Some people experience dizziness that seems to be related to problems in the neck. This is referred to as cervicogenic dizziness (CD). The term cervicogenic dizziness is currently used in practice to describe symptoms of dizziness that arise from the cervical spine. It is referred to as cervical vertigo, proprioceptive vertigo, cervicogenic vertigo, and cervical dizziness. Symptoms of dizziness arise from the cervical spine. Patients may feel dizzy, lightheaded, and nauseous when moving or at rest. Symptoms may last for minutes or hours. Some patients feel off-balance and unsteady, though it is not uncommon for patients with CD to have trouble describing their symptoms. CD is often accompanied by neck pain, limited motion, and neck stiffness. Some people with CD may have headaches, nausea, sweating, tinnitus and ear fullness, general weakness, swallowing trouble, temporomandibular joint (‘TMJ”) problems, and pinched nerves affecting the upper extremity. Visual disturbances have also been reported with CD, though these occur less frequently. Sometimes psychological symptoms can occur, such as anxiety or concentrating difficulties. It is thought that CD can develop following a whiplash injury to the neck, or it may occur when there is a pathology of the cervical spine, such as degeneration. Some of the time, it is due to other causes. Many patients with CD limit their usual tasks and duties because they are afraid to move.
