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Suggest Treatment For Severe Neck Pain, Intermittent Lightheadedness And Fatigue
Question: i have had a very bad neck /pain issue on the right side near T5 0r 6 and at the same time have developed intermittent lightheadedness and fatigue. This issue can last quite a while and there are days when i do not have the weakness and fatigue symptoms. Is it possible my neck injury could cause this? And what medical condition is this called?
Brief Answer:
Degenerative arthritis of the spine
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I must say the location of the injury is a little unclear as you say T5-6 but those vertebrae are not in the neck those are in the thoracic spine. The neck vertebrae are named by the letter C.
Anyway speaking in general neck spinal problems can be associated with lightheadedness. That is because neck injury in one level (if it is C5-6 you mean) accelerates degenerative changes of the spine of the spine in other levels as well, because the other vertebrae face an increased load as well and over time develop neck arthritis. It is a process which occurs in many people with age, but in the setting of injuries it is accelerated. Such degenerative changes with spine arthritis may compress nerve roots exiting from the upper neck. These nerves are involved in balance as they convey information on head and neck position. As a result their involvement may result in dizziness. Another possibility is that these spinal changes may lead to compression of the spinal cord and as a result in weakness and fatigue.
In terms of management physical therapy remains the mainstay. Only when spinal cord compression is suspected and confirmed on neck MRI may surgery be considered (I would say unlikely to be your case for the moment).
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Degenerative arthritis of the spine
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I must say the location of the injury is a little unclear as you say T5-6 but those vertebrae are not in the neck those are in the thoracic spine. The neck vertebrae are named by the letter C.
Anyway speaking in general neck spinal problems can be associated with lightheadedness. That is because neck injury in one level (if it is C5-6 you mean) accelerates degenerative changes of the spine of the spine in other levels as well, because the other vertebrae face an increased load as well and over time develop neck arthritis. It is a process which occurs in many people with age, but in the setting of injuries it is accelerated. Such degenerative changes with spine arthritis may compress nerve roots exiting from the upper neck. These nerves are involved in balance as they convey information on head and neck position. As a result their involvement may result in dizziness. Another possibility is that these spinal changes may lead to compression of the spinal cord and as a result in weakness and fatigue.
In terms of management physical therapy remains the mainstay. Only when spinal cord compression is suspected and confirmed on neck MRI may surgery be considered (I would say unlikely to be your case for the moment).
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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