Feeling dizzy can be unsettling.
Whether the room feels like it’s spinning, you feel unsteady on your feet, or you simply don’t feel quite “right,” dizziness can have a significant impact on daily life. Many people begin avoiding busy environments, driving, exercise, or even turning their head too quickly for fear of bringing on another episode.
One of the most frustrating aspects of dizziness is that it can have many different causes. Many of the people we see have already had medical investigations and have been told that everything appears normal, yet their symptoms continue.
If this sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone.
People experience dizziness in many different ways.
Some describe the room spinning around them, while others feel lightheaded, unsteady or as though they are walking on a boat. Symptoms may last seconds, minutes or, for some people, become an ongoing problem.
Common symptoms include:
Understanding exactly how your dizziness feels is an important part of identifying what may be contributing to it.
Dizziness is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
There are many possible causes, which is why a thorough assessment is so important.
Some of the more common causes include problems involving the tiny balance crystals of the inner ear, changes in blood pressure, vision or eye movement disorders, migraine, anxiety, medication side effects and conditions affecting the central nervous system.
Because there are so many possible explanations, it is important not to assume that every episode of dizziness is coming from the neck.
However, for some people, particularly those who have persistent neck pain alongside their dizziness, the neck may play an important role.
The upper cervical spine is one of the most neurologically sensitive areas of the body.
The small joints, muscles and ligaments at the top of the neck contain thousands of specialised receptors that constantly provide your brain with information about the position of your head in space. This process, known as proprioception, works together with your eyes and inner ear to help maintain balance and coordinate movement.
The upper neck also has close neurological connections with the systems involved in eye movements and balance. When these systems are working well together, your brain receives clear and accurate information about where your body is in space.
If movement in the upper cervical spine becomes restricted or the surrounding muscles become irritated, the information travelling from the neck may become less accurate. In some individuals, this mismatch between information coming from the neck, eyes and inner ear may contribute to dizziness or feelings of imbalance. This is often referred to as cervicogenic dizziness.
People with this type of dizziness frequently also report neck stiffness, headaches, a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ears, or tinnitus that comes and goes alongside their symptoms.
While the neck is not the cause of every case of dizziness, it is an area that is often overlooked.
Because dizziness can occasionally be caused by more serious medical conditions, we take every assessment very seriously.
Before considering whether the neck may be contributing to your symptoms, we perform a detailed history and physical examination and carefully screen for signs that suggest another underlying cause. If your symptoms indicate that further medical investigation is needed, we will always advise you appropriately.
For people whose examination suggests the neck may be contributing, assessing the function of the upper cervical spine can provide valuable insight into why symptoms have persisted.
If you’ve been experiencing dizziness, vertigo or persistent feelings of imbalance, and particularly if these symptoms are accompanied by neck pain or headaches, it may be worth considering whether your neck could be playing a role.
At The Third Space in Amsterdam-Oost, we take the time to understand your symptoms, perform a thorough chiropractic examination and determine whether the upper cervical spine may be contributing to your dizziness.
Because while dizziness can have many different causes, understanding which one is affecting you is often the first step towards finding the right solution.
