When Neck Pain Comes With Dizziness, Pay Attention
Most neck pain is muscular or joint-related, and while it is uncomfortable, it is not dangerous. But when neck pain comes paired with dizziness, visual changes, difficulty speaking, or a sudden sense that the room is spinning, something more serious could be going on.
One of the structures we pay close attention to at SoftWave By MoloTherapy in Columbia, MO is the vertebral artery -- a critical blood vessel that runs through your cervical spine on its way to your brain. Understanding this artery helps explain why certain neck positions or injuries can produce alarming neurological symptoms.
What Is the Vertebral Artery?
You have two vertebral arteries, one on each side of your neck. Together with the basilar artery (which forms where the two vertebral arteries meet), they supply approximately 20% of the blood to your brain -- specifically the back portion, including the cerebellum, brain stem, and inner ear.
The remaining 80% comes from the carotid arteries in the front of your neck. But that 20% from the vertebral arteries is critical because the structures it feeds control balance, coordination, vision, and consciousness.
The Four Segments of the Vertebral Artery
The vertebral artery is not a straight tube. It takes a winding path through your neck, which makes it vulnerable at several points:
- Proximal segment -- from its origin off the subclavian artery to where it enters the spine, typically at the C6 vertebra. Compression here can come from tight neck muscles like the longus colli or scalenes.
- Transverse segment -- the artery travels upward through bony tunnels (transverse foramina) in each cervical vertebra. Bone spurs or joint degeneration can compress the artery at this level.
- Suboccipital segment -- between C2 and the base of the skull. This is where the artery is most mechanically stressed, because more than half of all cervical rotation happens at the C1-C2 joint.
- Intracranial segment -- where the artery enters the skull and joins with its partner to form the basilar artery.
The vertebral artery is vulnerable at multiple points along its path through the cervical spine. This is why certain neck movements or injuries can affect blood flow to the brain and produce dizziness, visual changes, or worse.
What Can Go Wrong
Several things can compromise vertebral artery blood flow:
- Atherosclerosis -- the same plaque buildup that affects heart arteries can narrow the vertebral arteries.
- Cervical spondylosis -- degenerative bone spurs can press on the artery where it passes through the vertebrae.
- Muscle compression -- tight scalene or deep neck muscles can squeeze the artery, especially with sustained head positions.
- Trauma or dissection -- a tear in the artery wall, which can occur with whiplash or forceful neck manipulation, is a medical emergency.
The classic warning signs include dizziness or vertigo with neck movement, sudden loss of balance, blurred or double vision, difficulty swallowing or speaking, and ringing in the ears. If you experience a sudden onset of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Why This Matters for Your Treatment
At MoloTherapy in Columbia, MO, vertebral artery screening is part of our standard evaluation for anyone presenting with neck pain combined with dizziness or neurological symptoms. This is not something to skip over or treat casually.
The good news is that most cervical dizziness is caused by joint dysfunction or muscle issues in the upper neck -- not by arterial compromise. These conditions respond well to careful manual therapy and SoftWave treatment. But ruling out the more serious causes first is essential.
Not all dizziness is created equal. When it comes with neck pain, a thorough evaluation is not optional -- it is critical. At MoloTherapy in Columbia, MO, we take these symptoms seriously and screen accordingly.
If you are experiencing dizziness along with neck pain, do not brush it off. Come in for an evaluation and let us make sure we know exactly what we are dealing with before we start treatment.