Here at Caring Medical and the Hauser Neck Center, we have pioneered research to suggest that cervical spine instability can cause many neurologic-like problems including speech difficulties. Because of cervical spine ligament instability or weakness, the vertebrae of the neck wander out of place causing compression or irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve and vagus nerve. These nerves control the muscles of the throat and larynx. When these nerves are stretched or compressed, slurred, garbled, or other speech problems can arise.
‘ll see folks where you could tell that there’s something going on in the circulation of the brain because all of a sudden the person can become mute. They could right before my eyes, they’ll start slurring speech.
Ruben was one of the patients here at Caring Medical.
Before we get to Ruben’s story, I recently saw one of the more interesting cases that I ever saw. A women came in for a consultation on hemiplegic migraines. About 60 – 90 seconds into the consultation, right before my eyes, she went from talking normally to suddenly having impaired speech. It was if she had a stroke on her one side.
Initially I thought Ruben was suffering from a similar condition. Ruben suffered for 22 years trying to figure out what was wrong with him. It may have started with an accident and slowly symptoms began to appear. Ruben describes the symptoms as being weird . He would have a droopy face, and lose his ability to talk. I would lose my balance. He describes that it was looking like I was having a stroke. His head and face would turn red “like the blood would not get out of my head.” Ruben is a plumber and then describes these sudden “stroke-like” attacks that would cause his symptoms. On one occasion Reuben describes that while clearing a pipe in a restaurant, his phone rang and while he turned something happened and he had to be carried out. He couldn’t walk or function.
Later Reuben describes problems his wife and mother had understanding his speech. That he would have a hard time swallowing or have a raspy voice.
Reuben had MRIs and CAT Scans. No one could find the causes of Reuben’s problems. There were suggestions of multiple sclerosis. Further testing including a standing MRI revealed a problem in a cervical flex – flexion – extension exercise. That Reuben had cervical spine instability. Neurosurgery was recommended.
After calling our office, we suggested to Reuben a soft collar to and this helped him talk a little better. Then treatment protocols began and Reuben feels he has achieved 90% improvement and talks better.
More reading
Cervical disc disease and difficulty swallowing – cervicogenic dysphagia
Compression of the brainstem – Atlantoaxial instability and Atlas displacement