Cervical Spondylosis Syndrome (IV): A Ghost at Home
When "seeing ghosts" is not a mental illness, but a cervical spine compression of the vertebral artery
Case Study: A 30-something Female Accountant's "Ghost-Seeing" Experience
Many years ago, there was a case involving a female accountant in her thirties, whose symptoms were quite unusual. One day, she had an argument with her husband, who then physically assaulted her. Later, her elder sister brought her in for treatment to assess her injuries.
While treating her, she asked me, "Doctor, do you believe in ghosts?"
I immediately stopped what I was doing and asked her, "Why do you ask that? You're a professional educated in the West, why are you so superstitious about ghosts?"
She replied, "This beating from my husband is all because of this. Every day when I come home, I feel like there's a ghost following me, always appearing on my right side, but never on my left."
Upon hearing this, I understood the cause of her injury. It turned out she frequently saw hallucinations on her right side, as if a ghost was constantly following her at home, making her paranoid and absent-minded. This eventually became unbearable for her husband. He felt helpless and finally lost his temper, hoping to "knock some sense into her" by hitting her, but he accidentally injured her severely. So, she came to me for treatment of her injuries.
I told her that her injuries were not serious and said, "How about I also check your hallucination symptom?"
She said, "Okay, but I'm currently seeing a psychiatrist and taking a lot of Western psychiatric medications."
I said, "It doesn't matter, let's just examine you first."
Diagnosis: Vertebral Artery Type + Sympathetic Cervical Spondylosis
Through palpation and visual examination, I discovered that the patient had scoliosis, an asymmetrical face with one side appearing larger than the other, and a cervical spine tilted to the right. This resulted in chronic compression of the vertebral artery by the second cervical vertebra (C1-C2 joint), preventing normal blood supply to the brain, causing ischemia and hypoxia in the right brain, and affecting the sympathetic nervous system, which led to a series of hallucinations.
🔍 Dr. Cheung Yung's Diagnosis
Diagnosis: Cervical Spondylosis – a combination of vertebral artery type and sympathetic type
Cause: Displacement of the second cervical vertebra (C2, atlantoaxial joint) compressing the vertebral artery, leading to ischemia and hypoxia in the right brain, affecting sympathetic nerve function
Key Findings: Scoliosis, facial asymmetry (one side larger), cervical spine tilted to the right
Important Clarification: The patient did not have mental health issues but was misdiagnosed with anxiety, leading to taking large amounts of psychiatric medication, which left her lacking energy and motivation for work.
Treatment Process and Recovery
Treating "cervical spondylosis" is my specialty. Once the cause of the illness was confirmed, the treatment direction became clear.
I asked her to stand up and look around. After doing so, she said, "I feel great, very relaxed, my mind is clear, and I can see things very clearly!"
After returning home, her "ghost-seeing" symptoms disappeared. She was able to return to work quickly and later became a regular patient and a good friend of mine.
Vertebral Artery Type and Sympathetic Cervical Spondylosis: Clinical Manifestations
Symptoms of this type of cervical spondylosis are often easily confused with psychiatric conditions, leading to misdiagnosis. Below are common clinical manifestations:
Common Symptoms
- Blurred vision, dilated pupils, swollen eyes
- Vascular dysregulation, irregular heart rate, palpitations, abnormal blood pressure
- Difficulty sweating, cold limbs, paleness, redness
- Horner's Syndrome
- Sensation of a foreign body in the throat, frequent insomnia, low-grade fever
If you or a family member experience the above symptoms, especially long-term unexplained blurred vision, palpitations, hallucinations, or mental disorientation, and psychiatric treatment is ineffective, it is recommended to consider checking for cervical spine issues to avoid delaying treatment.
Suspect cervical spine issues are causing your discomfort?
Dr. Cheung Yung has over 40 years of clinical experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine orthopedics, specializing in treating various types of cervical spondylosis with bone-setting, acupuncture, and Tui Na.
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Disclaimer: The case studies and treatment methods contained in this article are for educational reference only and do not constitute medical advice. Each patient's condition is different, and treatment effectiveness varies from person to person. If you have any health concerns, please consult a registered Chinese medicine practitioner or a qualified healthcare professional. The case mentioned in this article has been shared with the patient's consent, and some details have been modified to protect privacy.
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