[calmwaters]

I have a question about neck muscles and TBI. Does the neck have the ability to produce enough force to cause a concussion? I say this because I sometimes have "nervous tics" that cause me to jerk my head one direction, or turn my head sideways quickly.

[Mark in Idaho]

No, there is not enough force at either end of the jerk to cause a concussion. If you jerked your head into something, you may get a concussion. But, shaking your head violently repeatedly could cause an injury as the brain struggles to regulate fluid/blood pressure, etc.

A neck injury could cause symptoms that overlap concussion symptoms.

This does not mean that head jerks would not cause concussion symptoms to relapse. Some of us have become very sensitive to quick head movements after a concussion and can get a return of symptoms, usually short term.

[Lara]

I posted this on one of your other threads calmwaters.
Not sure if you saw it at the time. Just thought it may be of interest to you.
You should perhaps get your neck checked.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0731200958.htm
Is it really a concussion? Symptoms overlap with neck injuries, making diagnosis a tough call

Date: July 31, 2014
University at Buffalo

[calmwaters]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

No, there is not enough force at either end of the jerk to cause a concussion. If you jerked your head into something, you may get a concussion.

Well, that takes a load off of my mind.

But, shaking your head violently repeatedly could cause an injury as the brain struggles to regulate fluid/blood pressure, etc.

Ok, this raises more questions. How hard do these jerks need to be to be considered 'violent,' as you say?

Also, these tics can occur up to 5 times in succession with an interval between them of about 2 or 3 seconds. Would this be considered to be shaking my repeatedly?

Additionally, how long does it take for the brain to regulate fluid/blood pressure once the levels have been disrupted by a head shake/jerk? In my case, does my brain have enough time to regulate fluid/blood pressure before the next jerk?

Thank you.

[Mark in Idaho]

Are these short twitches or jerks at the full range of motion of your head and neck ? I have had head twitches but they have never been more than a few inches. Involuntary jerks do not involve enough muscles to cause the forces required for a concussion or what would be considered violent shaking.

Shaking your head violently would be like what happens when someone is head banging to music. Head banging usually involves not just jerking the head but also the shoulders and upper body.

If I remember correctly, you have asked these questions before and I answered. Has something changed ?

[calmwaters]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Are these short twitches or jerks at the full range of motion of your head and neck ?

The single directional twitchs (side to side or up and down) are short ranged.
As for the rotational twitches, sometimes the range is pretty far. To clarify, the rotational twitches are the 'turning of the head twitches' (which would be turning in the way that a dog would turn it's head when confused, with my face turning counter-clockwise from a viewers perspective). I'd say they can be sometimes as far as 45-70 degrees turns. also, I don't know if this helps, but these rotational twitches don't seem to be as jerky as the single directional twitches. The motion seems to be a little bit "smoother."