stiff neck and back pain with slight dizziness

[olaray]

for the past 7 days i have been having back pain with stiff neck or pain in my neck because i can still turn my head it's just that it's painfull when i turn it, but today i experienced slight dizziness , i have gone to the hospital and i was given some medication, but the pain still persist. what could be the cause?

[Lama Chahine, MD]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to review your medical history and examine you personally, I can not provide you with a diagnosis nor suggest treatment for your symptoms.  However, I will try to provide you with some information.

The causes of neck pain could generally be divided into muscular problems and spine problems. Problems in the neck muscles could be related to a sprained muscle, which often results from sudden movements, incorrect postures, etc. Problems in the spine could be related to problems in the bones of the spine which are called vertebra, most commonly arthritis. Other spine problems occur when the tissue between the vertebra slips out, what is called a herniated disc. Problems within the spinal cord itself can also lead to neck pain.

Problems in the neck can sometimes cause a type of room-spinning dizziness, what is commonly called vertigo. Treatment for this may include physical therapy and certain medications.

Serious symptoms in a person suffering from neck pain  that warrant evaluation by a physician include severe pain, shooting pain, or pain that spreads down the arm for example. Symptoms that require immediate evaluation include weakness in any extremity or loss of sensation or  bowel or bladder dysfunction (ie not making it to the bathroom in time).

If your neck symptoms persist it may be helpful for you to be evaluated by a neurologist who can obtain a history and examine you and determine whether or not you require further testing.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[Lama Chahine, MD]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to review your medical history and examine you personally, I can not provide you with a diagnosis nor suggest treatment for your symptoms.  However, I will try to provide you with some information.

The causes of neck pain could generally be divided into muscular problems and spine problems. Problems in the neck muscles could be related to a sprained muscle, which often results from sudden movements, incorrect postures, etc. Problems in the spine could be related to problems in the bones of the spine which are called vertebra, most commonly arthritis. Other spine problems occur when the tissue between the vertebra slips out, what is called a herniated disc. Problems within the spinal cord itself can also lead to neck pain. The best way to evaluate this is with an MRI of the cervical spine.

When some patients speak of dizziness they mean room-spinning/vertigo. Others mean a light-headed, sort of whoozy feeling. These two symptoms are very different and have different causes. Problems in the neck can sometimes cause a type of room-spinning dizziness, what is commonly called vertigo. Treatment for this may include physical therapy and certain medications. Other causes of vertigo are related to certain brain pathologies (tumors etc, if the MRI is negative this is an unlikely cause), and the inner ear. However, light-headedness/whooziness may be related to several causes including but not limited to dehydration, heart problems, problems in the autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that controls our heart rate and blood pressure among other things, which can be affected by several disease processes but commonly diabetes).

Other causes of neck pain/headache will be discussed below.

Cervicogenic headache is a headache that is "referred" to the head from bony structures, muscles, and other soft tissue in the neck and shoulders. Symptoms are usually one-sided and include: precipitation of head pain by neck movement or awkward neck positions, head pain when external pressure is applied to the neck or occipital region, restricted range of motion of the neck, and neck, shoulder and arm pain. Treatment for cervicogenic headache includes physical therapy, medications, behavioral therapy, and other modalities.

Occipital neuralgia is caused by irritation or injury to two nerves that run from the upper neck to the back of the head. The irritation could be due to  neck trauma, pinching of the nerves (by muscles or arthritis), and other causes. Symptoms include a piercing sharp pain