Neck injuries, disorders and conditions sometimes cause more than pain. They can also cause dizziness and poor balance. Cervical vertigo (or cervicogenic dizziness) creates a sensation that an individual is spinning or the world around them is spinning.
Your cervical spine — or, your neck — plays a key role in balance and coordination. So, when this area of your spine is inflamed, arthritic or injured, it can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded and unsteady.
People who've had extreme head trauma, cervical arthritis, or herniated cervical disks are more commonly affected by cervical vertigo. Cervicogenic dizziness can often result from a whiplash injury in car accidents.
Cervicogenic dizziness is characterized by the presence of imbalance, unsteadiness, disorientation, neck pain, limited cervical range of motion (ROM), and may be accompanied by a headache [2, 3]. The cervical spine may be considered the cause of the dizziness when all other potential causes of dizziness are excluded.
In addition to being associated with vertigo, spine pain can also result in feelings of non-vertigo dizziness, including lightheadedness and disequilibrium, or the feeling as though one is going to fall while standing or walking.
Cervical vertigo is caused by inflammation, trauma, or degenerative changes in the cervical spine or neck musculature. Symptoms may include dizziness and neck pain with head movements. It may be accompanied by tense and tight neck muscles, stiffness of the neck as well as referred pain to the head, neck, or arms.
Causes of balance problems include medications, ear infection, a head injury, or anything else that affects the inner ear or brain. Low blood pressure can lead to dizziness when you stand up too quickly.
To answer your question, yes. Two primary techniques are involved in aiding the body to heal so that the patient can regain his or her sense of balance. The primary tool is chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic adjustment allows your nervous system to function at its level best.
Fun fact: You may have asked yourself a question like, 'can a pinched nerve cause dizziness' and the answer is yes–under certain conditions a nerve in the neck experiencing excess pressure can cause bouts of 'cervicogenic' dizziness.
If you are dizzy right now and have any of the following neurological symptoms along with your dizziness or vertigo, call 911 immediately: New confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech. New slurred speech or hoarseness of voice. New numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg.
Treat Vertigo with Chiropractic
Vertigo can be treated with medications, but for those seeking natural treatment options, chiropractic may be the solution. Chiropractic manipulations that return the upper cervical spine to proper alignment may reposition the neck back to optimal position, putting a stop to dizziness.
The test with the strongest diagnostic utility to rule in the diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness is the cervical neck torsion test (LR+ of 9), which measures nystagmus in response to cervical neck rotation [14].
A herniated disc can aggravate nearby nerves by adding too much pressure, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like tingling and numbness. A herniated disc in your neck can also cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and vertigo.
Lumbar spine
Degeneration of your lumbar, or lower back, vertebrae can compress your nerve roots, which can cause significant pain, numbness, tingling, weakness or difficulty lifting the front part of your foot. These symptoms can lead to balance issues and a potential fall.
Pinched nerves can cause headaches and a loss of balance. As the bones degrade, dizzy spells become more and more frequent.
Cervical radiculopathy (also known as “pinched nerve”) is a condition that results in neurological dysfunction caused by compression and inflammation of any of the nerve roots of your cervical spine (neck). Neurological dysfunction can include radiating pain, muscle weakness and/or numbness.
Chiropractic care can restore the proper flow of spinal fluid, reducing fluid build up, restoring balance to the inner ear and alleviating dizziness and vertigo.
If one of the bones of the upper cervical spine becomes misaligned, it can put pressure on the brainstem This may be one reason for the onset of vertigo.
Cervicogenic dizziness will usually resolve with treatment of the neck problem but may also require vestibular rehabilitation for complete resolution of symptoms.
Some of the main causes are: dehydration(not having enough fluids in your body) a drop in blood pressure when you stand up quickly. feelings of anxiety or panic.
Do you feel like you're swaying, spinning, tilting, or generally off balance? You could be suffering from vertigo. Vertigo most often the result of a problem with your inner ear.
Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo. Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following: Sudden, severe headache. Chest pain.
Cervical spine abnormalities can affect the ear vessels and or nerves with different mechanisms. Ear dysfunctions following cervical spine injuries can be manifested as hearing loss, vertigo, or tinnitus. Usually, cervical spine injuries can cause pain and Range of Motion (ROM) limitation.