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What Causes Pain In Head And Neck Along With Twitching In Eye?
Question: I've had head and neck pain, as well as some eye twitching for about a week. I don't know why but a tear in my carotid artery is worrying me. how can I rule this out.
Brief Answer:
MRI/CT angiography/MR angiography
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
Of course,there are investigations which can detect a tear in carotid,called as carotid dissection.The chief investigations for the same are-CT angiography,MR angiography and MRI T1 sequences with fat saturation.
But,I believe that just on the basis of head and neck pain,you should not directly jump to the investigations.Its better to first get yourself physically examined by a neurologist.
Besides,to have a better opinion about your condition,please tell the following details-
1)Do you have weakness in any of your extremities or facial deviation?
2)Any history of visual disturbance?
3)History of drooping of eyelid or difference in the pupillary size on both sides?
4)Any history of tinnitus,or hearing deficits?
I shall be glad to have you in follow-up with above details so that I can answer this well further.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
MRI/CT angiography/MR angiography
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
Of course,there are investigations which can detect a tear in carotid,called as carotid dissection.The chief investigations for the same are-CT angiography,MR angiography and MRI T1 sequences with fat saturation.
But,I believe that just on the basis of head and neck pain,you should not directly jump to the investigations.Its better to first get yourself physically examined by a neurologist.
Besides,to have a better opinion about your condition,please tell the following details-
1)Do you have weakness in any of your extremities or facial deviation?
2)Any history of visual disturbance?
3)History of drooping of eyelid or difference in the pupillary size on both sides?
4)Any history of tinnitus,or hearing deficits?
I shall be glad to have you in follow-up with above details so that I can answer this well further.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
no weakness really but my right side of my neck hurts as well as headaches and the left side of my eye and cheek arts are numb and tingling. my left eye twitches on and off and I do see a slight difference in pupil size, but no dropping. I also have had my ear ring about 2-3 times. but this has been for about the past week. I can't get any tests approved for about 4 weeks and I'm worried about a stroke. I can't get any dr to order a cta or mra at er.
Brief Answer:
Needs a neurological examination.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up and providing further details.
Though you must be examined by a neurologist considering your clinical history(difference in pupillary size,numbness on left face), however with your current situation where you are unable to access a neurologist, you can visit a primary care physician for the needful,so that he may order the investigations.
If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer them.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Needs a neurological examination.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up and providing further details.
Though you must be examined by a neurologist considering your clinical history(difference in pupillary size,numbness on left face), however with your current situation where you are unable to access a neurologist, you can visit a primary care physician for the needful,so that he may order the investigations.
If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer them.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
do you suspect a tear in my carotid artery? ?
what's my risks having to wait for examination and treatment? ? thank you
what's my risks having to wait for examination and treatment? ? thank you
Brief Answer:
Difficult to say just on the basis of history.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Its very premature to comment on the possibility of tear,just on the basis of history.Needs a physical examination to say something concrete.
Again,one can say about risk,only after he knows the cause of the symptoms.
I can only say that,please try your best to get to a neurologist in person,on priority basis.
Hope this helps.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Difficult to say just on the basis of history.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Its very premature to comment on the possibility of tear,just on the basis of history.Needs a physical examination to say something concrete.
Again,one can say about risk,only after he knows the cause of the symptoms.
I can only say that,please try your best to get to a neurologist in person,on priority basis.
Hope this helps.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
would a ultrasound of my carotid arteries be helpful in anyway in ruling this out if I can get one faster than the other tests. is there a time frame in which I can have these symptoms and be able to rule this out. would something happen after a certain period of time if left untreated?
Brief Answer:
CT scan of brain should be done at present.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Ok...here I'll formulate a plan for you to alleviate your anxiety-
You can get a CT scan of head done right now,and if it comes out to be normal,then probably you are out of the danger zone and you can get your definite investigations(CT angio,MR angio) done after your neurologist's examination.If CT scan shows a stroke,then you should urgently go for those investigations.
Its because once there is a tear in the carotid,usually blood starts clotting,and it manifests as a stroke.
Ultrasound is not sensitive enough to detect that tear.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
CT scan of brain should be done at present.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Ok...here I'll formulate a plan for you to alleviate your anxiety-
You can get a CT scan of head done right now,and if it comes out to be normal,then probably you are out of the danger zone and you can get your definite investigations(CT angio,MR angio) done after your neurologist's examination.If CT scan shows a stroke,then you should urgently go for those investigations.
Its because once there is a tear in the carotid,usually blood starts clotting,and it manifests as a stroke.
Ultrasound is not sensitive enough to detect that tear.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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