."

Some icing and anti-inflammatory (NSAID) meds may help.

Was there a specific reason/symptom that caused you to go to the chiro for the adjustment ?

What kind of adjustment was performed ? Twist the head and pop the neck ?

Hi Mark, thanks for the advice.

I went originally to help with my ocular migraine which consisted of a constricted pupil and heavy eyelid. It helped quite a bit the first two or three times.

It was just the twist the head and pop the neck adjustment.

I have tried this several times - you will be fine again soon. I have heard a lot of different explanations eg that it is because of the deep flexor muscles in the neck. But I havent found anything that fixed it...

For many, the twist the head and pop the neck adjustment is too aggressive. If you have this done again, ask if the chiro can do a bit of muscle tension releasing massage before and ice after.

It's good to hear that this is normal, relatively. I'll be sure to tell the chiropractor next time about this.

Well, it's been over a week and I am thinking that slip and fall without actually hitting my head did something as my vision is still off and mentally I am just not with it still, especially in conversion. I feel like I did the first month after my concussion if not worse. I don't know what to think; my short term memory is not there, my balance is off, driving has been difficult, sometimes I just feel that my legs are going right out from under me as I walk, and my pupils are acting very erratic and fidgety. I just find it hard to believe my threshold would be that low for injury to occur again?

It sounds to me like something more than your almost fall is at play. I would not be surprised your last adjustment caused some inflammation. C-1 is very difficult to diagnose and more difficult to coax into position without inducing trauma.

What did she do to diagnose that your C-1 was shifted pretty badly ?

Keep in mind that a chiropractic adjustment is not a fix. It only helps your body respond better to good health and posture discipline.

You list general symptoms. I don't see a pattern in them. Many of them can be caused by concussion and/or anxiety. Focusing on them can make a minor symptom much worse. Thinking a chiro adjust will be a fix suggests you are expecting too much.

How has driving been difficult ?
How do you know your short term memory is not there ?

I somewhat agree that something else is at play. It cannot just be a coincidence that these symptoms flared up after the visit. I noted that I felt different after going, and noted to my parents that I thought something seemed very off.

She just did a standard chiropractic exam I would imagine to determine it being shifted.

The symptoms I have been experiencing seem to be vestibular related? Correct me if I am wrong as I have little knowledge how cervical issues and vestibular problems tie in. I may have said it before, but a lot of these symptoms were ones that going originally helped decrease, especially the pressure sensation I would get whenever I bend over or blood rushes to my head. At one time, and currently now, if I bend over or physically exert myself lifting too much my one pupil will constrict and I get dizzy.

If leaning over causes one pupil to constrict, you should get checked out by a doctor. But, it is very difficult to accurately self-check pupils.

A standard chiro exam would not show that C-1 is shifted pretty badly.

A leg check could possibly show something is worth checking out. But, as I said, C-1 is difficult to diagnose.