Barre-Lieou Syndrome

[biffnoble]

"It does not appear to be a common entity and I suspect based on the lack of information on this in the past five years, that it is not well recognized in the medical community or has come under a different disease category. Barre-Lieou syndrome may result from neck injury of the whiplash type. It is not uncommon for patients post trauma to develop symptoms such as vertigo, nystagmus (beating rhythm of the eyes), cervical muscle spasms and dysequilibrium. Some have suggested there is irritation of cervical nerve roots with irritation of the sympathetic system. Others have suggested a vascular origen from the vertebral arteries. Arthritis is a coexisting factor. However, many wonder if this syndrome exists. Most would now label this as post whiplash syndrome. It is likely that your friend has some cervical arthritis and getting a MRI is reasonable. The treatment is difficult with these patients. Analgesics such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (ibuprophen for example), tricyclic antidepressants (ie amitriptyline) muscle relaxants, among other medications that are usually used to treat migraine or tension type headaches may be useful."

[tegilman]

Thanks for posting this information. I have been dealing with most of the symptoms that you listed since my single level fusion in March 2006. My spine surgeon fused C6-C7, based on my discogram results. He did not fix C7-T1 because of not having a discogram at that level.

This morning I had an MRI of my brain, with gadulinum that my Neurologist ordered. He thinks that my dysequalibrium is most likely due to an inner ear problem. I will ask him about Barre-Lieou syndrome at my next appointment.

Thelma