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Vertigo and tight neck muscles

Posted , 19 users are following.

billandted
billandted

A few weeks ago my neck muscles became tight for no obvious reason. I didnt think anything of it and though it would just go away but it got worse and upper back muscles became tight also.

A few weeks of this and suddenly one day when I laid on my back to do some physio on my neck everything started spinning. I now have a constant off balance feeling even when still and I can make the spinning occur again when I lay my head down or sit up from laying down. It seems to be worse If I lay on my left side.  

This cant be just a coincidence ive never had either of these things before, can neck muscle tightness cause this vertigo?

 

0 likes, 47 replies

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  • Fibroidia
    Fibroidia billandted

    Posted

    HI,

    Just noticed this post because I have had intermittant problems with dizziness--always related to head position, usually triggered by turning over in bed or bending over and dropping my head.  I had a bad head injury in my 20s, 30 years ago, was incredibly dizzy for days after, was eventually diagnosed with BPPV, told to do the Brandt-Darroff exercises, and expect it to go away or lessen.

    Thirty years later still have it, but it's way less intense--I would never fall over--and I only get it lying down or bending over and it clears in about 10 seconds.  The state of being like this can last for a few weeks or just a day.  But now it's always accompanied by a headache (not migraine strength) and super tight neck muscles--I have a history of both of those as well.

    But now, always all three at once, and the vertigo is not as intense.  I'm beginning to supsect this isn't BVVP but cervicogenic vertigo as described below.

    I had my chiropractor work on my neck--not adjustments but acupunture and ART and he was able to get alot of tightness out and the HA and dizziness went away, but then came back days later.

    Also, being at the compputer makes all of this worse.  Obviously, my neck gets tight, and the electromagnetic feild makes my brain ache.

    Thoughts  Anyone?

  • billandted
    billandted

    Posted

    almost a year later and having another episode, rolled over to left in bed the other day and started the spinning... 

    Epley move really does seem to work to sort out the vertigo but its the residual dizziness that really bothers me cause that's with you 24/7..  Overall not as intense as the first time so hoping it fades quicker

    • billandted
      billandted

      Posted

      Not so lucky this time around, almost 2 months later still have the residual dizziness all day every day....  It faded in the first month but then stopped and has been the same for a few weeks now.  No true vertigo since first day, just the swaying imbalanced feeling.  Laying on left side or looking down is what aggravates it.  Seems to be going on too long to be BPPV since I no longer have the vertigo
  • dionysia03368
    dionysia03368 billandted

    Posted

    I had a similar problem. Sudden onset of vertigo (following two days of jaw clenched motorcycle driving) . It lasted for about a month, I took the pills they gave me (Ribrain) with no effect. After I started googling about I stumbled onto SCM trigger point connection to vertigo/dizziness and with the help of a youtube video managed to cure it within a minute or so. I am totally grateful to the site that suggested the connection. 

    Loving the internet tonight smile Hope you have had relief or that this comment helps someone suffering the same.

    Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

    • carol29914
      carol29914 dionysia03368

      Posted

      Hi dionysia03368:

      I have been suffering from this condition for several months.  I would love to have the informaion on how to cure it within a minute or so.  Could you please send it to me as soon as possible.  

      Thank you.

      Carol29914

    • dionysia03368
      dionysia03368 carol29914

      Posted

      Carol they will remove any link I post so just as a public service to all smile Google SCM vertigo trigger point. Then go to videos and start watching, you will find several helpful ones. Full diclosure I am not 100% yet, I think I need to work on the trigger points a bit more systematically. I am NOWHERE near as bad as I was before finding this connection to SCM trigger points.

      I wish health to all

  • jo61489
    jo61489 billandted

    Posted

    Hi, I’ve only just come across this discussion and it’s very interesting. I had sudden onset of vertigo in 2012 after going to a concert. I saw an ENT specialist, he had no idea what was causing the problem, but when I mentioned Meniere’s disease, he was certain that I didn’t have. I had nothing after that except some hearing loss on the left side. The vertigo returned In a one off episode last September, then nothing for a month and it came back with a vengeance in October. 4 1/2 hours of non stop spin which eventually made me vomit. The nothing until January, The I got it every other day, and now I get it about once every four or five days for between 50 minutes to two hours. I saw another ENT about two weeks ago, and after a very cursory examination said I have Meniere’s disease. However he ignored the very tight neck muscles that I have...and have had for as long as I can remember, also my jaw clicks, and the left side joint moves outward. All symptoms are worse if I lie on my left side or if I stop over. Is it possible that my problems are likely to be connected to my neck and jaw? 

     

    • jackie35884
      jackie35884 jo61489

      Posted

      Hi,

      I too had identical symptoms to yourself.  I have just had 3 sessions with a Chiropractor & now benefiting from the results, it has taken over a year to get some sort of diagnosis, & it appears it was all down to very tight neck,shoulder & back muscles, which also causes problems with the jaw, temples, tinnitus & daily headaches, I have learn that all our muscles are attached to each other & the area of pain is just the tip of the iceberg it is all going on underneath, my lowere back had large knots also. All the best with your treatment, I hope you feel better soon.

    • jo61489
      jo61489 jackie35884

      Posted

      I saw a chiropractor before I went to ENT, it didn’t help at all. Since I wrote the above comment my symptoms were reduced for a while but have now got worse. I had about 6 weeks symptom free, then had a vertigo episode while I was out shopping and had to get a passer by to call a cab for me, and the cab driver helped me all the way indoors. That lasted about 3 hours. Then a couple of weeks later I had the worst episode I’ve ever had, 8  hours of room spinning vomiting misery. I’ve had my neck and my jaw x-rayed and I have a little bit of arthritis in both, but apparently not enough to cause me these problems. I’m taking a betahistine and a diuretic, and so far they seem to be helping. Because of the severity of the last episode the consultant has suggested that I have a steroid injection in the affected ear. I’m having that done in a fortnight,  hopefully that will help. 
  • rocksolid
    rocksolid billandted

    Posted

    Just started with an upper cervical chiropractor. My C1 and C2 are out of place.
    • jane96717
      jane96717 rocksolid

      Posted

      Just stumbled on this post and oh my, people going through similar to me.

      Mine started September last year, constant headaches for days on end and dizziness. Endless trips to doctor and was told migraine, another said tension headaches and third said anxiety, the fourth doctor actually took BP and it was incredibly high so I was put on BP meds and that stabilized it.

      Headaches still on going and dizziness, off balance and just out of sorts. Doctor sent me for neck xray which showed severe neck osteoarthritis and slippage in the neck, doctor said this is probably what's causing all my problems (passed out twice too).

      Was sent for physio four weeks ago and she did something that made me much worse, the next time I saw her she didn't do anything as she was worried about causing me further problems and said I needed a scan but she couldn't refer me, so off to doctor and asked if she'd refer me for a scan , she said no, said " I don't think you have a brain tumour and don't think you have a brain bleed" and referred me back to physio. Went yesterday and she gave me more exercises to do and also wants me to have accupunctuynext week.

      I feel I'm not being taken seriously. I spend everyday feeling poorly, I have to work too which is hard when I'm like this 😢

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