Vertigo is often caused by problems with the inner ear or with the brain; however, it can also be caused by problems with the spine. At Frisco Spine, we can diagnose and treat vertigo related to spinal conditions. As experts in spine pain and vertigo, our Frisco physicians offer a comprehensive range of non-surgical and surgical treatments designed to reduce pain and alleviate the dizziness, nausea, and other symptoms associated with vertigo. We begin by taking the most conservative approach to treatment that is likely to produce optimal results. If optimal results are not achieved, we cast our net progressively wider until the issue is resolved to our patient’s satisfaction.

If you are suffering from spine pain and vertigo, we urge you to make an appointment at Frisco Spine today.

The Connection between Spine Pain and Vertigo

The critical stage in determining the connection between spine pain and vertigo is the diagnostic stage. While this may seem self-evident, diagnosing the cause of spine pain when accompanied by vertigo can be a complex task. This is because vertigo may be a symptom of a spinal condition, or the spine pain and vertigo may be symptoms of another condition altogether, such as a stroke or brain hemorrhage.

Common spinal conditions that can result in vertigo include sciatica, whiplash, osteoarthritis, and back injuries in which the pain is so acute that it results in dizziness.

Cervical Vertigo

Cervical vertigo is a type of vertigo that results from an injury to the neck. The onset of symptoms generally occurs when the victim moves his or her neck, and the condition is notable for a complete absence of injury to the ear or hearing loss.

The most commonly accepted cause of cervical vertigo is compression of the arteries in the neck by the vertebrae. This can occur due to trauma or a sports injury, but also due to arthritis or failed surgery.

Of all types of vertigo associated with back pain, cervical vertigo is the rarest. It is also the most difficult to diagnose and treat. However, at Frisco Spine, our advanced diagnostic technology allows us to identify cases of cervical vertigo and provide the most effective treatment for this unusual condition, decompressing the vertebrae of the neck and restoring proper circulation to the brain.

Learn More about Spine Pain and Vertigo

If you would like to learn more about spine pain and vertigo, or you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physicians, please contact Frisco Spine today.

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Dizziness is one symptom that’s common with a number medical conditions. Let’s take a moment to see how it’s linked to neck and back pain.

Why does back pain lead to dizziness?

Your spinal cord is quite complicated, and its collection of nerves sending signals to the brain can be affected in a number of different ways. Given the many different potential causes of back pain, the signals sent to the brain can be affected in a number of different fashions. When this occurs, dizziness is not uncommon.

What’s interesting is that the back pain leading to dizziness may occur in any spot of the spine. Dizziness is not exclusive to lower back pain, upper back pain, or even an issue with the cervical spine.

Types of Dizziness That May Be Experienced

Not all dizziness that’s experienced is the same. Sometimes the dizziness may be a kind of lightheadedness, or it may take the form of a spinning sensation. Arguably the worst kind of dizziness is a full sensation of vertigo, which may leave you totally off-balance and lead to nausea.

Causes of Back Pain Often Linked to Dizziness

As noted above, dizziness caused by back pain is not strictly associated with a specific part of the spine. Similarly, there is no single cause of a spinal health issue that causes dizziness. Some potential causes of back pain that may result in sensations of dizziness include the following:

• Osteoarthritis
• Sciatica
• Acute spinal cord injuries
• Major trauma to the back or neck
• Fibromyalgia
• Whiplash
• Pregnancy

What You Can Do When Dealing with a Dizzy Spell

If you experience a serious dizzy spell of some kind, be sure to seek out medical attention as soon as possible. Meet with a doctor in your area who is able to treat vertigo and other kinds of problems related to lost balance, lightheadedness, and nausea. If the dizzy spell is particularly serious, be sure to have a loved one help you to the doctor so you are not involved in an auto accident or other serious accident en route to a medical professional.

Get Treatment for Your Back or Neck Problem

If your dizziness is linked to an issue with neck pain or back pain, it’s important that you get the neck/back pain treated as soon as possible. Undergoing medical care for a serious spinal condition or injury will often alleviate the side effects that are associated with the condition. We will work with you to address the root problem affecting your back, restoring total wellness in the process.

Schedule a Consultation with a Specialist at Frisco Spine

To learn more about your options for alleviating back pain, be sure to contact our neck and back pain specialists today. The entire team here at Frisco Spine will work closely with you to ensure that any issues you face are properly and promptly addressed in order to restore total wellness.

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For example, if you have ever felt lightheaded or as though you were going to faint, those sensations could be classified as dizziness, but not as vertigo. On the other hand, vertigo refers to the feeling as though you were spinning or as though everything around you was spinning, even though you – or everything around you – were perfectly still.

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. At Frisco Spine, we can diagnose and treat dizziness related to spinal conditions. As experts in spine pain and dizziness, our Frisco physicians provide a full range of both surgical and non-surgical treatments that can restore comfort and function to patients struggling with the symptoms of dizziness.

If you are experiencing dizziness in conjunction with back or neck pain, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with the team of experts at Frisco Spine today.

What is cervicogenic dizziness?

Cervicogenic dizziness is a condition in which symptoms of dizziness arise from the cervical spine. This condition can manifest itself as cervical vertigo, a rare condition that we discussed in our previous blog post on spine pain and vertigo. Often, however, cervicogenic dizziness does not produce symptoms of vertigo. It is often accompanied by neck pain, or at least stiffness of the neck.

What are the symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness?

The symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness are not limited to the actual feeling of dizziness, or lightheadedness. Other common symptoms include:

• Disequilibrium, or the feeling as though one is going to fall when standing or walking
• A sensation as though one is swimming
• Sleeping difficulties due to neck pain
• Posture problems due to neck pain
• Hearing loss and/or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Stiffness of the neck
• Shoulder pain

How is cervicogenic dizziness diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness can be difficult. Usually, other, more common conditions such as whiplash must be definitively ruled out before a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness can be reached. However, once the diagnosis is reached, the condition can generally be treated through a combination of therapies. At Frisco Spine, we are able to create individualized treatment plans, usually combining conservative, non-surgical therapies, which effectively treat cervicogenic dizziness.

Learn More about Spine Pain and Dizziness

To learn more about spine pain and dizziness, or to schedule your initial consultation with one of our spinal health experts, please contact Frisco Spine today.

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We’ve received a number of questions lately about spinal headaches and what those entail. Let’s take a moment right now to consider this matter.

What is a spinal headache?

A spinal headache occurs in people who have undergone a spinal tap or who have received spinal anesthesia. When a spinal tap is administered or spinal anesthesia is given, it’s necessary to puncture the membrane that surrounds the spinal cord and the nerve roots of the lower spine. If any spinal fluid leaks into these portions of the spinal membrane that have been punctured, the pressure that the spinal fluid exerts on the brain is reduced. The result is a spinal headache.

How is this different than a regular headache?

Regular headaches originate in the cranial area and are not caused by an issue with the spine. The distinction has everything to do with the root cause of the headache itself.

It’s estimated that roughly 40 percent or patients who are given a spinal tap or receive spinal anesthesia will experience a spinal headache as a natural side effect of the process. Some studies put the number much higher, though. Women, people between the ages of 18 and 30, and people with a low body mass are more at risk for suffering from a spinal headache than others.

Symptoms of Spinal Headaches

Some of the common symptoms of spinal headaches include:

• Throbbing cranial pain of varying degrees
• Pain that’s more intense when sitting up or standing and less intense when lying down
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Stiffness in the neck
• Sensitivity to light
• Ringing in the ears

These symptoms will typically arise around 48 hours after the spinal tap or spinal anesthetic is administered. The spinal headaches may persist for several weeks, though the majority of cases will be resolved after six weeks.

Treatment Options for Spinal Headaches

Treatment options for spinal headaches are generally methods of preventing severe pain and while trying to replenish spinal fluid and restore proper pressure to the spine. The most common early treatments for spinal headaches are conservative in nature and tend to involve bed rest to reduce pain, proper hydration, drinking caffeinated beverages, and the use of basic pain relievers. Proper hydration promotes more cerebral spinal fluid pressure, while caffeinated beverages have been shown to help relieve pain.

If these conservative treatments prove ineffective, it’s not uncommon for patients use caffeine delivered intravenously or an epidural blood patch. An epidural blood patch will involve the creation of a blood clot using a person’s own blood to seal the puncture hole along the spine. This helps increase spinal fluid pressure and alleviates pain.

Speak with the Team at Frisco Spine

For more information about neck pain, spinal cord pain, and what can be done for effective treatment, be sure to contact our team of neck and back pain specialists today. The team here at Frisco Spine will be more than happy to help you relieve all issues with pain and improve your general health in the process.

Schedule a Consultation

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