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What Causes Sore And Stiff Neck Along With Blurry Vision?
Question: I have been to many dr and they have found nothing. my neck gets sore and stiff when this happens my vision gets blurry and tunnel like. I do sometimes have balance issues they say from a vestibular condition. Also sometime when I am having these problems my legs or feet with tingle or go numb. I am male 33 and 6'6".
Also as an FYI: I played football and basketball thru highschool, no serious injuries. I did however get into a snowmobile accident at 19 broke most bones in my face. One scan showed possible scar tissue in my neck but dr. where not concerned.
This started about 4 or 5 years ago. I was sanding my basement walls. I became really stiff in the neck I assumed from sanding. However the problem still persists.
I am currently a truck driver and drive about 10 hours a day.
Also as an FYI: I played football and basketball thru highschool, no serious injuries. I did however get into a snowmobile accident at 19 broke most bones in my face. One scan showed possible scar tissue in my neck but dr. where not concerned.
This started about 4 or 5 years ago. I was sanding my basement walls. I became really stiff in the neck I assumed from sanding. However the problem still persists.
I am currently a truck driver and drive about 10 hours a day.
Brief Answer:
Tension type Headache/Migraine/Some cervical pathology
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being here on Healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist and I'd surely help you with your query.
I approach your clinical situation with a syndromic approach.A clinical syndrome which includes intermittent stiffness of neck associated with blurring of vision and tingling(and numbness in legs).The most likely possibilities in decreasing order of priority are:
1)Migraine: Migraine seems to be the most common cause.Pain is not necessarily headache in migraine,rather it can be a severe neck pain,and association of blurring of vision or tunnel vision along with a sensory aura like numbness/tingling in limbs is also very common.
2)Tension type headache: Tension type headache can be very severe periodically.Though classically it is headache,but neck pain can be predominant complaint sometimes when the 'tension' involves the increased tone of the muscles of neck and when it get the muscles at the base of head and around the eyes tensed,blurring of vision or tunnel vision can be common.Tingling or numbness in limbs is however uncommon for it and when present should be looked for alternative diagnosis(but in your case as you told probably CT and MRI are negative,kind of ruling other intracranial pathologies).
3)Another possibility can be of a pathology at cervical level(neck level)which intermittently cause a compressive effect on cervical spine causing all the symptoms you mentioned like 'Arachnoid cyst'.A cervical spine MRI is probably not done in your case.
Overall,I would advise you to consult your neurologist regarding starting you on a trial of anti-migraine medicines and keep you under observation for improvement.
Along with some medicines like tricyclic antidepressants which indirectly can put your stressed muscles at a relaxed state,will be of help. Some muscle relaxants may help too.
Hope I have cleared your query.If you have some follow-up question,I shall be glad to help you,else you can close the thread and rate it.Wish you good health.
Dr.Ajay Panwar
MD,DM(neurology)
Tension type Headache/Migraine/Some cervical pathology
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being here on Healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist and I'd surely help you with your query.
I approach your clinical situation with a syndromic approach.A clinical syndrome which includes intermittent stiffness of neck associated with blurring of vision and tingling(and numbness in legs).The most likely possibilities in decreasing order of priority are:
1)Migraine: Migraine seems to be the most common cause.Pain is not necessarily headache in migraine,rather it can be a severe neck pain,and association of blurring of vision or tunnel vision along with a sensory aura like numbness/tingling in limbs is also very common.
2)Tension type headache: Tension type headache can be very severe periodically.Though classically it is headache,but neck pain can be predominant complaint sometimes when the 'tension' involves the increased tone of the muscles of neck and when it get the muscles at the base of head and around the eyes tensed,blurring of vision or tunnel vision can be common.Tingling or numbness in limbs is however uncommon for it and when present should be looked for alternative diagnosis(but in your case as you told probably CT and MRI are negative,kind of ruling other intracranial pathologies).
3)Another possibility can be of a pathology at cervical level(neck level)which intermittently cause a compressive effect on cervical spine causing all the symptoms you mentioned like 'Arachnoid cyst'.A cervical spine MRI is probably not done in your case.
Overall,I would advise you to consult your neurologist regarding starting you on a trial of anti-migraine medicines and keep you under observation for improvement.
Along with some medicines like tricyclic antidepressants which indirectly can put your stressed muscles at a relaxed state,will be of help. Some muscle relaxants may help too.
Hope I have cleared your query.If you have some follow-up question,I shall be glad to help you,else you can close the thread and rate it.Wish you good health.
Dr.Ajay Panwar
MD,DM(neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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