6 Possible Causes Of Dizziness Due To Cervical Pain

Cervical dizziness is related to neck problems, but can have very different causes.

Usually, there is some alteration that compresses the vertebrae in the area and, consequently, the vertebral artery .

This causes the blood supply to the brain to be slightly reduced, and this feeling of instability then appears.

Being able to identify the origin of these cervicogenic dizziness is important , since the quality of life of those who suffer from them can be greatly affected.

What is cervical dizziness like?

Dizziness is a difficult symptom to describe, and it’s also very subjective. It’s generally described as a feeling of insecurity and a lack of confidence in one’s own physical stability .

The head feels like it’s floating, and the vision is blurred. The person feels weak, disoriented, and feels like they’re going to fall or lose consciousness when standing or walking.

Cervical dizziness is often accompanied by neck and head pain, which can be intense.

This balance disorder can last from minutes to hours and persist over time. It also tends to worsen with certain head movements.

It is also common for dizziness of cervical or cervicogenic origin to have limited movement in the neck.

In the most severe cases, you may even have difficulty walking, standing, or performing any type of activity.

The different types of cervical dizziness

Cervical dizziness is usually caused by specific accidents, degenerative diseases of the cervical spine, or stress and anxiety.

1. Whiplash

A whiplash injury occurs when the head is suddenly and forcefully jerked forward and backward (or side to side).

This causes small tears in the soft tissue areas of the neck, which can cause them to become overloaded.

This is especially common in traffic accidents.

Whiplash can also occur after sports accidents and other types of trauma, such as a fall.

2. Arthritis

Arthritis in the neck or cervical spondylosis is a possible cause of painless cervical dizziness.

This disease appears when there is wear and tear on the discs and joints of the neck (cervical spine).

It should be noted that this is a degenerative change that occurs with the aging process, so it is common from middle age onwards.

If other symptoms appear, these usually include stiffness and neck pain.

3. Osteoarthritis

Cervical osteoarthritis or cervicoarthrosis occurs when the cartilage in the joints in the neck area is injured or degenerates.

This wear can cause cervical dizziness, as well as back pain.

Cervical dizziness is usually caused by trauma, joint wear, or episodes of stress and anxiety.

4. Cervical hernia

This type of hernia occurs when the discs that cushion the cervical vertebrae become damaged or rupture. The most common causes are the aging process itself or an injury.

As a result, dizziness may occur, as well as pain and numbness in the cervical area.

5. Anxiety

Cervical dizziness and anxiety are closely related.

Stress, tension, and fatigue accumulate in the cervical area and can cause torticollis, spasms, stiffness, and contractures in the neck muscles.

In these cases, it is very common for dizziness to be accompanied by what is known as a cervical headache .

6. Bad posture

Muscle contractures in the neck area can cause dizziness due to cervical pain.

Poor posture while working, standing, lifting, or sleeping can cause tension in the muscles in this part of the spine.

Sports practices that overload the neck muscles can also cause contractures.

Dizziness or vertigo due to cervical pain?

Cervical dizziness and vertigo are two different ailments.

Dizziness is a symptom of cervical vertigo, but it is considered vertigo when the dizziness is accompanied by other discomforts.

These include a feeling of movement in the environment and loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.

This sensation can last for seconds, minutes, or hours.

In the case of cervical vertigo, the person usually feels better if they lie down and remain still.

Dizziness in the ear or neck?

Dizziness can also be caused by an inner ear disorder.

If so, they are usually differentiated from dizziness due to cervical pain by the accompanying symptoms.

It’s usually a sensation of vertigo that begins suddenly and intensely. The person also often experiences tinnitus (a sensation of ringing or buzzing in the ears that isn’t accompanied by outside noise).

In certain cases, there may even be hearing loss.

How to relieve dizziness from cervical pain

Treatment of cervical dizziness often requires the involvement of various healthcare professionals, from traumatologists to physiotherapists.

The most important thing is to assess all the symptoms of neck pain and perform the necessary examination and tests to determine the cause.

Thus, there is no single remedy for dizziness due to cervical pain , but it will depend on its origin.

However, some recommendations can be beneficial for all types of cervicogenic dizziness.

• Visit a physical therapy center and begin rehabilitation treatment. This will be beneficial for both muscle contractures in the neck and joint pain due to arthritis or osteoarthritis.

• It is important to maintain good postural hygiene to prevent back pain in everyday life.

• A sedentary lifestyle at work should be avoided. 

• Performing a self-massage on your neck muscles can help release tension in the area. To do this, you can use an anti-inflammatory, warming cream with active ingredients such as methyl salicylate, menthol, camphor, and/or methyl nicotinate.

• In cases of cervical dizziness, head flexion and rotation exercises can also help reduce neck muscle tension.

• Applying heat to treat pain increases blood flow to the vertebral artery and can be an effective remedy. This can be done with a heating pad or heat pads, or compresses.

• Reducing stress and improving sleep helps prevent anxiety-related neck pain. Exercising strengthens your back muscles and contributes to better bone health.

In this sense, yoga is especially beneficial because it includes both strength training and stretching. It also offers space for relaxation and meditation, so it has a beneficial effect on dizziness caused by anxiety .

• Many people experience dizziness when getting up quickly from a chair or bed. It’s a good idea to move slowly and stand up calmly.

• Staying well hydrated can help relieve and prevent various types of motion sickness.

• Limiting caffeine and quitting smoking has a beneficial effect on motion sickness. Both substances reduce blood flow and can worsen symptoms.

• When dizziness due to cervical pain is very severe, vestibular sedatives (neuroleptics, antihistamines, benzodiazepines, betahistine) are usually prescribed during the first 48 hours.

• Other medications that may be helpful for cervical dizziness include anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen), painkillers, and vasodilators. This is especially true when dizziness is due to muscle spasms or cervical vertebrae disorders.

In cases of severe cervical hernias, surgery may be necessary. In any case, always consult a doctor if dizziness or vertigo occurs repeatedly, suddenly, severely, or for a prolonged period without a clear cause.