Back Pain and Dizziness – Symptoms and Causes

Back Pain and Dizziness

The cause of back pain and dizziness may mean that there is a problem with your neck. Severe neck calcification, neck flattening and neck hernias can also cause neck and back pain, as well as dizziness. Dizziness and back pain originating from the neck is an uncomfortable condition that prevents us from continuing our lives normally.

What Are the Types of Problems That Can Occur With Neck Pain?

What Are the Types of Problems That Can Occur With Neck Pain

The following list provides a quick overview of the main types of problems that neck pain can cause:

Stroke

It’s hard to imagine a day that doesn’t start with a heart attack, but it’s actually much more common than we think. Stroke results from a blockage in a blood vessel, which is formed when there’s an injury in the lower portion of the vertebrae in the spine. This results in a compression of blood supply to the vertebrae and restricts blood flow to the surrounding structures, resulting in a narrowing and compression of the blood vessels. The blood vessels’ shape and size will cause the arteries to bleed more easily and may lead to damage or rupturing of the aorta.

Hernias

These occur when there is compression of the spinal cord, resulting in the compression of blood supply to the nerves on the side that’s affected.

Loss of Spinal Column

In a severe case, this can include complete or partial paralysis of the spinal cord. Lumbar-cervical spines are affected by compression.

Lumbar-pelvic Spinal Cord Injury

This type of spinal cord injury usually results in weakness of the cervical (lumbar) vertebrae.

Back Pain

The first signs of back pain are often pain in your lower back. However, it is often hard to tell if you have back pain. You may feel a sharp pain, numbness, tingling in the areas of your feet, ankles and knees and/or a change in your sense of touch. Back pain is most often caused by compression of blood supply to the nerves on the side that’s affected.

Dizziness

In a severe case, dizziness may also occur because of a condition that occurs in the upper abdomen called gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is associated with the stomach emptying more rapidly than normal, resulting in the stomach swallowing smaller amounts of food than normal. This causes more fluid to collect in the stomach, resulting in a loss of stomach contents. This can cause dizziness.

What Are the Symptoms of Neck Pain?

Some people notice a headache right away. In others, it becomes more intense as they get achy. Often, a headache can get worse over the course of the day as the cause gets better and the headache worsens.

However, it is important to remember that if you have severe neck pain, you should consult a physician before taking any form of medication. However, if you suffer from a headache that does not get worse over the course of a few days, you can try the following:

  • Sleeping
  • Avoiding food and alcohol on the days you have neck pain
  • Avoiding sleeping on your side
  • Avoiding excessive exertion
  • Watching your diet
  • Wearing comfortable clothes
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Staying hydrated

If you choose to treat a neck injury by taking medication, tell your doctor about the specific medication you’re taking as well as the dosage. It is important to discuss your medications with your physician and they will be able to prescribe the correct dosage to you based on their personal guidelines for your condition.

If you would like to see the latest cervical spine surgery information, go to the American Cervical Spine Society’s Spine Surgery Page.

How Long Does the Pain Last?

How Long Does the Pain Last

Back pain is a fairly long-lasting issue. If you have neck pain that lasts more than a few days, it may be worth seeking treatment at a professional facility. It may be more difficult to treat at home than at a professional facility because you will have to undergo more treatments to alleviate the pain.

Do I Need a Diagnosis and Treatment Plan?

If you experience neck pain that lasts longer than a few days, you are going to want to go to a professional facility for an examination. It is important to make a full recovery and to get all of the treatments that will help alleviate the pain. Most times you can get through the pain and get back to life as quickly as possible, but the longer it persists, the more difficult it can be to get back to the way things were. It is also important that you discuss all of your neck pain with your physician to make sure that your doctor can tell you what may be causing the neck pain.

How Long Will I Be Like This?

This is quite common, especially with older people. It may take weeks, months, or even years before a person’s life gets back to normal, and the longer the pain persists, the more difficult it can be to get back to life. Often, it’s important to go to a professional facility for an examination and see what medications your doctor prescribed.

Will I Be in Pain for Any Length of Time?

Once you have a diagnosis of neck pain, it may be very hard for you to believe that you will not become “normal.” If it has been going on for a week or more than a few days, your life, it is not a good idea to check with your physician about whether you may need for a neck pain medication. It could be advised that you be taking prescription.