Swindle

Patients who complain of dizziness associated with pain in the cervical spine suffer from so-called cervicogenic vertigo. In this type of vertigo, which is usually not a form of rotational vertigo but rather a vestibular vertigo, the symptoms usually occur after jerky movements of the head and prolonged malpositioning of the neck. Those affected may suffer from this type of vertigo for several hours.

The cause is a tension of the muscles or connective tissue in the area of the cervical spine. In most cases the tension is so severe that a single treatment can provide short-term relief but is not a long-term solution. It is therefore important that those affected consult a doctor or physiotherapist so that they can take appropriate preventive measures themselves, such as exercises to relax or strengthen the muscles.

Eye Pain

As already indicated, eye pain can also be an indicator of the involvement of the cervical spine in headaches. Many patients complain of a dull pain especially in the area of the eyes. The cause can also be the cervical spine.

The trigeminal nerve (the sensory nerve for the head and neck) has a branch at the base of the skull in the neck. Heavy lifting, jamming the telephone receiver between head and shoulder, overstretching or whiplash can cause tension in this area and a knot is formed, which may even be palpable at the neck. This lump causes pain behind the eyes or even in the face in general due to an irritation of the nerve.

Diagnosis

As already described, it is not always easy, especially for the layman, to make a correct diagnosis.However, an experienced professional can quickly find the cause of the problem by asking specific questions and by a physical examination. If the symptoms are not clear, imaging measures such as X-rays or an MRI can also be informative tools. Especially if the symptoms persist or worsen, they should not be taken lightly to avoid chronic development.