A casual tennis game turned alarming for a 25-year-old when a sudden twinge in his neck spiralled into something far more serious. What seemed like a simple muscle strain quickly escalated into dizziness, imbalance, and signs that something was seriously off. Hyderabad’s top neurologist, Dr Sudhir Kumar, shared how rare but dangerous this condition was. His story is a wake-up call: even minor neck pain shouldn’t be ignored.
The young man, healthy and active, initially thought the neck pain was just from overexertion. After visiting a local doctor and taking some pain medication, the pain eased—but the following day, new symptoms emerged. He felt dizzy, unsteady, and off-balance. As per the CMC-Vellore-trained doctor, after a thorough evaluation and history-taking, it turned out to be vertebral artery dissection, a tear in the inner lining of a neck artery that can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. MRI and angiography confirmed a small ischemic stroke.
Treatment involved medications, close neurological observation, and early physiotherapy. With timely intervention, his symptoms improved within weeks, and he returned to normal life, now avoiding abrupt or extreme neck movements. Dr Sudhir emphasises that neck pain combined with dizziness, imbalance, visual changes, or weakness should never be ignored. Prompt diagnosis, especially in young adults, can prevent potentially disabling strokes.
Vertebral Artery Dissection
Vertebral artery dissection is a tear in one or more layers of the vertebral artery, a rare but serious cause of stroke, especially in people under 45, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The vertebral arteries run along the back of the neck, delivering oxygen-rich blood to the brain and spine. They have three layers: the inner intima, the middle media, and the outer adventitia. In a dissection, blood gets trapped between layers, forming clots or bulges that disrupt blood flow.
Severe cases can lead to stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks blood flow or travels downstream, while a hemorrhagic stroke happens if blood spills from all three layers, potentially causing brain bleeding.
Dissections can be triggered by trauma or sudden neck movements, including car accidents, chiropractic adjustments, yoga hyperextensions, heavy lifting, or even sneezing. Symptoms include dizziness, imbalance, neck pain, double vision, severe headaches, vertigo, slurred speech, or hearing loss. Early detection is crucial to prevent serious complications.
The young man, healthy and active, initially thought the neck pain was just from overexertion. After visiting a local doctor and taking some pain medication, the pain eased—but the following day, new symptoms emerged. He felt dizzy, unsteady, and off-balance. As per the CMC-Vellore-trained doctor, after a thorough evaluation and history-taking, it turned out to be vertebral artery dissection, a tear in the inner lining of a neck artery that can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. MRI and angiography confirmed a small ischemic stroke.
Treatment involved medications, close neurological observation, and early physiotherapy. With timely intervention, his symptoms improved within weeks, and he returned to normal life, now avoiding abrupt or extreme neck movements. Dr Sudhir emphasises that neck pain combined with dizziness, imbalance, visual changes, or weakness should never be ignored. Prompt diagnosis, especially in young adults, can prevent potentially disabling strokes.
Neck Pain after Tennis: When It Wasn’t Just a Muscle Strain
— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) September 25, 2025
Case Details
A 25-year-old young man, healthy and active, was enjoying a game of tennis with his friends. Midway through the match, he felt sudden pain in his neck. Thinking it was just a muscle pull from overexertion,… pic.twitter.com/VQHy27wU9T
Vertebral Artery Dissection
Vertebral artery dissection is a tear in one or more layers of the vertebral artery, a rare but serious cause of stroke, especially in people under 45, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The vertebral arteries run along the back of the neck, delivering oxygen-rich blood to the brain and spine. They have three layers: the inner intima, the middle media, and the outer adventitia. In a dissection, blood gets trapped between layers, forming clots or bulges that disrupt blood flow.
Severe cases can lead to stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks blood flow or travels downstream, while a hemorrhagic stroke happens if blood spills from all three layers, potentially causing brain bleeding.
Dissections can be triggered by trauma or sudden neck movements, including car accidents, chiropractic adjustments, yoga hyperextensions, heavy lifting, or even sneezing. Symptoms include dizziness, imbalance, neck pain, double vision, severe headaches, vertigo, slurred speech, or hearing loss. Early detection is crucial to prevent serious complications.
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