Harlan Stockman

I'm 63, very active in outdoor pursuits like hiking and mountaineering. On February 4, 2018, I suffered whiplash when I tumbled, tucked and rolled, but ended up hitting on my pack, which caused a whiplash injury as my head snapped back.

I had stuffiness in my left ear, and some compromised balance. I had dental work February 19 (new cap, temporary crown I am a grinder (bruxism)). The next night I began to hear a whooshing in my left ear, exactly in time to my heartbeat -- pulsatile tinnitus. The PT is annoying only when I lie down and am trying to sleep. I went to an ENT a few days ago, and he has ordered an MRA/MRI.

16 years ago, I had a brainstem/cerebellar stroke, from which I have made a good recovery. One of the suspected causes was a vertebral artery dissection, but the initial radiology was screwed up (MRI detected stroke in PICA area of cerebellum/ brainstem), MRA only covered Circle of Willis, did not image critical area. I realized the mistake as soon as I saw the films, but it was too late because most stroke-causing dissections heal within 10 day. I had a very hard time convincing Drs of the mistake till I had taken the films to the Mayo Clinic 3 months later. So I'm somewhat versed on MRAs, dissections, and medical arrogance.