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. 2023 Jan 18;9:1072764. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1072764

TABLE 2.

Symptoms suggestive of musculoskeletal or neurological upper cervical instability.

Common Highly suggestive
Musculoskeletal UCI
● Heavy/bobble head, patient feels like they need to support or brace their head to decrease symptoms X
● Apprehension about initiation or maintenance of neck movement or travel in vehicle X
● Lump in throat, trouble swallowing X
● Consistent clicking or clunking in the neck associated with neck movement X
● Cervical sensorimotor symptoms such as tinnitus, dizziness X
● Suboccipital headaches X
● Yoke/coat-hanger distribution pain X
● Neck tension, muscle spasm X
● Brain fog X
● Inconsistent or poor response to treatment for the neck X
● Sleep disturbance, snoring, sleep apnea X
Neurological UCI
● Report of seizure-like activity, diagnosis of “non-epileptic seizures” or “pseudo seizures” X
● Drop attacks not associated with dysautonomia (e.g., provoked by neck motion, or without dizziness common in POTS) X
● Lump in throat, choking, trouble swallowing, voice changes X
● Symptoms of dysautonomia (especially if not responding to standard treatment), persistent anxiety, functional GI dysfunction, poor temperature regulation, heat intolerance, presyncope, X X
● “Boat rocking” instability (not due to musculoskeletal issues) X
● Ataxia: Poor coordination (not due to joint instability) X
● Facial tingling/numbness X
● Pulling sensation in face, head, teeth, tongue (muscle contraction, not just pain) X
● Vision changes-trouble with convergence, double vision, aura (teichopsia) X
● Dystonia: Involuntary muscle contractions causing involuntary movements or postures X
● Intermittent dysesthesias in the limbs, not associated with local issues X
● Sleep disturbance, snoring, sleep apnea X
● Cognitive changes X