Do you sometimes feel dizzy, off-balance, and have a stiff neck? Do you get a strange feeling like you're not on the ground? Maybe you get this feeling when you stand up from a sitting position, or when you suddenly turn your neck to one side. This is not just ordinary dizziness. Today we're going to talk about a special type of dizziness that occurs in the neck, which is what doctors call 'Cervical Vertigo' or 'Cervicogenic Dizziness'.
What is Cervical Vertigo?
Simply put,
this is dizziness that comes with neck pain . If you have any kind of disorder, injury, or inflammation in your neck, that is, in the cervical spine, you can experience this kind of dizziness. Sometimes, these symptoms can appear months or even years after an accident to the neck. Did you know that the neck plays a very important role in maintaining balance and coordination in our body? So, when there is a problem with the neck, it can cause you to feel dizzy, lightheaded, or have difficulty standing. Now you may be thinking, "What's the difference between dizziness and neck vertigo?" Usually, when we say
vertigo , we mean the feeling that things around you are spinning even though you are not moving. However,
cervical vertigo is a specific type of vertigo caused by a disorder, injury, or inflammation in the neck.
Who is more likely to develop this condition?
Although anyone can develop this condition, some people are more likely to develop it. They are:
- Severe head injuries : For those who have suffered a severe head injury in a major accident.
- For those with cervical spondylosis , an arthritis condition in the neck: This is when the cartilage between the vertebrae in the neck wears down.
- For those with herniated discs in the neck: This condition can also occur when the jelly-like discs between our vertebrae bulge out and press on nerves.
- For those who have suffered whiplash injuries from accidents: For example, when the neck is suddenly jerked back and forth rapidly, as in a car accident.
What are the symptoms of this?
The symptoms of this type of neck vertigo can vary from person to person. However, the most common symptoms are:
- Feeling dizzy.
- A sensation of floating.
- Feeling very light-headed (Lightheadedness).
- It feels like you are losing control of your body, like you are lacking coordination or unsteadiness.
- Balance problems when standing or walking.
- Posture changes.
- Eye-related symptoms: Eyes seem to be moving rapidly, eyes feel tired.
- Nausea and vomiting .
- Neck pain or tightness.
- Headaches .
The most important thing is that, unlike other types of vertigo, cervical vertigo often does not feel like things are spinning around you . Many people feel a strange sensation of lightheadedness, like they are floating.
Furthermore, these symptoms can be very similar to those of other inner ear conditions, such as Vestibular neuritis, Labyrinthitis, Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), and Acoustic neuroma. This is why a doctor will need to rule out other conditions before making a definitive diagnosis.
What causes this?
If there is a problem or injury in your cervical spine, this dizziness and other symptoms can occur. Experts are still researching this, but there are a few main possible causes:
- Neck trauma: Such as an accident or an injury sustained while playing sports.
- Cervical spondylosis: As we mentioned before, it is the inflammation of the cervical vertebrae.
- Atherosclerosis in your neck: Fat deposits build up inside the arteries that carry blood to the brain through the neck, causing them to become slightly blocked.
- Cervical degenerative disk disease: The degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae in the neck with age.
- Inflammation: Swelling and redness in areas such as the neck muscles and joints.
- Poor posture: Think about it, we spend most of our time hunched over our computers and phones. Poor posture can also put unnecessary strain on our necks.
- Injured disks.
- Joint issues.
- Muscle strain: A tight pull on the muscles in the neck.
Regardless of the cause of dizziness, it is important to remember that
symptoms can worsen when stress and anxiety increase .
How do you diagnose this?
Because the symptoms of this type of vertigo are similar to those of other conditions, such as BPPV, central vertigo, and vestibular neuritis, your doctor will first need to rule out other problems. This may involve performing a variety of tests. Here are a few examples:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: This is used to clearly see the soft tissues inside your neck, such as the cartilage, discs, and spinal cord.
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) test: This can look at the condition of the blood vessels in the neck and brain.
- Spine X-rays: This can be used to see if there are any changes or deformities in the bones.
- Vertebral Doppler ultrasound: This helps to see how blood flows through the main blood vessels in the neck.
- Vertebral angiography test: This is also a specialized test to look for problems with the blood vessels.
- Evoked potential tests: These tests can measure how well the pathways that carry signals in your nervous system are working.
- Vestibular test battery: These tests are done to confirm that the cause is not a problem with the vestibular system.
How is this treated?
When treating neck vertigo,
the most important thing is to treat the underlying cause . You should follow your doctor's instructions exactly. In addition, he or she may recommend physical therapy, vestibular rehabilitation, medication, or a combination of these treatments.
Help from Physical Therapy
Physical therapy exercises can help
improve your balance, coordination, and neck movement . A physical therapist will teach you proper posture and stretching exercises to help relieve symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for a chiropractic adjustment. However, while physical therapy can help relieve many of your symptoms, it may not completely eliminate your vertigo. Your doctor may also recommend vestibular rehabilitation.
What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?
This involves doing
a series of specific exercises that help improve your balance and reduce dizziness . These exercises are tailored to your needs. They may include things like:
- Eye movements.
- Neck movements.
- Balance exercises.
- Walking exercises.
Your doctor or physical therapist will teach you how to do these neck-related vertigo treatment exercises at home.
What medications are used?
Medications may also be part of your treatment plan. These may include:
- Muscle relaxants: Reduce neck stiffness.
- Pain relievers: Reduce pain and discomfort.
- Drugs to reduce dizziness.
What kind of doctor should I see?
These conditions are usually treated
by a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the brain, spine, and nerves. Your family doctor may refer you to a neurologist if necessary.
Can this be prevented from happening?
Neck pain cannot always be prevented, especially if it is the result of a sudden event such as a car accident or sports injury. However,
physical therapy exercises to strengthen the muscles in the neck can reduce this risk to some extent. Also, maintaining good posture and taking breaks from using the computer or looking at the phone can reduce the pressure on the cervical vertebrae.
What can you expect when living with this condition?
Most of the time, this condition called vertigo
is manageable . However, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis and get the right treatment. You may need to have some tests done to make sure you don't have any other serious conditions. Once diagnosed, your doctor will give you a specific treatment plan to help manage your symptoms. Depending on the cause and severity of your condition, you may need physical therapy, vestibular rehabilitation, or medication.
How long can this neck pain last?
When this neck-related dizziness (cervicogenic dizziness) occurs,
it can last from a few minutes to a few hours at a time.Symptoms may occur. Overall, this condition can last for years in some people, with flare-ups and remissions. This is a bit unusual, as it is also important to remember that symptoms can sometimes appear months or even years after a neck injury.
When should I see a doctor?
If you have symptoms like dizziness along with neck pain, see a doctor right away. Because these symptoms can mimic those of other serious conditions, early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Seeing a doctor quickly and starting treatment can greatly reduce the discomfort in your life.
What questions should you ask the doctor?
If you suspect that you have this neck-related dizziness, or if you have another related health problem, it's a good idea to ask your doctor some questions like these:
- "Doctor, what is the main cause of my symptoms?"
- "Can these symptoms be caused by any other reasons?"
- "Is this something that will get better in a while, or is it an ongoing situation?"
- "What kind of tests will I have to do?"
- "How long will it take to figure out exactly what this is?"
- "What treatment options do I have? Which one is the best?"
- "Are there things I can do at home to manage these symptoms?"
- "Is it possible that these symptoms will go away without any treatment?"
By asking these questions, you can gain a better understanding of your condition and actively participate in your treatment.
Finally, things to remember...
Neck pain and dizziness are two very annoying symptoms. They can affect you so much that you can't even do your daily tasks properly. Imagine how annoying it would be if you suddenly started feeling dizzy while you were doing your favorite thing. But don't forget that
if you see a good doctor, find out the exact cause, and start treatment that suits you, you can control these symptoms and improve your quality of life. Following your doctor's instructions, doing the right exercises, and taking the right medication will help you recover quickly.
Cervical Vertigo, Vertigo, Dizziness, Neck Pain, Neck-Related Dizziness
💬 Comments (0)
No comments have been posted yet. Add your comment here for the first time.
Add your comment