Doctor:
I am a 47 year old woman with a history of a number of serious car accidents. I suffered a serious whiplash in 1970 which resulted in 2 years of 5 day a week physio/speech therapy. At the age of 25 I was diagnosed with an 87 degree curvature of the spine, Harrington fusion was performed 7 months on a stryker, 8 months in a full body cast. 1978 rods were removed. Since that time I have had 3 rear end collisions and I was hit broad side 3 years ago. I suffered from numbness down my right arm and leg for a long time and weakness when i walked or climbed stairs. I have been seeing a chiropractor and a massage therapist for a number of years and have had amazing results....my leg is no longer numb and the tingling in my arm and hand has dissipated completely. My neck however, is difficult to adjust and this particular chiropractor only stretches it since it is so stubborn - he refuses to force anythin. I have also been diagnose with severe ostioarthritis - spine, left leg, knee, both wrists and my feet. I am presently taking glucosamine sulfate and have no discomfort or pain anymore although the deformity of my knee is still there.
2 - 3 years ago I started suffering occasional paralysis, tingling in the right side of my face and arm - I thought it might be related to teeth, so I had a night mouthguard made and continued being positive. These symptoms would come and go. 5 months ago, however, I had the first major attack of what my family physician diagnosed as a TIA - it was terrifying, I drooled, was dizzy, lost the use of my right arm to a certain extent and had tingling in my right eye and the right side of my face. The neurologist thinks it could be anxiety, my family physician who knows me very well, examined me 15 minutes after the attack isn't convinced of this and so and has asked me to continue on the regime of aspirin (1 per day as a precautionary measure) - I am not prone to hystrionics and have never been mentally ill.
I was watching a program called 48 hours and it had a young 12 year old who had the same symptoms as I have had - he too had been told it was psychosematic and that it was nothing. It turned out when they did the doppler on him while he sat up (as opposed to lying down) it had Eagles Syndrome - it was fortunate the fourth neurologist that was approached for a consultation had remembered hearing about this during residency......anyway - my question is this could I be suffering the same thing and if so how do I go about correcting this problem...the obvious is to have yet another consultation....which leads me to the next question - will they be swayed by the reports from the neurologist and cardiologist?
What is your opinion, suggestions, should I forget it ever happened - I am afraid of an impending stroke - especially since my father passed away after a quadruple by-pass and I have a heart murmur and mitral valve prolapse already. I need advice...pls respond.
Thanking you in advance for your time.
Reply: ----------------------------
Frankly, the symptoms you have described do not lead me to suspect Eagle's syndrome. Eagles syndrome is a condition caused by impingment of the glossopharyngeal nerve by an elongated styloid process or ossified stylohyoid ligament. It is primarily associated with a form of neuralgic pain syndrome whereby there are spasmodic attacks of severe lancinating well localized pain in the upper throat - often there is a focal trigger point somewhere inside the mouth or throat that can repeatedly reproduce the attack. In rare instances, glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be associated with syncope or sudden passing out. However, your description of the symptoms you have experienced would lead me to be more concerned about cerebrovascular problems rather than Eagle's syndrome. In any event I would consult with a neurologist regarding this.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
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