Treatments For Cervical Vertigo
Fortunately, cervical vertigo can typically be managed without surgery. Start by visiting a healthcare provider, who may begin by treating underlying health problems and/or by prescribing medications to relieve symptoms. Muscle relaxers and over-the-counter analgesics like ibuprofen or acetaminophen could help with pain, for example, while a drug like meclizine can help address dizziness.
Another treatment often recommended for cervical vertigo? Exercise, starting with cardio.
Aerobic exercise is critical and very easy to do on your own, Dr. Baum says. Activities like walking, running, biking or swimming can reduce inflammation and pain, though its important to break a sweat. True aerobic exercise is getting your heart rate up into the aerobic zone for at least 15 to 30 minutes per session, for at least three to five times per week. Thats really where you start to see the greatest benefit, he explains.
Strength and balance exercises can ease symptoms, too. Dr. Baum recommends yoga, Pilates and tai chi because they have mindfulness and breathing components as well as proven pain relief benefits. You have to stick with it, though. Its the type of thing where you dont just do it once and you see an effect, he explains. You have to have sustained effort for several weeks to really see benefits.
When To See The Doctor For Neck Pain And Dizziness
While most cases of dizziness are mild and quickly go away on their own, sometimes the problem requires medical attention. If dizziness persists and interferes with routine activities or quality of life, it should be examined by a doctor.
In addition, any type of pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that radiates down into the arm or hand should be evaluated by a doctor. If neck pain and/or dizziness are accompanied by severe headache, nausea, feeling faint, bowel/bladder dysfunction, and/or trouble with coordination or walking, medical attention is needed immediately.
Can My Headaches Be Caused By Arthritis In My Neck Some Non
Lots of people get headaches every now and again. Your cervical vertebrae, located at the top of your spine, support the weight of your head on a delicate column. If you have osteoarthritis that impacts the vertebrae at the top of your spine, your headaches could actually be related to this larger condition, called cervicogenic headaches. With treatment, you can address your arthritis symptoms and headaches.
The experienced care team at Spine & Joint Physicians of Frisco, led by S. Justin Badiyan, MD, can diagnose the real cause of your neck pain and help you put together a useful, noninvasive treatment plan. With the right support, including minimally invasive procedures, non-opioid medications, and physical therapy, you may be able to solve the issue without needing to resort to surgical treatment.
Heres what we think you should know about the connection between headache pain and arthritis in your neck.
Recommended Reading: Can You Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Naturally
Can Neck Pain Cause Dizziness
Many people experience neck pain and dizziness at the same time. Sometimes this is referred to as cervical vertigo or cervicogenic dizziness. This dizziness may come and go or occur with motion of the cervical spine , and it can involve unsteadiness, light-headedness, blurry vision, ringing in ears, nausea, headaches, and/or other troubling symptoms. Here are a few possible ways that a neck problem may contribute to dizziness.
Besides neck pain, whiplash can cause other symptoms, such as dizziness. Watch:Whiplash Video
How Is The Neck Structured
Your neck and back are made up of small bones called vertebrae. These are stacked on top of each other to form the spinal column.
The spinal column supports your head and protects the spinal cord. This is the main structure which links the network of nerves throughout your body. Messages travel along this network sending sensations, such as pain, to your brain.
The top seven bones in the spinal column form your neck, and these are called the cervical vertebrae. The bones are linked together by facet joints. These are small joints between your vertebrae that, together with your neck muscles, allow you to move your head in any direction.
Between the vertebrae are discs of cartilage. The discs act as shock absorbers and give the spine its flexibility. A slipped disc occurs when one of these discs slips slightly out of its natural position in the spine.
Don’t Miss: How To Deal With Hip Arthritis
Symptoms That May Indicate Cervicogenic Dizziness
People with cervicogenic dizziness tend to complain of dizziness or general disorientation that is often worse during head movements or after maintaining certain neck positions for a long time. Dizziness or lightheadedness usually occurs during or soon after experiencing neck pain, stiffness and/or decreased neck range of motion. It may be accompanied by an occipital headache and exacerbated by head movements, not by physical or cognitive activity. Often the dizziness decreases as the neck pain decreases. The symptoms usually last minutes to hours.
People with cervicogenic dizziness may also complain of general imbalance, which can increase with head movements or movement in the environment. Cervicogenic dizziness is thought to be uncommon.
Physical Therapy And Chiropractic Manipulation
When it comes to physical therapy, the goal is to stretch, strengthen, and straighten up your back. Basically, there are two parts when it comes to physical therapy.
The first part is where you actually do the exercises. A physical therapist will create an exercise plan and supervise your progress. During physical therapy, it is not uncommon to perform exercises that strengthen your core and your back muscles, while simultaneously stretching out your back and relieving pressure. All of these exercises and stretches will lead to a better posture with continued use.
There is also the other type of physical therapy, where manipulations of the neck and spinal joints are performed. These manipulations can be performed by a physical therapist or a specialized physician called a chiropractor.
While this type of therapy can produce immediate results, patients with undiagnosed chronic neck problems should be cautious when pursuing these types of treatments. For example, patients with carotid artery stenosis or advanced osteoarthritis could experience additional complications from chiropractic sessions.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Rid Of Arthritis In Your Back
Caring Cervical Realignment Therapy
As we discussed in reviewing the research above, our goal is to provide long-term solutions to the problems and symptoms of chronic neck pain and instability such as headaches, dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, imbalance, and a host of other symptoms attributed to neck injuries.
Caring Cervical Realignment Therapy combines individualized protocols to objectively document spinal instability, strengthen weakened ligament tissue that connects vertebrae, re-establish normal biomechanics and encourage the restoration of lordosis. This is our treatment method of moving towards putting a patients cervical spine back into place.
Through extensive research and patient data analysis, it became clear that in order for patients to obtain long-term cures the re-establishment of some lordosis, in their cervical spine is necessary. Once spinal stabilization was achieved with Prolotherapy and the normalization of cervical forces by restoring some lordosis, lasting relief of symptoms was highly probable.
The Horrific Progression of Neck Degeneration with Unresolved Cervical Instability. Cervical instability is a progressive disorder causing a normal lordotic curve to end up as an S or Snake curve with crippling degeneration.
Dizziness Vs Vertigo: Whats The Difference
Did you know that dizziness and vertigo are different conditions? Dizziness is the feeling of being unsteady, shaky, or faint. Meanwhile, vertigo is associated with the sensation of spinning or swaying, even when sitting still. Although these conditions are different, they are frequently correlated. If you feel faint, unstable, and woozy, you are likely experiencing symptoms from both dizziness and vertigo. Symptoms that can accompany either condition include:
- Inner ear infections
If you suspect that cervical vertigo is the reason for feeling like your world is turning, be sure to schedule an appointment at OneAccord Physical Therapy for a thorough assessment. Treatment options will depend on the severity of your symptoms. Corrective measures may include manual therapy and spinal manipulation to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.
Read Also: How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect The Hands
What Causes Autoimmune Diseases
The precise cause of autoimmune diseases is unknown. However, there are risk factors that may increase your chances of getting an autoimmune disease. Risk factors include:
- Some medications. Talk to your healthcare provider about the side effects of medications for blood pressure, statins and antibiotics.
- Having relatives with autoimmune diseases. Some diseases are genetic they run in families.
You May Like: Can Rheumatoid Factor Change From Positive To Negative
What Are The Symptoms Of Psoriatic Arthritis
Most people with PsA develop psoriasis first, with a buildup of skin cells that form scales and itchy, dry patches. But it is possible to have joint symptoms before skin patches appear. Joint pain and swelling are the main symptoms of PsA, but the condition can affect any part of the body, including the fingertips and spine.
Don’t Miss: What’s Best To Take For Arthritis
Head Or Neck Injuries Can Result In Cervicogenic Dizziness
Cervicogenic dizziness can often result from a case of whiplash or a head injury. When ligaments of your neck take damage or are overstretched, pressure on your nerves can take place. This, in turn, can result in bouts of cervicogenic dizziness. If you are experiencing neck pain and dizziness, its important to act immediately. Contact us to schedule immediate cervicogenic dizziness treatment to prevent any other issues from developing.
A Note On The Cervical Spine Or Neck Muscles
If you notice, the patient in this video has a muscular physique and what would be considered a thick neck. Many people ask, how does someone with such a strong neck have cervical instability problems? Isnt a goal of physical therapy the strengthening of neck muscles to restore stability?
Before these questions are answered lets look at some research.
A July 2020 paper in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science suggests that neck muscles do play a role in providing pain relief and stability but the results are not clear. This is what the paper highlighted:
The learning points are:
- Muscle thickness may develop as a response to instability.
- There is apparent confusion in the neck as to which muscles need to respond because of confusing signals from the central nervous system.
Read Also: Does Arthritis Make Your Hands Swell
Can Neck Conditions Cause Headaches Or Migraines
Given the strong correlation between neck pain and migraines, it is worth considering neck pain treatments in conjunction with your efforts to mitigate migraine attacks. You can achieve both of these objectives simultaneously through comprehensive, multi-disciplinary neck pain and migraine treatment.
Tightness in the muscles of the shoulders and neck can often lead to headaches. The tightness stimulates the nerves that travel from the neck to the head. When the nerve impulse begins to fire, the pain can move to the head, where a headache can occur. This type of disorder, a cervicogenic headache, is called that because it stems from the cervical spine .
Migraine attacks arising from neck pain can also occur, although they are not as common, as noted by Dr. David Salisbury, DO. The exact processes through which a migraine arises in the head are not yet completely evident. However, the mainstream neurological understanding is that a blend of changes occur within the heads blood vessels and nerves. Neck tightness could lead to a migraine in exactly the same manner as a cervicogenic headache: it could stimulate the nerves that go to the head, but a migraine could arise instead a likelier scenario in someone who experiences regular migraine attacks.
What Else Will Help With The Sensation Of Dizziness
It may be worth opening a discussion with your primary care provider about having radiographs taken of the neck to determine the severity of the degeneration. It is also important to rule out other causes of the sensation, such as a condition known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo which can be assessed using the Dix-Hallpike maneuver and corrected by a professional familiar with the Epley maneuver.
Don’t wait to have your dizziness assessed. Seek out a professional if you begin to experience sensations of vertigo.
References:
Also Check: What To Do If I Have Arthritis
Neck Pain And Dizziness
Neck pain and dizziness can be problematic and significantly impact ones function and quality of life. What is the association between neck pain and dizziness? What is cervical vertigo? What are the treatment options for neck pain and dizziness? Which treatment options for neck pain and dizziness should you avoid? Lets dig in.
Is It A Side Effect Or Not
While it’s true that some people with PsA experience vertigo due to their condition, it’s not safe to make assumptions. It could be a side effect of a medication or a sign something else is going on.
For example, sometimes during allergy season, I experience vertigo if I’m suffering from a lot of sinus congestion. Treating my allergies with nasal steroids significantly reduces my symptoms!
If you suspect your jaw is the cause of your dizziness, it helps to see a dentist. There are many options to help treat TMJ inflammation, such as splinting, physical therapy, or even acupuncture. Addressing the issue at the source will significantly reduce or could eliminate vertigo.
Don’t Miss: What Types Of Arthritis Are Autoimmune
What Is A Cervicogenic Headache
Cervicogenic headaches¹ begin in the cervical spine, located in the neck. They develop when pain is directed to the head from a particular cause in the neck.
These headaches can sometimes be mistaken for migraine headache symptoms. Cervicogenic headaches are distinct from migraine with neck pain because, unlike migraine , they are secondary headaches.
Cervicogenic headache symptoms are typically side-locked, meaning they develop across one area of the neck, head, and face.
Why Neck Training Is Important For Treating Cervical Vertigo
Out of all the parts in the human body, the neck is the most undertrained. And yet, it does so much work. The neck is responsible for carrying the weight of the head, absorbing shock from impact, and keeping the body in balance. Due to bad posture, neck muscles commonly become weak. This increases the likelihood of pain and injuries that lead to conditions such as cervical vertigo. If you want to improve your posture, get rid of chronic pain and vertigo, and reduce the risk of future neck injuries, then you should start training your neck. Neck training is similar to training any other part of your body. It requires consistency and a variety of exercises to really target all the muscles in your neck.
If you aren’t sure how to start training your neck, we have a complete guide on neck training, where we share our favorite neck rehab exercises. Your doctor will most likely recommend neck training for treatment. But you should still continue neck trainingafter your vertigo is treated. Neck training is not just treatment but a form of prevention too. The stronger your neck gets the less likely you’ll experience chronic pain and vertigo. Plus, the chances of you getting injured get lower too . But before you can start training your neck, you will need certain equipment. If you want to know more about where you can find all the best neck training essentials, we know just the place.
Also Check: How To Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
What You Can Do
If you think your headaches may be resulting from neck pain you are experiencing, the team at Spine & Joint of Frisco can evaluate you for arthritis in your cervical spine. A history, physical exam, and possibly an X-ray or MRI can oftentimes give us a diagnosis.
Treatment can include non-surgical options, such as facet joint injections, which are targeted X-rayguided injections into the arthritic joints in the cervical spine of a steroid solution to reduce inflammation. This is not unlike having a steroid injection into the knee joint.
Radiofrequency ablation of the sensitive, pain-causing nerves may also be an excellent, minimally invasive option. Dr. Badiyan may recommend medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents to help with your pain and reduce inflammation in your joints, as well as physical therapy, massage, or targeted application of heat.
In addition, theres a lot you can do to adjust your lifestyle and habits to reduce your arthritis symptoms and slow deterioration. Being overweight puts added strain on your joints, so taking steps to lose weight, including regular moderate exercise and healthier food choices, can make a big difference. We can guide you to the best combination of exercise and rest to support your health and reduce your arthritis symptoms.
The Role Regenerative Medicine Plays With Cgd Or Cgh
To treat the problem, we first need to understand where the problem is coming from. For cervicogenic headaches and dizziness, there could be several causes for the symptoms you are experiencing. Regenerative medicine provides a less invasive and less painful alternative to conventional treatments.
Nowadays, two types of regenerative therapies are popular for cervicogenic headaches and cervicogenic dizziness. These include cell-based therapies and platelet-rich plasma therapy.
At CELLAXYS, we perform both of these therapies:
Recommended Reading: How To Deal With Arthritis Flare Up
Neck Osteoarthritis Symptoms Limit Your Life
We know that the pain and discomfort from cervical osteoarthritis is more than a distraction it can be life-altering. The symptoms of neck osteoarthritis include:
- Limited mobility, sometimes severe
- Pain that extends to the shoulders or arms
You can have a hard time turning your head to the right or left or bending at your neck as symptoms progress. Some patients even notice an audible grating or crunching noise when they try to move their neck.
Less common symptoms include nausea, headache, vertigo, blurry vision, and even memory challenges. Bone spurs in your neck called cervical osteophytes can cause pain, tingling and numbness, and weakness too, with pain radiating from your neck to your shoulder, arm, or hand.
Cervical spondylosis can put pressure on your spinal cord and cause another condition called cervical myelopathy, characterized by muscle spasms, difficulty walking, and reflex problems.
The types of limitations and discomfort that cervical osteoarthritis cause are also associated with high blood pressure, so getting treated is a must.