Head Jerking Question

calmwaters · 03-16-2015, 01:36 PM

Hi, I have severe anxiety and have recently started getting muscle spasm in my shoulders and neck that cause sometimes cause my head to jerk. I would like to know if this can cause any problems with the brain. I know that a quick acceleration of the head is what causes concussions/TBIs, but is this jerking enough to cause one? Thank you for the help.

Jomar · 03-16-2015, 01:47 PM

Usually it is actually hitting the head on something that causes concussions.

If you already have a concussion the jerks might flare up those symptoms..

calmwaters · 03-16-2015, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

If you already have a concussion the jerks might flare up those symptoms..

Why does it flair up the symptoms? Is it that the jerks are causing subsequent, smaller concussions in a person that has already had a concussion?

Mark in Idaho · 03-16-2015, 03:05 PM

calmwaters,

Have you suffered a concussion recently ?

Those head jerks would need to be quite violent to cause a concussion. Probably more violent than your neck muscles can cause.

Now, it you are head banging to music and whipping your head back and forth for an extended period of time, there were be reason to be concerned. So, just in case, don't purposely whip your head back and forth.

calmwaters · 03-16-2015, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Have you suffered a concussion recently ?

No, I have not suffered a concussion recently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Those head jerks would need to be quite violent to cause a concussion. Probably more violent than your neck muscles can cause.

Ok, but what exactly causes a person that has had a concussion recently to have symptom flairs with head jerking? Does it help to have a thin neck (meaning less neck muscle) relative to the size of your head?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Now, it you are head banging to music and whipping your head back and forth for an extended period of time, there were be reason to be concerned. So, just in case, don't purposely whip your head back and forth.

Oh, I would never do such a thing.

Lara · 03-16-2015, 05:09 PM

I know many people with head jerking tics (not associated with TBI that is). Some of their tics are very severe and cause a lot of pain and distress and problems with the neck/spine and muscles themselves, but I haven't ever known of any of them to sustain a concussion from their severe neck tics.

Edited to add: In the reverse situation it is possible to get tics after a head injury.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1059138-102.html
TBI - Adult onset tics.

calmwaters · 03-16-2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara

I know many people with head jerking tics (not associated with TBI that is). Some of their tics are very severe and cause a lot of pain and distress and problems with the neck/spine and muscles themselves, but I haven't ever known of any of them to sustain a concussion from their severe neck tics.

Edited to add: In the reverse situation it is possible to get tics after a head injury.

Thanks for this information. I have one additional question as you may see above. Why exactly can head jerking cause symptoms to flair up in people who have recently suffered a TBI? Is this an causing an additional TBI? From the information that you just gave the answer would be no, which begs the question: What is causing the flair in symptoms for these people?

Lara · 03-16-2015, 07:51 PM

I would imagine that inflammation could cause symptoms to increase again and that it would depend on what sort of injuries were sustained previously.

Others here might have more input about that from their own experience.

Lara · 03-16-2015, 08:04 PM

Here's an interesting article...

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

JBuckl · 03-24-2015, 12:30 PM

Your head jerking could be what was said earlier: tics, which are involuntary muscle spasms. I had these for a while violently in the neck as well. I took ativan shortly for it and then topamax.

The tics I have evolved into much more mild facial tics.

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