Back pain can bring with it a number of related symptoms. For example, numbness, swelling, or shooting pain are all symptoms that are commonly present with back pain. One symptom that’s a little rarer that can develop with back pain is the onset of dizziness or a loss of balance. What conditions could be causing both of these symptoms to develop, and how can you treat the issues if you’re dealing with back pain and dizziness? We explore those answers in today’s blog.
Dizziness and Back Pain
Dizziness and back pain are two conditions that can cause problems due to their ability to affect your balance and coordination. Falls are some of the most common ways in which a person hurts their back, and both these conditions increase your fall risk. But in order to treat your dizziness and back pain, we must first figure out what’s causing those symptoms. Here’s a look at some health conditions that can lead to both back pain and dizziness.
- Pregnancy – We’ve written about how pregnancy can lead to added stress on your spine, and a large portion of women say that they experienced spine pain during their pregnancy. Changing hormones can also affect your coordination and balance in the form of dizzy spells. Moderate intensity exercise and stretching routines can help to decompress the spine and treat your back pain, and dizziness tends to fade as you progress through your pregnancy.
- Sciatica -Sciatica is a health condition that involves damage or compression to the sciatic nerve. When pressure is placed on the sciatic nerve, it can lead to pain symptoms in your lumbar spine and legs. It can also lead to muscle weakness and numbness, which can affect your balance. Physical therapy, decompression exercises and anti-inflammatory medications can all help with sciatica.
- Whiplash – Another condition that can present with symptoms of back pain and dizziness is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when your head and neck are thrust violently in one direction while your body remains still, which is common in athletic activity and rear-end car collisions. This type of injury can disrupt nerve relays to the brain and affect the areas of your brain can help control balance, leaving you feeling dizzy. Controlled exercise and physical therapy can help treat the physical symptoms of whiplash, and rest can help give your brain time to recover.
- Osteoarthritis – Wear and tear on the discs in your cervical spine can also lead to the onset of spine pain and dizziness. This degeneration can put pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves and inhibit blood flow to the brain and inner ear, leading to dizziness and upper spine pain. When this develops, it’s known as cervical vertigo, and it can also cause headaches, vomiting or balance issues. It’s best treated with muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy to improve your range of motion and your sense of balance.
So if you are dealing with the combination of back pain and dizziness, consider reaching out to Dr. Sinicropi. He’s helped a number of patients get to the bottom of their condition and get back on the path to wellness. For more information, call his office today at (651) 430-3800.
