So I have lots of issues. Many I’m just starting to understand and am still tracking down doctors who can understand. I have never felt comfortable turning my head to the left. For example, if sleeping in my recliner or a car I will turn my head to the right to sleep. Never to the left. It just feels wrong. I have less range of motion to the left too, but who knows why. As I now start to put together all of my cervical issues and the many pieces of the puzzle I wondered about something and so I did a side-by-side comparison.

This is from my CT from this past August of 2011. My head is rotated to the left and to the right. This makes it pretty darn clear why the right side is more comfortable and why the left side feels so wrong. Still no official diagnosis on my neck. Maybe this time next week. Anyway, here’s my neck turned to the left and to the right. Interesting, huh?

Anybody else feel “wrong” turning their head to one side or another?

Wow!  Let us know what they say about the comparisons!  When I am laying down, I feel the same way you do.  Turning my head to the left doesn’t feel right and sometimes looking straight up doesn’t feel right, so I turn my head to the right most times when I lay down.

Got diagnosed with Eagle Syndrome.  The less common vascular type.  I have it on both sides.  Here is arrows pointing out the calcified ligament on each side of my neck as it runs alongside the extracranial internal jugular vein.  It is worse when turning the head because then it restricts or cuts off blood flow to the head.  Here’s what wikipedia says about Eagle Syndrome:

Patients with the classic “Eagle Syndrome” can present with unilateral sore throat, dysphagia, tinnitus, unilateral facial and neck pain, and otalgia.

In patients with the vascular form of “Eagle syndrome”, the elongated styloid process is in contact with the extracranial internal carotid artery. This can cause a compression (while turning the head) or a dissection of the carotid artery causing a transient ischemic event or a stroke.

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This explains lots of my symptoms.  There is also concern about C1 and C2, but more concern about my tethered cord right now.  I was told not to turn my head though.  NO range of motion head turning!  So, life is good as long as my neck is TIGHT, STRONG, and I DON’T TURN MY HEAD.  Great.

OMG, I am so sorry that you have Eagle Syndrome.  I’ve never even heard of it.  What is the next step (aside from not turning your head!)?  Do you know what would cause this calcification?  Do you have EDS and POTS?  Stay positive - at least you have a diagnosis (better to know than not know).
Michelle

Yes to POTS & EDS. I got lectured about skipping meals. Florinef made my head feel like it was going to explode and beta blockers could lower my already low BP so they are a bad idea too. Sort of up the creek without a paddle. Getting 2nd and 3rd opinions soon. Will see where that leads. My PT is freaked and my PCP is very concerned bc of PT’s reaction and because of new symptoms surfacing.