Cervical vertigo characteristics

Written by Liu Yan Hao

Neurology

Updated on December 01, 2024

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Dizziness is a typical symptom of cervical spondylosis, usually exacerbated when the patient turns their head to one side. In a normal person, when turning the head to one side, the vertebral artery on that side might be compressed, but the opposite vertebral artery can compensate by increasing blood flow, preventing cerebral insufficiency and dizziness. Conversely, in a patient with cervical spondylosis, due to osteophyte formation or changes in the curvature of the cervical spine, the vertebral artery on one side may be compressed. When the patient turns their head to the other side, the compressed vertebral artery cannot compensate by increasing blood flow, leading to insufficient cerebral blood supply and an increase in dizziness or the onset of dizziness symptoms. This explains the characteristics and mechanism of dizziness caused by cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Cheng Bin

Orthopedics

55sec

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How to treat cervical spondylosis?

The treatment plan primarily depends on the severity of the patient's cervical spondylosis. If the cervical spondylosis is very severe and there is significant compression on the spinal nerve roots, resulting in symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs, numbness and swelling pain in the arms, abnormal bladder and bowel functions, and evident spinal stenosis, then it is necessary to aggressively pursue surgical treatment. This usually involves the removal of the intervertebral disc, decompression and expansion of the spinal canal, and surgical treatment with intervertebral bone grafting and internal fixation. For cases where the disc herniation is not very large and the neck pain is not very severe, conservative treatment may be chosen. This includes measures like rest and protection, local heat application, and combining therapies such as acupuncture, electrotherapy, cupping, and traction.

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Written by Li Jin

Orthopedics

49sec

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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is mainly caused by long-term strain and degenerative changes in the cervical spine. When the spinal cord, nerve roots, or vertebral artery are compressed, a series of symptoms can occur. The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are very complex, mainly manifested as weakness in the upper limbs, numbness in the fingers, weakness in the lower limbs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and heart palpitations. Therefore, when these symptoms occur, one can go to the hospital for examination or combine imaging studies, such as CT and MRI of the cervical spine, to clarify the specific condition of the cervical spondylosis. Subsequently, targeted treatment measures can be taken based on the symptoms.

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Written by Cheng Bin

Orthopedics

46sec

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The Harm of Cervical Spondylosis

The harm caused by cervical spondylosis is quite significant. Typically, patients with cervical spondylosis will experience pain, discomfort, or stiffness in their necks. When the vertebral artery is compressed, patients might exhibit a range of clinical symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Furthermore, some patients may experience blurred vision, decreased hearing, numbness, weakness, and distension pain in either or both upper limbs. Some patients also suffer from symptoms like profuse sweating, loss of appetite, palpitations, instability while walking, and a sensation as if stepping on cotton, and in severe cases, they may experience abnormalities in urination and bowel movements.

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Written by Cheng Bin

Orthopedics

48sec

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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

The symptoms of cervical spondylosis in clinical practice are relatively complex. Patients with cervical spondylosis typically experience neck pain and discomfort, or stiffness. Furthermore, the patients may suffer from headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, reduced hearing, and numbness, weakness, or swelling pain in the bilateral or unilateral upper limbs. Some patients might also experience palpitations, loss of appetite, unsteady walking, and a sensation of walking on cotton. These are the common clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Usually, the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis requires the support of auxiliary examinations, such as CT scans and MRI of the cervical spine.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 48sec

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How to treat cervical spondylosis?

The treatment of cervical spondylosis is symptomatic, and it is first necessary to determine the type of cervical spondylosis, and then treat it according to its classification. Cervical type cervical spondylosis usually does not require surgery and can be managed with conservative treatment. Nerve root type cervical spondylosis is the most common type seen in clinical practice and responds particularly well to traction therapy. Additionally, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nerve nutrients can also be used. Spinal cord type cervical spondylosis usually cannot be managed conservatively, or may require surgery after a short period of conservative treatment. This type is the most frequently operated on in clinical practice for cervical spondylosis. The fourth type is the sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, which is very complex to diagnose. It often causes some internal system diseases, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. However, these conditions often improve as the cervical spondylosis improves. The fifth type is vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, which typically causes symptoms of insufficient cerebral blood supply. Therefore, treatment of cervical spondylosis also requires addressing arteriosclerosis. Mixed type cervical spondylosis refers to the simultaneous occurrence of two types of cervical spondylosis, and treatment involves managing both types concurrently. Thus, the treatment of cervical spondylosis first requires determining the specific type you have and then carrying out symptomatic treatment for that specific type.