Neck Pain and Dizziness: What’s Causing It?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsEmergency TreatmentRelief at HomeComplications and Risk FactorsHow to Manage

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Symptoms

Emergency Treatment

Relief at Home

Complications and Risk Factors

How to Manage

Neck pain and dizziness, which are both very common symptoms, can occur together. You may experience each of these symptoms together for separate reasons, but sometimes these two symptoms may be related. The overlap between neck pain and dizziness is often referred to ascervicogenicdizziness.

This article describes the link between neck pain and dizziness, when you should get medical attention, and potential treatments that can provide relief.

A person suffering from neck pain.

Causes of Neck Pain and Dizziness

Neck pain and dizziness together can develop in many different ways. Research suggests that up to 40% of people who have neck pain also experience some type of dizziness.Sometimes, there can be a shared cause of the two symptoms.

Neck Pain and Dizziness: What’s Causing It?

Cervical Vertigo (Cervicogenic Dizziness)

The most commonly defined condition that involves a combination of neck pain with dizziness is described ascervical vertigoor cervicogenic dizziness. This condition involves musculoskeletal changes in the neck that can lead to neck pain and dizziness.

“Cervicogenic dizziness” does not have a clear or consistent definition.Muscular or upper spine changes may cause a combination of dizziness and neck pain in a few different ways.

Potential causes of cervicogenic dizziness include:

Besides cervicogenic dizziness, other risk factors and medical conditions can lead to a combination of neck pain and dizziness.

Causes of neck pain with dizziness may include:

Cervicogenic Headache Overview

Neck Pain, Dizziness, and Severe Symptoms

Neck pain and dizziness can interfere with your quality of life. In rare cases, the combination of neck pain and dizziness can be a sign of a severe health condition or a medical emergency.

Get prompt medical attention if you or someone you are with experiences any of the following:

These symptoms can indicate a severe underlying medical condition, such as the following:

Diagnostic Process for Neck Pain With Dizziness

Emergency Treatment for Neck Pain and Dizziness

Immediate medical attention may involve:

Treatment may include:

These conditions can all cause lasting damage and will require a period of recovery that may last four months or longer.

Even mild neck pain and dizziness can interfere with your quality of life and with your ability to take care of yourself.

How to Relieve Mild Neck Pain and Dizziness at Home

If you are experiencing mild neck pain and dizziness, it’s important to get medical attention, even if your symptoms are mild. Be sure to make an appointment with a healthcare provider to have an evaluation.

Interventions that you can do at home include:

It’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about your at-home self-care strategies to make sure they are right for your condition.

How to Fix Forward Head Posture and Why It Matters

Complications can develop as are result of combined neck pain and dizziness. Some of the underlying conditions that cause these symptoms can worsen, and some may be serious.

Complications may include:

While these complications are uncommon, it’s important to get medical attention so that any serious condition can be diagnosed before it gets worse.

Physical therapy, exercise, and medication can help relieve neck pain and dizziness. If your dizziness is persistent, it’s important that you consider safety measures, such as using a cane or walker to get around.

Medications you might be prescribed or recommended to use include:

Your healthcare provider might consider an injection, such as a muscle relaxer to relieve muscle spasm, pain medication to relieve pain, or an anti-inflammatory drug to reduce inflammation.

Summary

Your diagnosis and treatment can help you feel more comfortable and can help prevent serious complications. Often, physical therapy and home exercises can provide substantial relief.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vural M, Karan A, Albayrak Gezer İ, et al.Prevalence, etiology, and biopsychosocial risk factors of cervicogenic dizziness in patients with neck pain: a multi-center, cross-sectional study.Turk J Phys Med Rehabil.2021;67(4):399-408. doi:10.5606/tftrd.2021.7983Sung YH.Suboccipital muscles, forward head posture, and cervicogenic dizziness.Medicina(Kaunas). 2022;58(12):1791. doi:10.3390/medicina58121791Cherchi M, DiLiberto FE, Yacovino DA, Das S.The enduring controversy of cervicogenic vertigo, and Its place among positional vertigo syndromes.Audiol Res.2021;11(4):491-507. doi:10.3390/audiolres11040045Knapstad MK, Nordahl SHG, Goplen FK.Clinical characteristics in patients with cervicogenic dizziness: a systematic review.Health Sci Rep. 2019;2(9):e134. doi:10.1002/hsr2.134De Vestel C, Vereeck L, Reid SA, Van Rompaey V, Lemmens J, De Hertogh W.Systematic review and meta-analysis of the therapeutic management of patients with cervicogenic dizziness.J Man Manip Ther.2022;30(5):273-283. doi:10.1080/10669817.2022.2033044

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vural M, Karan A, Albayrak Gezer İ, et al.Prevalence, etiology, and biopsychosocial risk factors of cervicogenic dizziness in patients with neck pain: a multi-center, cross-sectional study.Turk J Phys Med Rehabil.2021;67(4):399-408. doi:10.5606/tftrd.2021.7983Sung YH.Suboccipital muscles, forward head posture, and cervicogenic dizziness.Medicina(Kaunas). 2022;58(12):1791. doi:10.3390/medicina58121791Cherchi M, DiLiberto FE, Yacovino DA, Das S.The enduring controversy of cervicogenic vertigo, and Its place among positional vertigo syndromes.Audiol Res.2021;11(4):491-507. doi:10.3390/audiolres11040045Knapstad MK, Nordahl SHG, Goplen FK.Clinical characteristics in patients with cervicogenic dizziness: a systematic review.Health Sci Rep. 2019;2(9):e134. doi:10.1002/hsr2.134De Vestel C, Vereeck L, Reid SA, Van Rompaey V, Lemmens J, De Hertogh W.Systematic review and meta-analysis of the therapeutic management of patients with cervicogenic dizziness.J Man Manip Ther.2022;30(5):273-283. doi:10.1080/10669817.2022.2033044

Vural M, Karan A, Albayrak Gezer İ, et al.Prevalence, etiology, and biopsychosocial risk factors of cervicogenic dizziness in patients with neck pain: a multi-center, cross-sectional study.Turk J Phys Med Rehabil.2021;67(4):399-408. doi:10.5606/tftrd.2021.7983Sung YH.Suboccipital muscles, forward head posture, and cervicogenic dizziness.Medicina(Kaunas). 2022;58(12):1791. doi:10.3390/medicina58121791Cherchi M, DiLiberto FE, Yacovino DA, Das S.The enduring controversy of cervicogenic vertigo, and Its place among positional vertigo syndromes.Audiol Res.2021;11(4):491-507. doi:10.3390/audiolres11040045Knapstad MK, Nordahl SHG, Goplen FK.Clinical characteristics in patients with cervicogenic dizziness: a systematic review.Health Sci Rep. 2019;2(9):e134. doi:10.1002/hsr2.134De Vestel C, Vereeck L, Reid SA, Van Rompaey V, Lemmens J, De Hertogh W.Systematic review and meta-analysis of the therapeutic management of patients with cervicogenic dizziness.J Man Manip Ther.2022;30(5):273-283. doi:10.1080/10669817.2022.2033044

Sung YH.Suboccipital muscles, forward head posture, and cervicogenic dizziness.Medicina(Kaunas). 2022;58(12):1791. doi:10.3390/medicina58121791

Cherchi M, DiLiberto FE, Yacovino DA, Das S.The enduring controversy of cervicogenic vertigo, and Its place among positional vertigo syndromes.Audiol Res.2021;11(4):491-507. doi:10.3390/audiolres11040045

Knapstad MK, Nordahl SHG, Goplen FK.Clinical characteristics in patients with cervicogenic dizziness: a systematic review.Health Sci Rep. 2019;2(9):e134. doi:10.1002/hsr2.134

De Vestel C, Vereeck L, Reid SA, Van Rompaey V, Lemmens J, De Hertogh W.Systematic review and meta-analysis of the therapeutic management of patients with cervicogenic dizziness.J Man Manip Ther.2022;30(5):273-283. doi:10.1080/10669817.2022.2033044

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Causes of Neck Pain and Dizziness#

Cervical Vertigo (Cervicogenic Dizziness)#

Neck Pain, Dizziness, and Severe Symptoms#

Diagnostic Process for Neck Pain With Dizziness#

Emergency Treatment for Neck Pain and Dizziness#

How to Relieve Mild Neck Pain and Dizziness at Home#

How to Manage Chronic Neck Pain and Related Symptoms#

Summary#