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What Causes Nausea And Dizziness After Spinal Manipulation Procedure?
Question: I had spinal manipulation yesterday to my neck and im feeling naceous and queezy/dizzy . Is this normal?
Thanks
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Rare but possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back. I am sorry you are having health issues again.
Spinal manipulation, especially of the neck may have some adverse effects in some patients. Dizziness and nausea are among these possible side effects with a frequency of 16 cases per 1000 treatments, so rare but possible. Usually they are harmless and improve spontaneously, but it may take a couple of days up to a week.
One particular note which should be made though is that in some very rare cases these neck manipulations may cause a tear in neck vessels (a dissection) which in turn may lead to a stroke. It is very rare, no need to panic. However if there are other neurological symptoms such as a headache, double vision or visual loss, weakness or numbness of the limbs on one side, speech changes, balance and coordination issues etc then you should have a medical evaluation, even in the emergency room, for that eventuality.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Rare but possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back. I am sorry you are having health issues again.
Spinal manipulation, especially of the neck may have some adverse effects in some patients. Dizziness and nausea are among these possible side effects with a frequency of 16 cases per 1000 treatments, so rare but possible. Usually they are harmless and improve spontaneously, but it may take a couple of days up to a week.
One particular note which should be made though is that in some very rare cases these neck manipulations may cause a tear in neck vessels (a dissection) which in turn may lead to a stroke. It is very rare, no need to panic. However if there are other neurological symptoms such as a headache, double vision or visual loss, weakness or numbness of the limbs on one side, speech changes, balance and coordination issues etc then you should have a medical evaluation, even in the emergency room, for that eventuality.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ok thank you, i have actually had numbness in my arm for a week now but all this has been to do with my neck. I dont have any of the orher symptoms though. I have had a head ache for 3 weeks now. Maybe i need to look out for my face drooping and always check that my arm can be put in the air ?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
As you correctly assume the numbness in your arm is not due to stroke given that it was present before, neither is the headache you have consulted here in the past due to that, not the location it would be. In case of a vertebral artery dissection would be pain of a sudden onset in the neck and the base of the head where it joins the neck.
Also yes for the face drooping, weakness in the arms can be checked by raising them (though should be noticeable when performing different daily actions).
I do not want you to be alarmed, as I said it is a very rare complication and if there is no sudden onset headache as I mentioned it is very unlikely.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
As you correctly assume the numbness in your arm is not due to stroke given that it was present before, neither is the headache you have consulted here in the past due to that, not the location it would be. In case of a vertebral artery dissection would be pain of a sudden onset in the neck and the base of the head where it joins the neck.
Also yes for the face drooping, weakness in the arms can be checked by raising them (though should be noticeable when performing different daily actions).
I do not want you to be alarmed, as I said it is a very rare complication and if there is no sudden onset headache as I mentioned it is very unlikely.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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