Neck Pain, Headaches, and Dizziness Aren’t a Combination to Ignore

Neck Pain, Headaches, and Dizziness Aren’t a Combination to Ignore

Everyone feels a little sick and sore once in a while. A headache, stiff neck, or feeling slightly dizzy is usually nothing to worry about. In fact, most people take a pain pill and forge on with their day. However, when these three symptoms all occur at once, taking a pain pill and mustering through is probably not your best option. Not only can this combination of symptoms be debilitating and make it difficult for you to work or complete normal activities, they may also be signs of a larger problem within your spine, such as cervical spondylosis.

The chiropractic care experts at Posture Works encourage all patients in San Francisco, CA and Lakewood, CO to seek the help of a professional if you believe something is wrong with your neck. Neck pain can be serious and develop quickly, but early intervention is often key to relieving symptoms.

What is cervical spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis, also known as cervical degenerative disc disease, is an age-related condition that is essentially inevitable. It occurs in the cervical spine, or the topmost section of the spine that forms the neck.

The condition involves the degradation of the discs that rest between the spinal vertebrae, as well as the facet joints between each vertebra.

Spinal discs naturally dehydrate and shrink, which allows the vertebral bones to rub together. When discs shrink too much, pain may stem from the discs themselves, which can develop tears as they lose hydration and cause inflammation of nerves, or from muscle pain as the muscles around the spine try to limit vertebral movement.

After the discs begin to break down, the facet joints that facilitate movement in the spine may also begin to wear down because they experience added pressure. This can cause osteoarthritis in the neck. Bone spurs may begin to grow as a result, narrowing the space your nerves have to pass through.

How cervical spondylosis might affect you

The symptoms of cervical spondylosis can vary greatly from person to person. Although disc degradation happens to everyone, some people may experience mild or no symptoms while others may suffer greatly. Some people’s discs also degrade much faster than others.

If you do develop symptoms as a result of cervical spondylosis, you will most likely experience some neck stiffness and pain. Headaches, grinding or popping noises, and “electric shocks” down the shoulder and arm may also occur.

However, as the condition progresses, it may cause more severe problems due to a compression of the nerves in the spinal canal; this condition is called cervical myelopathy, and it can be quite serious. Symptoms of this condition may include:

  • Dizziness or loss of balance;
  • Lack of bowel control;
  • Weakness and numbness below the neck and difficulty moving.

Thus, if you begin to experience a combination of neck pain, headaches, and dizziness, you should visit a doctor right away to be examined.

At our Posture Works locations in San Francisco, CA and Lakewood, CO, we understand how concerning a combination of spinal and nerve-related symptoms can be. Fortunately, we may be able to alleviate pain and restore proper function of your neck through our Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) method, which focuses on improving spinal alignment to restore total body health. If you’re concerned about your neck pain, contact us today for a free consultation!

Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.

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  • San Francisco, California
  • Lakewood, Colorado

San Francisco Clinic Hours

Monday

10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

3:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Tuesday

3:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Wednesday

10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

3:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

3:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Friday

10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

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