Cardioveedion

[Hellie54]

Hi everyone. I had a successful cardioversion ten days ago and you were quite right, it was a doddle!! I have a question however. About 48 hours after the procedure I started with a severe headache with dizziness, neck pain and stiffness. The headache is still there but not as bad. My neck is so sore and stiff. Could this be whiplash? I’ve seen my GP today and he really doesn’t have a clue what it is. I just have to wait and see how it goes. Amy ideas? Thank you

[Hellie54]

Also my head feels as there’s something pressing on it.

[Hidden in reply to Hellie54]

No I've never experienced this with any of 19 cardioversions. Personally, bearing in mind that I am a bit of a 'worry guts' I would get back to my GP.

Has the head business come on since you saw him ?

[Hellie54 in reply to Hidden]

No it’s been there for over a week. Headache improving but neck getting worse.

[jennydog in reply to Hellie54]

Do you have any numbness in your arms or legs? If the discs in your neck are herniated they press on the nerves supplying your limbs. You need an MRI scan to detect this.

It may well be muscular. Try to support your head with appropriate pillows because your head is very heavy and you can help your neck by giving it support.

[wilen in reply to Hellie54]

Sounds like something unrelated to your recent procedure. See a physiotherapist, privately if you can manage it, or ask GP to arrange a session with NHS physio. I sympathise - I`ve had neck problems for donkey`s Years.

[BobD Volunteer]

Strangely I do differ from others here in thinking it could possibly be whiplash. The body convulses quite violently during DCCV and if you already had some neck damage undiscovered then it is technically possible that you could have shaken it up a bit. I have had many DCCVs with no problems BUT also had to fake one during a film we made about AF some years ago and can tell you that it takes a lot of effort to look real! I had to jerk my body up off the bed using just my feet and head to support it as I tensed all my muscles. Luckily I aced it in one take. lol

Regardless I do think you need to have some more tests so keep banging desks.

[Hellie54]

Thanks everyone. I was hoping it was a common side effect. It seems not I’ll see how it goes

[Kaz747]

I had pain in my upper back after a cardioversion in April. A few days later I was diagnosed with Shingles with a rash under my left breast and a week later the pain in my back was really bad and I had pains in my chest. Doctors put it down to nerve pain associated with the shingles but I’m still having trouble with my back so my GP sent me for an X-ray a few days ago and was querying thoracic fracture. I haven’t got the results yet. I’ve got good bones so I doubt it’s that but I’ll be interested to see the result.

[Mike11]

I had the same issue earlier this year, although not brought on by a cardioversion but a very small knock on the top of my head. It's certainly possible you convulsed during the cardioversion and damaged a muscle there. Unfortunately as we get older our bodies have decayed and become more susceptable to things we'd have shrugged off when younger.

My pain feels almost like a halo out of the back of my head. I had an MRI which found no damage to the brain, and an X-ray which shows wear and tear to the top of the spine, so now waiting on an MRI to see if there is anything they can do to the upper vertibrae or whether I am stuck with it for the rest of my life.

[JonathanPittsCrick]

It is unlikely but I am concerned that it might be a bleed in your head (subarachnoid haemorrhage) caused by anticoagulant treatment. You should definitely get it checked in the emergency dept. to be on the safe side but I hope it will turn out to be nothing serious.

[Hellie54]

Update: I went to A&E yesterday as the pain was worse and I felt sick and dizzy. I was seen immediately, had blood test, ecg etc and sent for CT scan which came back normal. They admitted me to AAU and performed a lumbar puncture to rule out infection, missed bleed etc. Again, this came back normal. I’ve just. been discharged with a referral to a neurologist. I still suspect it was caused by the cardioversion but the docs aren’t convinced. Im so grateful to our wonderful NHS and to you guys for your invaluable advice.

[wilsond]

That's good to hear that several things have been ruled out....hope you get to the bottom of it soon xx