Positional Cervical Compression — Possible Factor in Various Neck Issues

It seemed pretty clear to me after reading the below linked article that Positional Cervical Compression (PC3) could easily be a factor in some people's tinnitus. -- Below the link is a snippet from the article. -- I just got done watching a very good 10-minute video "How To Fix Forward Head Posture - 3 Easy Exercises (From a Chiropractor)", which I thought has the potential to successfully treat PC3 and/or other neck issues. The video has over 32K Likes.

What Is Positional Cervical Compression Really All About?

What is Positional Cervical Compression (PC3)

Positional cervical compression occurs when parts of the spinal cord in the neck are compressed – but only in certain positions. In cases of PC3, the cervical spinal cord is most often compressed during neck extension, when the patient tilts their head backward, say, to look up at the sky. In cases of PC3, a number of structures can compress the cervical cord with the neck in extension, including displaced discs from trauma or degenerative disc disease, an injured ligamentum flavum (a spinal ligament often linked to stenosis, or the narrowing of the spinal canal), or the Chiari 1 malformation (a congenital disorder that compresses brain and spinal cord structures).

Dr. Heffez believes PC3 has been overlooked as a possible cause of fibromyalgia due to the fact that diagnostic MRIs are almost always taken with the cervical spine in a neutral position. In order to see PC3 in an MRI, the neck has to be in positions other than neutral, with images ideally compared in a neutral position as well as in flexion (looking down toward the toes) and in extension (looking up overhead).

Symptoms of PC3

PC3 can cause both widespread referred pain and neurological symptoms, due to the intermittent, positional compression of the cervical cord. However, each patient is different, and some do not show symptoms. However, when symptoms are present, they can include:

• Diffuse muscle pain
• Worsening pain with neck extension
• Neck discomfort
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Balance problems
• Dizziness
• Gait issues
• Grip strength discrepancy
• Numbness

The list of symptoms can vary from one person to another, and more research is needed to fully understand PC3 and the profound effect it may have on fibromyalgia patients.