Worried about artery health in my body from 4 years ago - #22205
e as an 11 year old is stressed. She used to fling her head forward voluntarily and forcefully with her neck muscles (no outside force)and stop it abruptly. She did this lots of times a day(about 40 times a day) for about 2 months then stopped and then a year later did it again for 1 month (the motion took about .3 seconds total. She started her head up straight and by the time she finished and jerked her head to stop it was at 60 degrees downward ) . she would get a sore neck and headache the next day sometimes and then it would go away a few days later… it has now been about 4 years since then and she has not had any obvious symptoms or changes… is there reason to be concerned that this could lead to nonconcussive effects?I’m also afraid that doing this so much and so forcefully with my neck so much asa teen may have caused artery damage in my neck or an aneurysm That j do not know is there in my neck?
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Doctors’ responses
Hello dear See as per clinical it seems anxiety only. However for exact clarification of diagnosis please get following tests done and share result with cardiologist for better clarity ECG Serum ferritin Serum troponin Regards Emr CBC Esr Regards
Hello,
Based on what you described, it is extremely unlikely that those head-jerking movements from 4 years ago caused carotid/vertebral artery damage, an aneurysm, or hidden long-term brain injury—especially since there have been no symptoms for years.
You have had 4 symptom-free years, which essentially rules out a missed arterial injury.
Voluntary neck movements—even forceful ones—do not generate the rotational acceleration needed to damage neck arteries.
Injuries typically occur with major trauma (car accidents, sports collisions, strangulation).
Non-concussive brain injury does not accumulate silently for years and then appear without warning.
What likely happened
Temporary muscle strain and tension headaches from overuse of neck muscles
No ongoing structural damage
If New severe or persistent one-sided neck or head pain
Neurologic symptoms (vision loss, weakness, numbness, speech difficulty)
Recurrent unexplained dizziness or fainting
There is no medical reason to worry about artery damage or aneurysm from those past movements.
No testing or imaging is indicated unless you develop new symptoms.
What you’re experiencing now sounds more like health anxiety than a hidden injury.
You’re safe.
Thank you!
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