Can Neck Pain Cause Dizziness?

Mar 29, 2022

can-neck-pain-cause-dizziness
Everyone has experienced dizziness at least once in their lifetime. Whether you stood up too fast or felt lightheaded after a theme park ride, dizziness can occur for a number of reasons. However, if you start to notice dizziness when you are also in pain, then there could be something more serious going on. Simple bouts of dizziness will typically resolve within minutes. However, dizziness due to a neck injury or health condition could last for hours or even days at a time. You might wonder, “Can pain cause dizziness?” A recent injury to your head or neck could cause both neck pain and dizziness at the same time. Find out if neck pain is causing dizziness and what treatment for neck injuries can help relieve you of your symptoms.

How the Head and Neck Affect Balance

Your body relies on a complex system to help you keep your balance. Your eyes provide your brain with information about your body and its relation to nearby surroundings. Your vestibular system is located in the inner ear and helps with balance and detects motion. Your spine provides a proper posture for your central nervous system to communicate between your brain and the rest of your body. Your brain takes all this information in and helps you maintain balance and posture. Any disruption to one or more of these areas can lead to sensations of imbalance and feeling lightheaded or dizzy. The neck is a key area because it houses your spine, bundles of nerves, and the connection between your spine and brain. A sudden injury or health condition that affects your neck can cause symptoms like pain and dizziness.

Neck Injuries and Dizziness

Both sudden neck injuries and health conditions that negatively affect the bones, joints, muscles, and arteries in your neck can lead to pain and dizziness. Here are three examples of neck pain causing dizziness.

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries that can cause a wide range of symptoms. You can also suffer a whiplash injury while playing sports or due to a sudden fall. A sudden injury to your head and neck like whiplash causes the muscles in your neck to strain. The force of impact can cause your head to snap back and forth violently, stretching and straining neck muscles. Whiplash can also disrupt healthy functioning in your spine and lead to other issues like a herniated disc. Neck pain is common after a whiplash injury because it can lead to stiffness and soreness that restrict your range of motion. If you suffered a head injury alongside whiplash, then you may also experience dizziness due to a concussion.

Cervical Vertigo

Cervical vertigo is a type of dizziness that can make you feel like the world around you is spinning or wobbling. This type of dizziness can also affect your balance and concentration. Common causes of cervical vertigo include poor neck posture, cervical spine injuries, or neck disorders. Cervical vertigo, also known as cervicogenic dizziness, can cause an increase in dizziness when you turn your head or move your neck. Along with dizziness, cervical vertigo can also be accompanied by symptoms like headaches, neck pain, ringing in the ears, and nausea. Dizziness associated with cervical vertigo could last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is a type of degenerative disorder that affects the spine in your neck. Osteoarthritis in the cervical spine can occur due to general wear and tear on the body. Cervical degenerative disc disease can also impact the healthy functioning of spinal discs that separate the vertebrae in your neck. As spinal discs start to lose their elasticity and break down, they can aggravate nearby nerves and blood vessels. Pinched nerves or compressed blood vessels can sometimes cause uncomfortable symptoms like neck pain and dizziness.

Treating Neck Pain and Dizziness

The best way to experience lasting relief from neck pain and dizziness is to address the root cause. In order to treat neck pain causing dizziness, your doctor will want to diagnose what is causing your symptoms. They will then be able to develop a treatment plan that allows you to experience lasting relief from pain and dizziness. Here are three ways to treat neck pain and dizziness with your chiropractor.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractors use all-natural approaches to treating your pain and relieving your symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and safe ways to resolve misalignments in the spine that may be causing your symptoms. Poor posture can cause your vertebrae to become misaligned and put added pressure on certain parts of the spine and neck. Neck injuries can also affect the healthy alignment of your cervical spine. A chiropractor can identify any misalignments and resolve them to improve healthy functioning in your spine and neck.

Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic massage can also help relieve symptoms like neck pain and dizziness. Stiff, tense muscles in your neck and upper back can contribute to pain and other uncomfortable symptoms like dizziness. Therapeutic massage will help decrease tension in your neck, shoulders, and back. When you carry a lot of stress and tension in your upper body, it can put a lot of stress on your spine. Relaxed and flexible neck muscles allow you to breathe better and support healthy circulation.

Stretches & Exercises

Your chiropractor can also walk you through stretches and exercises to help relieve neck pain that is causing dizziness. When you stretch and exercise your neck, it can help improve your mobility, strength, and flexibility. Gentle stretches can also help reduce muscle tension while encouraging flexibility and promoting strength. Exercises can help address a weakened neck that may be contributing to poor posture and making your pain and dizziness worse.

If you have neck pain that is causing dizziness, talk to a chiropractor at AICA Orthopedics in Snellville. Our team of chiropractors can help with symptoms like pain and dizziness. We offer personalized treatment plans that address your specific concerns and goals for treatment. Visit AICA Orthopedics in Snellville to meet with one of our chiropractors today!

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