Symptoms of cervical syndrome with dizziness

People suffering from dizziness feel dazed and complain about lack of concentration. The dizziness dizziness is usually more or less pronounced throughout, it is not dependent on movement or breathing. The feeling of dizziness is often accompanied by headaches.

If it is very pronounced, the ability to work may also be impaired. Dizziness dizziness comes from the back of the head, especially from the short neck muscles. These muscles do much of the work needed to keep the head upright in the room.

Even the smallest changes are immediately passed on to the brain. Signal receivers, so-called receptors, in the upper part of the neck help to coordinate head and eye movements.From here the sense of balance is essentially co-determined. If these muscles are tense, the uppermost cervical vertebrae are tilted.

The information which is passed on to the brain by the signal receivers comes into conflict with what is reported from the organ of equilibrium in the inner ear, from the eyes and from the neck muscles. This leads to disorientation and dizziness. In addition, neck tension can cause the so-called vertebral artery, which runs through the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae, to bend and squeeze, which can reduce the blood flow to the brain.

This also leads to a feeling of dizziness and vertigo. If headaches occur in the context of the cervical spine syndrome, they are usually directly related to increased muscle tension. They increase in stressful situations, but usually subside during relaxation and in rest phases.

When headaches occur due to tension in the cervical spine, they are generally referred to as cervicocephalic syndrome. It can also lead to dizziness and a feeling of pressure in the head. Ear noises also occur in connection with the cervical spine syndrome.

Here, the cranial nerve nuclei play an important role as the “control center” of the auditory and vestibular nerve: On the one hand, they are connected to the joints of the upper cervical spine via nerve tracts, on the other hand they are influenced by the muscle tension in the area of the cervical spine. This means that joint problems or muscle tension in the area of the cervical spine can promote the development of ringing in the ears or amplify existing ringing in the ears. These cranial nerve nuclei are supplied with blood by branches of the spinal artery.

The spinal artery in turn runs through the bony transverse processes of the vertebrae in the cervical spine. As a result, cervical spinal wear, for example, can lead to reduced blood supply to the cranial nerve nuclei that are important for hearing. This can also cause ringing in the ears.

The tinnitus that occurs in the context of acute cervical spine complaints is characterized by one-sided, dull tinnitus with deep tones. Another example is the hearing of a noise of medium-high or high tones interrupted by pauses. Common accompanying symptoms of cervical spine complaints are: During stress, the muscles of the cervical spine tense up, which can intensify the tinnitus that exists due to other causes.

On the other hand, chronic ringing in the ears with a high degree of suffering can also lead to tension in the muscles of the cervical spine and chewing muscles.

Low frequency hearing loss of one ear
Increased hearing sensation (hyperacusis) and
Swindling

Patients suffering from a cervical spine syndrome may sometimes experience visual disturbances. Various changes in visual perception are summarized under visual disorders.

These include blurred or blurred vision, perception of flashes of light, flickering, limited field of vision and double images. These visual disturbances can occur in acute or chronic cervical syndrome and are usually the result of reduced blood flow to the brain. As a result of the circulatory disorder, the brain is not supplied with sufficient oxygen and can no longer perform its functions (e.g. visual perception) adequately.

The circulatory disorder can be caused by a narrowing of an artery located in the cervical spine. The resulting visual disturbances can be accompanied by dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), nausea, vomiting and migraine-like headaches. With the treatment of the cervical spine syndrome, the visual disturbances improve or disappear again.

Anxiety is a feeling that helps a person to recognize and react to danger. If the fear is well-founded, it gives energy to act decisively or take protective measures. The muscles tense up, the heart beats faster and stress hormones are released.

In some cases, feelings of anxiety are among the symptoms of a serious physical illness. For this reason, a dizziness attack, in which the feeling for the environment and the perception of space is confused, can understandably be accompanied by feelings of anxiety. Dizziness associated with anxiety can have several causes.

A diffuse dizziness, for example, which is often perceived as insecurity on the legs, where restlessness and nausea occur and which is hardly influenced by changes in posture, rather describes an anxiety dizziness of psychological cause.However, it can also happen the other way round that the dizziness has a physical cause (e.g. cervical spine syndrome) and the perception of acute dizziness leads to anxiety, as one literally has the feeling of “losing the ground under one’s feet”. In these cases, the elimination of the cause, for example the treatment of the cervical spine syndrome, leads to an elimination of the dizziness and thus also of the feelings of fear. The symptom “vertigo” can be caused by a cervical spine syndrome.

In some cases, a feeling of dizziness occurs, one feels like being drunk although sober, or the world is perceived “as through a pane of glass”. Such sensations typically emanate from the short neck muscles, which have a multitude of receptors for self-perception. Even the slightest change in tension, for example, a skewed position of these muscles in case of tension caused by a cervical spine syndrome, is passed on to the brain.

Loss of orientation and feelings of dizziness are the result, as the information from the neck muscles comes into conflict with the information sent by the eyes and the organ of balance in the inner ear. Dizziness and lightheadedness can be caused by long periods of sitting and working at the monitor, as well as by rapid, jerky head movements. In addition to the dizziness, concentration problems and headaches often occur.

The aim of the treatment of dizziness and light-headedness is to permanently relieve the muscle tension in the neck area and to eliminate the cervical syndrome. Tinnitus is a pathological perception of a sound, noise or ringing in the ears. Tinnitus can occur in attacks for short episodes or be perceived permanently.

A cervical spine syndrome can be an acute blockage of the upper cervicals, and often a one-sided, dull ringing in the ears is described. But also noise and the perception of high-pitched sounds can be caused by problems in the cervical spine. The symptom of tinnitus is sometimes triggered by a cervical spine syndrome, but there are many different causes of tinnitus.

For this reason, a simultaneous occurrence of tinnitus and cervical spine syndrome does not necessarily have to be related. Between the joints of the upper cervical spine there are many nervous connections with the auditory and vestibular nerves. As a result, the development of tinnitus, for example due to joint problems or muscle tension in the context of a cervical spine syndrome, is favored or existing ringing in the ears can be amplified.

The cranial nerve nuclei of the auditory and vestibular nerve are supplied with blood by branches of the spinal arteries. In a cervical spine syndrome, for example, signs of wear and tear on the cervical vertebrae can lead to a circulatory disorder and thus to reduced blood supply to the cranial nerve nuclei that are important for hearing. Therefore, a cervical spine syndrome can also cause ringing in the ears.

Frequent accompanying symptoms of tinnitus are an increased hearing sensation (hyperacusis), a low frequency hearing loss of one ear and swaying vertigo. In the case of a cervical spine syndrome, the sense of balance may be impaired, which can lead to vertigo and nausea. Most sensors of body orientation are located in the area of the upper cervical spine.

If this system is disturbed, for example by a cervical spine syndrome, the vestibular system is no longer able to process the various signals correctly. Together with the eyes and the organ of equilibrium in the inner ear, the sensors in the area of the cervical spine ensure a stable and safe position of the body in space. Other illnesses must also be taken into consideration in the case of dizziness with nausea.

High blood pressure, disorders in the area of the eyes, infections in the neck or ear and many other illnesses can also cause such dizziness symptoms. In some cases, dizziness combined with nausea is also caused by a shift of the first cervical vertebra (atlas). To compensate for the malposition, the muscles in the neck and shoulder area become extremely tense.

This creates pressure on nerves and blood vessels, which can disturb the balance mechanism and cause nausea. If dizziness and nausea are caused by a cervical syndrome, it is advisable to treat the cause. Physiotherapeutic exercises, heat therapy and medication for pain relief and muscle relaxation can be considered.In any case, the cause of the symptoms should be clarified by a doctor, as dizziness and nausea can have numerous causes.

Vomiting is a brain-controlled process that does not always have to be accompanied by stomach problems and intolerances. Vomiting is controlled with the nausea in the so-called vomiting center of the brain. In most cases, vomiting is accompanied by nausea, dizziness and, more rarely, migraine-like headaches.

Here too, the cause is probably reduced blood flow, caused by tension in the neck and pressure on the arteries supplying the blood. Visual disturbances and hearing problems, such as tinnitus, can also be triggered in this way. The treatment of the cervical spine syndrome also reduces nausea and vomiting.

Until then, individual medications can alleviate the nausea and other symptoms. Tachycardia is a form of cardiac arrhythmia that is accompanied by a significantly increased heartbeat. Those affected increasingly notice an inner restlessness and excitement in themselves, which can be explained by an increased release of stress hormones.

In the neck area and in places where the cervical spine syndrome occurs, there are, among other things, important switch points of the autonomic nervous system. If these are influenced, for example by pressure, the adrenal gland reacts with hormones such as adrenaline, which in addition to various effects on internal organs also accelerate the heartbeat. Frequently, a subjective heartbeat can be felt, which is called “palpitation”.

On the other hand, the palpitations and inner excitement can also be caused psychologically. In the case of long-standing cervical spine syndrome and dizziness, the pain and physical exertion and stress management can influence the affected person psychologically in such a way that palpitations, anxiety, panic and other stress symptoms are promoted. Fainting is caused by a temporary lack of oxygen supply to certain areas of the brain.

This can occur when blood pressure is particularly low or when the arteries supplying the neck and head are blocked. Due to gravity, blood must be constantly pumped with sufficient pressure from the heart to the head. Standing upright, quick uprighting, low blood pressure, anaemia and other factors can cause fainting.

Nevertheless, it should always be clarified by a physician, since more dangerous causes can also be behind it. If there are blockages in the cervical spine and muscle tension in the cervical muscles, the blood vessels in the neck can cause fainting under pressure. Breathlessness in a cervical spine syndrome is a rare complication.

It is caused by muscle tension in the neck muscles, which spreads to the upper thorax. In the neck there are muscle groups that start at the upper ribs and lift the thorax as so-called “respiratory aid muscles” in case of difficult breathing. There are also diagonal muscle strands between the ribs that can enlarge and lift the thorax to support breathing.

In case of severe cramps and tension, these auxiliary muscles stop working. Simple breathing with the help of the diaphragm is sufficient for an adequate supply of oxygen, but subjectively the person affected suffers from shortness of breath. Care should be taken not to prescribe painkillers such as morphine to patients with these symptoms, as these also suppress breathing.

In most cases, dizziness can be relieved by lying down or lifting the legs and feet. If this is not the case, other structures can cause the dizziness. The cervical spine syndrome can also be responsible for dizziness when lying down.

Dizziness is often caused by anemia, low blood pressure or similar. Lying down reduces the pressure that must be applied to supply the head with blood. If the dizziness persists while lying down, reduced blood flow due to pressure and blockages in the neck can be the cause.

A cervical spine syndrome is typical for this. On the other hand, a problem of the inner ear can also be caused by the poor blood supply. In addition to hearing disorders, dizziness attacks in the ear can be caused.

This is where the organ of balance is located. A blockage in the cervical spine can be caused by various things. These include poor posture, drafts and any kind of overloading of the cervical spine.

Bad posture is often observed at the workplace – especially when working at a PC. Mostly the muscles in the cervical spine area tense up. The tense muscles now pull on the vertebrae and can be triggered by a trigger such asB.

change the position of the vertebrae with a jerky movement. If the vertebrae remain in this displaced position, a so-called blockage occurs and the cervical spine is no longer able to perform its function. Movements are usually restricted or too painful to perform.

In addition to pain and restricted movement, dizziness, numbness, ringing in the ears and visual disturbances can occur. Here too, the cause is that displaced or restricted cervical vertebrae press on nerves and blood vessels, which then leads to the symptoms mentioned above. The blockage is released by chiropractic treatment (see: Relaxing the Neck).

Pain is treated with medication and physiotherapeutic exercises help to strengthen the muscles and cervical spine so that a new blockage is prevented. Heat therapy, massages and acupuncture can also help to release blockages and make the dizziness disappear. After a whiplash injury of the cervical spine or another accident, the dizziness usually disappears well when the pain and muscular tensions of the cervical spine are treated.

In addition to the usual pain medication, which inhibits the inflammation and relaxes the muscles, measures in the form of physiotherapy are used. One-sided stress and incorrect posture in the area of the cervical spine during professional and leisure activities should be avoided. Regular exercise can also prevent the disease.

Within a few weeks, the complaints subside. If the cause of the tinnitus is a functional disorder of the cervical spine, long-term therapy through physiotherapy is important to prevent the complaints from becoming chronic. Painkillers and injections of local anesthetics (narcotics) relieve the pain and make it possible to release the blockages. Conservative methods such as cold applications help as well as long-term targeted physiotherapy with posture correction.