Does cervical spondylosis cause dizziness? –Vertigo

 

Vertigo resulting from cervical spondylosis is not a widely accepted phenomenon. The pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis leading to vertigo presented in the literature is quite complex and contentious. Vertigo is a treatable condition. Without proper medical guidance, your symptoms could get worse. Self-diagnosis is not recommended since this condition can mimic more serious diseases. If you begin to experience dizziness, neck pain, and other related symptoms, visit your doctor immediately. Vertigo in patient with cervical spondylosis, may result when osteophytes imping on the vertebral artery causing vertebrobasilar ischemia. The vertebrobasilar circulation (arteries – tubes which supply blood to crucial structures in brain) supplies the vestibular labyrinth, VIII nerve, brain stem, cerebellum and occipital lobes. These structures are important for balance and equilibrium. Cervical osteophytes can press on these blood vessels (vertebral artery) causing its occlusion during head turning to the same or opposite side. The most common complaint in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency is vertigo. However, the spondylosis as a source of vertigo incidents should be precisely diagnosed (type of vertigo, trigger moment, imaging diagnostics, extra- and intracranial Doppler sonography of vertebral arteries, angiography, etc.). I have the impression that some vertigo syndromes are poorly understood and insufficiently referred to the otoneurologists (Ent surgeons or neurologists). That is why the general physicians very often refer similar insufficiently diagnosed patients to neurosurgeons or spinal surgeons with the simple explanation: “cervical spondylosis or osteophytes” as the reason for the complaints. On the contrary, the practice shows that this is not always adequately substantiated.

Cervicogenic dizziness tends to be a controversial diagnosis because there are no diagnostic tests to confirm that it is the cause of the dizziness. Cervicogenic dizziness is a diagnosis that is provided to people who have neck injury or pain as well as dizziness and in whom other causes of dizziness have been definitely ruled out. People with cervicogenic dizziness tend to complain of dizziness (a sensation of movement of the self or the environment) that is worse during head movements or after maintaining one head position for a long time. The dizziness usually occurs after the neck pain and may be accompanied by a headache. Often the dizziness will decrease if the neck pain decreases. The symptoms of dizziness usually last minutes to hours.

Cervical spondylosis causing vertigo is quiet a rare phenomenon. The more common causes are related to ear and brain. An evaluation for cervicogenic dizziness involves a thorough medical evaluation because the symptoms are similar to other causes of dizziness. Testing of inner ear function is usually requested to ensure that the peripheral or central vestibular system is intact. An Ent surgeon may perform a maneuver in which the body is turned while the head is held fixed to see if it causes nystagmus (eye movements) or dizziness to confirm the suspected diagnosis. The results of this test need to be correlated with subjective symptoms and the clinical findings because the test can also be positive in healthy individuals. Cervicogenic dizziness often occurs as a result of whiplash or head injury and is often seen in conjunction with brain injury or injury to the inner ear. It is often difficult to distinguish between cervicogenic dizziness and other medical problems. Cervicogenic dizziness that occurs in conjunction with brain injury or another form of dizziness will be more difficult to diagnose and treat. It is important to be patient while health care professionals sort through the problems and treat them in the most logical order. Further tests like MRI of inner ear or MRI of Brain and Brainstem or Audiometry tests for hearing difficulties might be ordered by the neurologist or ENT surgeon.

The general treatment for dizziness include conservative treatment of the neck such as medication, gentle mobilization, exercise, and instruction in proper posture and use of the neck. For other patients, improvement involves treatment of the neck problem in addition to vestibular therapy. Vestibular rehabilitation is directed at what problems are found on evaluation and may include eye exercises, balance exercises, walking, and graded exposure to environments that make you dizzy. Recent, evidence as shown the Influence of cervical muscle proprioceptive input on postural balance. The symptoms are quite different from Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (problem with blood vessels). Select group of patients with neck pain and vertigo have been found to have normal vascular image and trigger points localized on cervical muscles. Their principal symptoms are unsteadiness and disequilibrium. The use of electrical stimulation and physiotherapy has been found to improves not only the pain, but the dizziness too.

In my practice as a spine surgeon in Bangalore at Bangalore spine specialist clinic as an orthopedic spine surgeon in Bangalore, I have come across that people in Bangalore are unaware about the non-cervical spine causes of dizziness / vertigo.  Bangalore spine specialist Clinic, the best orthopedic spine clinic in Bangalore agrees with the above details relating to the cervico genic vertigo. Best spine surgeon in Bangalore can deal with vertigo associated with severe cervical spondylosis.  Top Spine Surgeons in Bangalore can provide screening, diagnostics and management of vertigo associated with cervical spondylosis.