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What Causes Vibrations In Spine While Breathing, Dizziness And Fatigue?
Question: For last one week, I can feel strange heartbeat like vibrations in my spine. I can feel it when I try to breath heavily closing my eyes or try to concentrate on something. Any negative thoughts also trigger this. I am also feeling dizzy, fatigued and unable to sleep due to this.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I assume you are worried about those symptoms being a manifestation of a spinal issue. Looking at your description though I do not believe that to be the case and I will try to explain why.
Spinal issues may be due to damage to the spinal cord or the nerves from vascular malformations, tumors, inflammation, infection etc. It can also be due to involvement of the vertebrae, the discs between the vertebrae and the joints from age related osteoarthritis or other rheumatological disease.
In the case of spinal cord or nerve issues whatever the origin they manifest with neurological deficits, meaning weakness of the lower limbs, loss of sensation below the level of damage (loss of sensation for touch, pain, temperature, joint position), or loss of bladder control. Nerve root compression manifests with intense pain which has the characteristic distribution along the territory supplied by that nerve.
As for osteoarthritis it would be highly unlikely at your age. Also it as well as other rheumatological conditions manifest with pain and stiffness rather than vibration sensations.
So as you can see your symptoms do not correspond to spinal disease. Also symptoms due to damage to the spine are persistent and constant, they do not fluctuate under the influence of negative thoughts, concentration etc, as you describe. That is more a feature of a psychological origin of the symptoms. For that reason at this moment I would say the symptoms are more likely related to anxiety which may mimick many different medical conditions.
If the symptoms persist I would recommend some routine general screening tests for infections, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation or metabolic alterations, tests such as blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver and kidney function tests, electrolyte pane (including calcium and magnesium), vitamin B12, vitamin D and thyroid function. If those result normal a short course of an anti-anxiety medication like a benzodiazepine may be tried (but not more than 2-3 weeks) as well as activities like yoga and relaxation exercises.
If some other symptom appears do not hesitate to let me know. I remain at your disposal for other question.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I assume you are worried about those symptoms being a manifestation of a spinal issue. Looking at your description though I do not believe that to be the case and I will try to explain why.
Spinal issues may be due to damage to the spinal cord or the nerves from vascular malformations, tumors, inflammation, infection etc. It can also be due to involvement of the vertebrae, the discs between the vertebrae and the joints from age related osteoarthritis or other rheumatological disease.
In the case of spinal cord or nerve issues whatever the origin they manifest with neurological deficits, meaning weakness of the lower limbs, loss of sensation below the level of damage (loss of sensation for touch, pain, temperature, joint position), or loss of bladder control. Nerve root compression manifests with intense pain which has the characteristic distribution along the territory supplied by that nerve.
As for osteoarthritis it would be highly unlikely at your age. Also it as well as other rheumatological conditions manifest with pain and stiffness rather than vibration sensations.
So as you can see your symptoms do not correspond to spinal disease. Also symptoms due to damage to the spine are persistent and constant, they do not fluctuate under the influence of negative thoughts, concentration etc, as you describe. That is more a feature of a psychological origin of the symptoms. For that reason at this moment I would say the symptoms are more likely related to anxiety which may mimick many different medical conditions.
If the symptoms persist I would recommend some routine general screening tests for infections, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation or metabolic alterations, tests such as blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver and kidney function tests, electrolyte pane (including calcium and magnesium), vitamin B12, vitamin D and thyroid function. If those result normal a short course of an anti-anxiety medication like a benzodiazepine may be tried (but not more than 2-3 weeks) as well as activities like yoga and relaxation exercises.
If some other symptom appears do not hesitate to let me know. I remain at your disposal for other question.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr. Taka for your diagnosis.
I would also like to add the following :
- The vibration is like an electric shock and lasts for 2-3 seconds. The onset of the symptom is very variable and also arises from a sudden physical movements of the limbs. It leaves me with an imbalance and dizzy feeling in the head.
- I have disc issues, a bulge in the L5-S1 towards the left side for last 6-7 months. Visiting a PT for that, very little signs of improvement.
- Also, from last week there is a pain in my left arm if I move or tilt my neck towards the left.
Does this change your diagnosis ?
I would also like to add the following :
- The vibration is like an electric shock and lasts for 2-3 seconds. The onset of the symptom is very variable and also arises from a sudden physical movements of the limbs. It leaves me with an imbalance and dizzy feeling in the head.
- I have disc issues, a bulge in the L5-S1 towards the left side for last 6-7 months. Visiting a PT for that, very little signs of improvement.
- Also, from last week there is a pain in my left arm if I move or tilt my neck towards the left.
Does this change your diagnosis ?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional info.
It does change my diagnosis a little.
Regarding the description of an electrical shock it does raise the possibility of a Lhermitte's sign, an electrical shock sensation going down the spine which may spread to the limbs as well. It is most characteristically described in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but in some cases may appear in other spinal conditions including disc herniation. It is not a typical description though as it appears typically with bending head forward.
As for the disc bulge at L5-S1 that does not play any direct role at all as the symptoms would be from that level downwards, if there is nerve root compression may cause lumbar pain radiating in one of the lower limbs, but not cause any symptom upwards.
The pain in the left arm and increasing with neck bending on that side. Now that could be in the setting of a nerve root compression, although it the pain doesn't involve the whole limb but mostly the area corresponding to the nerve root. The lumbar disc bulge history while not responsible by itself might mean for you to have a predisposition for vertebral spine issues, and cervical spine is together with the lumbar one most affected part due to its mobility. Bending neck on that side may narrow even more a narrowed lateral foramen (the canal through which the nerve exits) and increase compression. So in theory a cervical nerve compression is possible.
Now whether these facts change my diagnosis completely...still there are many nontypical features (that heartbeat and negative thoughts relation remains unexplained, symptoms for lhermitte's not appearing when bending neck forward) so anxiety remains my first diagnosis. But these new info make an exam of the cervical spine, a neck MRI advisable, to rule out MS and disc herniations compressing the nerve or spinal cord.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional info.
It does change my diagnosis a little.
Regarding the description of an electrical shock it does raise the possibility of a Lhermitte's sign, an electrical shock sensation going down the spine which may spread to the limbs as well. It is most characteristically described in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but in some cases may appear in other spinal conditions including disc herniation. It is not a typical description though as it appears typically with bending head forward.
As for the disc bulge at L5-S1 that does not play any direct role at all as the symptoms would be from that level downwards, if there is nerve root compression may cause lumbar pain radiating in one of the lower limbs, but not cause any symptom upwards.
The pain in the left arm and increasing with neck bending on that side. Now that could be in the setting of a nerve root compression, although it the pain doesn't involve the whole limb but mostly the area corresponding to the nerve root. The lumbar disc bulge history while not responsible by itself might mean for you to have a predisposition for vertebral spine issues, and cervical spine is together with the lumbar one most affected part due to its mobility. Bending neck on that side may narrow even more a narrowed lateral foramen (the canal through which the nerve exits) and increase compression. So in theory a cervical nerve compression is possible.
Now whether these facts change my diagnosis completely...still there are many nontypical features (that heartbeat and negative thoughts relation remains unexplained, symptoms for lhermitte's not appearing when bending neck forward) so anxiety remains my first diagnosis. But these new info make an exam of the cervical spine, a neck MRI advisable, to rule out MS and disc herniations compressing the nerve or spinal cord.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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