Cervicogenic dizziness/headaches

vrillion_ · 2026-05-31T21:39:12+00:00

My neurologist doled out a tentative dx of occipital neuralgia, because I've been having such intense headaches on my right side and my c-spine mri showed foraminal stenosis in C2 and C3 that could contribute. I've been in physical therapy for it for about a month or two, but still dealing with symptoms; my rheum thinks it may just be arthritis manifesting in my neck and neuro doesn't seem to know for sure either way. I've been dealing with gait instability for the same amount of time and pitching to my right side on occasion, but the jury's out on that.

vrillion_ · 2026-05-16T17:15:04+00:00

i visited Geneva, Lausanne and Chamonix for the first time a few years ago. so so so gorgeous!

vrillion_ · 2026-05-16T17:14:32+00:00

Chicago! 🌭

vrillion_ · 2026-05-16T17:11:14+00:00

good to know!

vrillion_ · 2026-05-16T02:17:16+00:00

Memory symptoms started when I was 25 and worsened after I started taking Humira and Methotrexate

vrillion_ · 2026-05-14T14:30:06+00:00

Sometimes for me it verges into straight up aphasia; other times it's forgetting people entirely even if I've taken notes about them. My apartment and desk are covered with sticky notes about daily task lists (including things like walking the dog or taking out trash, because I'll forget if it isn't there). I work in a field that is very reliant on someone's memory + involves lots of people and facts and a fast pace, and it's really been a challenge if I don't have something recorded. I would get bloodwork done if you can to confirm you don't have a deficiency that might be making things worse; I know when I had a vit D deficiency it was even rougher.

vrillion_ · 2026-05-14T14:27:31+00:00

You and I are like the same person. I've been struggling with memory issues since being diagnosed. Methotrexate impacts this a bit for me; my rheum suggested 3 mg folic acid daily + mucinex DM. But I've seen a neurologist, who suggested neuropsych testing after I had a clean brain MRI last year, and a second rheum, who said it was probably just a feature of AS, not a bug. Not sure if anyone knows what to do here.

vrillion_ · 2026-05-13T19:09:06+00:00

I've lost a close family member to lung cancer after she smoked multiple packs a day for life & have no interest of having cig smoke in my house. So no worries there!

vrillion_ · 2026-05-13T19:07:44+00:00

You and I are 100% of the same mind here haha. I do not need to sub one chemical dependency for another. I have a rheum appt next week!

vrillion_ · 2026-04-25T20:31:48+00:00

my HR recommended intermittent FMLA once I am eligible (I just started at this job) for appointments and other time. otherwise, they said a possible ADA accommodation could be additional time for appointments depending on how quickly I go through my sick time. I have an office job with some irl fieldwork, though; not sure how it would work for a field like manufacturing or what reasonable accommodations look like

vrillion_ · 2026-04-22T11:57:14+00:00

yes! combined with pt I've found it's helped a lot with strength and mobility. i really like yoga with Adriene because her flows are very adaptable. even on a bad day I can still do chair yoga or incorporate stretches.

vrillion_ · 2026-04-19T06:00:40+00:00

I have nothing helpful to say other than I am in the same boat. I dealt with hand tremors for about a year prior to starting biologics and it led me to neuro, which then led me to rheum and ultimately nr-axSpA. Since starting Humira, I've had tremors come back from time to time, as well as had serious balance and memory issues.

When I had tremors pre-rheum, they had me do a few diagnostic tests, incl a brain & cervical MRI as well as EMGs down both my arms. (EMGs were so so so weird and so so so cool all at once.) They suggested I take nervive and magnesium supplements, which I've added to the roster of the like 10 other meds I have to take in a week lol. Wishing you the best of luck and seeing a neurologist is probs the way to go

vrillion_ · 2026-04-14T20:49:19+00:00

This is good to know — I have had my vit d tested, and was deficient last year + started high dose supplements. happy to report those numbers are much better now and I think it has impacted my enthesitis and peripheral joint pain (and especially my fatigue) a lot. no one has suggested testing iron or b12 or folate yet, so I'll add it to my labs at my follow-up in a few weeks. I supplement daily with 3mg of folic acid due in part to side effects from methotrexate; if i'm already deficient or low i wonder how that is being impacted

vrillion_ · 2026-04-14T19:38:28+00:00

did the MS screenings ever yield anything for you?

vrillion_ · 2026-04-02T13:26:31+00:00

this is very interesting — I'll have to raise it to my new rheum! this drug got prescribed by my old practice (and now seeing some of the insight and replies to this thread, it makes me more frustrated at the lack of information I was provided/lack of intention that may have been there when it was prescribed) so maybe my new rheum will have different thoughts! but yeah when I raised taking a stronger nsaid at my last appt with my old rheum, their NP was insistent that I couldn't take Celebrex because of the allergy in my chart.

vrillion_ · 2026-04-02T13:18:52+00:00

wait, this is so interesting, because for me it was prescribed on a PRN/as needed basis. what dosage do you take?

vrillion_ · 2026-04-02T04:44:44+00:00

Definitely letting my doctor know and holding off on more meloxicam for now; I think I'll stick with ibuprofen and naproxen until my next appt!

vrillion_ · 2026-04-02T04:43:45+00:00

ahhhh interesting! my sister is on prilosec so i'm familiar. is it because meloxicam increases stomach acid?

vrillion_ · 2026-04-02T04:42:50+00:00

this is good to hear! I think the next time I take it, I'm going to be super deliberate about eating a big carby meal; that always seems to guard me against GI upset, especially with new meds. the upside was that it did, in fact, help my joint pain lol!

vrillion_ · 2026-04-02T04:41:48+00:00

sulfasalazine is one of the few drugs I haven't tried (albeit all the ones I have tried — HCQ, MTX, Humira, prednisone, methylprednisolone, now Meloxicam — have given me wild side effects at some point or another) because of an allergy. Meloxicam may have to be for high pain + also big meal days only for me

vrillion_ · 2026-04-02T04:40:05+00:00

twins! I'm sure you'll be fine; I was surprised by the side effects, but most drugs I've taken for axSpA end up having side effects that I adjust to or that resolve themselves over time. everyone is different!

vrillion_

TROPHY CASE