OpenHealth Q&A

26-Year-Old Male: Concerns About Possible TIA or VAD

26-Year-Old Male Height: 191 cm Weight: 125 kg Ethnicity: Caucasian Alcohol Use: Yes Tobacco Use: No Substance Abuse: No Location: United Kingdom Hello everyone, About a month and a half ago, I experienced a strange sequence of events after inadvertently cracking my neck and back at the gym. I visited a physician twice within a week, and both times I was reassured that there were no significant concerns. However, I'm not fully convinced by this assessment. As a result, I've been researching my symptoms using Google Gemini, which suggests I may have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or something similar linked to a vertebral artery dissection (VAD). I worry that my youth might have led to my concerns being downplayed. The rules state no AI usage, but I can summarize what I relayed to the tool if needed. I have a follow-up doctor's appointment next week for unrelated blood tests, and I'm considering requesting a referral for neurology scans based on my situation. Before I proceed, I wanted to seek additional advice from the Reddit community. Here’s a brief overview of what happened: - **Wednesday afternoon in early May:** I unintentionally cracked my upper back and lower neck while at the gym. - **Thursday:** Immediately after exercising, I felt slight lightheadedness. - **Friday afternoon/evening:** The lightheadedness intensified to the point where I felt unsafe to drive, though I didn’t experience any vertigo. I also noticed occasional difficulty in articulating my thoughts, needing to pause while speaking. This symptom wasn't discussed with my doctor at the time since I hadn’t realized its significance. My companions didn’t observe any issues with my speech, either. Additionally, I felt a muscular ache in my upper back/lower neck, experienced chills at various body points, and had a sensation of weakness primarily in my legs. Importantly, I didn't feel numbness or any localized symptoms on one side of my body. - **Saturday morning:** I saw a doctor, and there were no abnormalities detected regarding my reflexes, strength, or cardiovascular signs. - **Following week:** I had to miss two days of work due to ongoing lightheadedness and fatigue. My neck and back discomfort persisted but gradually improved. I returned to the doctor a few days later with a similar examination result—the doctor found no red flags. On Friday, I underwent blood tests, which also showed no concerns. - **Subsequent weeks:** The lightheadedness and fatigue continued to diminish. After taking a week off from physical activity, I resumed playing sports without any further complications. I consulted a physiotherapist who conducted various neck movement assessments, concluding there were no alarming issues. - **Current status:** I feel mostly back to normal (about 95%). However, I've noticed I'm making more typographical and grammatical errors when typing (incorrectly using words like “to” instead of “do”), which seems unusual for me. I can still type rapidly, but my accuracy has declined. I also have a history of repetitive strain injuries in both forearms. I haven’t observed any other cognitive changes or headaches during this period. I welcome any insights or thoughts on my situation!

Answers (1)

6/24/2025, 9:41:00 PM

OpenHealth AI

It's understandable that you're feeling concerned about your symptoms after experiencing discomfort in your neck and back, especially given the potential for conditions like TIA and VAD. It's important to note that while your symptoms prompted worry, you’ve been assessed by professionals who found no urgent concerns. However, since you're still feeling uncertain, here's a structured approach to help you address your concerns effectively.

Main Points:

1. Understanding Your Symptoms: Lightheadedness, fatigue, and difficulty articulating thoughts can be linked to various factors, including stress or muscle strain from the gym, rather than necessarily indicating a TIA or VAD.
2. Your Follow-Up: It's wise to follow up with your healthcare provider next week, particularly since you have ongoing questions and tests planned.

Explanation:

After cracking your neck and back, the symptoms you experienced (lightheadedness, occasional speech difficulty, and muscle discomfort) can be alarming, especially if they were unusual for you. Since these symptoms improved over time and medical evaluations showed no immediate concerns, it is likely that they were related to muscular or tension issues rather than a serious neurological condition. The cognitive slips you're noticing when typing may also relate to fatigue or stress rather than a serious underlying problem, especially if you haven’t experienced any significant cognitive changes otherwise.

Next Steps:

1. Document Your Symptoms: Before your appointment, keep track of any symptoms you still experience—especially changes in cognitive function, lightheadedness, or physical discomfort. This will help your doctor understand your concerns better.
2. Communicate with Your Doctor: During your follow-up appointment, discuss all lingering concerns, particularly the typing errors and any cognitive changes. Share your timeline clearly and mention the context in which these issues arose.
3. Request Additional Tests: If your doctor agrees that there's cause for more investigation based on your updated symptoms (like the typing errors), don't hesitate to ask for referrals to a neurologist or for imaging studies.
4. Focus on Self-Care:
   • Rest and Relaxation: Ensure you’re prioritizing rest, especially after physical activity, to allow your body to recover fully.
   • Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Maintain a balanced diet and stay hydrated, as wellness can significantly affect cognitive function and energy levels.
   • Physical Activity: As you're back to playing sports, continue to ease in gradually and notice how you feel post-exercise.

It's good to trust your instincts about your health, and you are taking the right steps by seeking advice and planning for your upcoming appointment. Remember, your well-being is paramount, and expressing your concerns openly with your healthcare provider will help you receive the best care possible. Let me know if you need more specifics or have further questions!