A few weeks ago my neck muscles became tight for no obvious reason. I didnt think anything of it and though it would just go away but it got worse and upper back muscles became tight also.
A few weeks of this and suddenly one day when I laid on my back to do some physio on my neck everything started spinning. I now have a constant off balance feeling even when still and I can make the spinning occur again when I lay my head down or sit up from laying down. It seems to be worse If I lay on my left side.
This cant be just a coincidence ive never had either of these things before, can neck muscle tightness cause this vertigo?
Yes it can - it's called cervicogenic vertigo. Geez, did it happen with a physiotherapist or were you doing physio on yourself? Curious cause the dr. just referred me to physio. to treat it. On top of everything else - one dr. opinion and a regular GP in the last 2 weeks - I was just told me that's what I have. I have been dx with BBPV before and labyrinthitis - could help you and myself with that but with this - I don't know what to do especially when the Dr's say to me sorry there is nothing they can do for me.
I have extremely tight neck muscles and this in turn has caused terrible, daily headaches. Those were my first symptoms, then came the dizziness/vertigo. I have now suffered from this for over a year, and am now just seeing improvement. Had I seen the right doctors/therapy from the get go, I don't think I would have suffered so long. But that is the problem, dizziness can be caused from so many things and it becomes a long journey of trial and error of drugs/therapy, etc. Ultimately, for me, it appears that a combination of nerve block injections for my headaches, physiotherapy of the neck muscles (and I don't mean physiotherapy where the therapist hands you a list of exercises to do at home, I mean the type of therapy where they actually work on you, deep muscle massage), and mind-body awareness exercises. I am also trying out Bowen therapy. Not sure how/why I started with these symptoms but have ruled most things out and believe the root cause for me, is stress. I hope this resolves soon for you as you can drive yourself crazy with, "is it this? is it that?" 
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To simplify things, you are reporting episodes of vertigo triggered by head movements. You need to be examined clinically by an ENT physician, preferably one with an interest in neurotology.
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
You can also have dizziness from issues with the SCM muscle in your neck. Look up trigger points for the SCM.
Yes it can. I have spondylosis of my neck and it tigers my vertigo along with other pain. It seems to make the vertigo worse when i have an episode. I also have BPPV but hadn't had a problem with that for 3 years prior to this.
Thanks for your advice - I will investigate that specialty in my area - I saw an ENT and he said sorry nothing he can do - try physio. I doubt I will be able to get referred to another specialist since it's very difficult to get anything where I live. I can't even get a CT ordered. Going to try physio and hope for the best 😆
Thanks for replies after I got the dizziness I went to GP and got a cervical xray. The xray report said I had mild spondylitis around C5 C6. GP just said go and get physio and if dizziness doesnt go away come back.
I'm trying the Epley manuevre for BPPV in case its that. My symptoms seem to match the BPPV symptoms and when I do the moves I get the spinning at the expected points. Would other causes of vertigo mimmick BPPV like this?
On my third go I got no spinning at the first step so I stopped. Still feeling off balance though when standing. Only reason I think it might be BPPV is the neck stretching I was doing prior to this is very similar to the Epley move. I would hang my head off the bed for a few minutes to let gravity stretch the neck. The next day the vertigo started. Maybe some crystals came loose or something.
I will report back any progress.
Hi
I also went on Gabapentin and after I went off I still felt dizzy. I have four herinated disc in neck plus all the other stuff. I wonder if its the gab or vertigo from neck?
Naomi
Let me know how it goes for you...Thanks
I have the exact same problem. You need to complete the Epley or I find the half-somersault maneuver easier for me to do at home alone. Also anxiety from all this can make the feelings of BPPV worse. With the spondalosis don't hang your head over the bed backwards again.
Unfortunately my vertigo is worse now. I went to bed last night feeling excellent and I thought the Epley move might have worked but just 4 hours of sleep later I was woken up by the vertigo. I didnt roll over or anything and was just sleeping on my back. I had this the night before too when accidentally slept on my left side but it settled down quickly once I went to my right.
This time it is not settling down at all even when keeping my head still. I can't sleep now as every time I close my eyes it feels like im rolling over. I can barely walk straight but it feels better walking as I think you are using your other senses to try and compensate.
This is horrible and it seems to be getting worse not better for me.
For 48 hours ater you do the Epley you need to sleep sitting up. Do it again and try that.
Does physio help with dizziness? Iv had it over a year and its soo frustrating
Does the physio work for u?
Thanks I am not getting the spinning vertigo when I do the Epley move now but the general feeling of dizziness and imbalance doesnt feel any better yet.
Can no longer sleep without getting dizzy, doesn't matter how still or which side I lay on now. Last night I went to bed feeling good and after just 1 hour of sleep i woke up dizzy and it doesnt stop. It's like falling asleep is the trigger for dizziness to come back
Can you sleep sitting propped up on pillows?
Yes that was my next step. I find it hard to get to sleep in that position but I am keen to see if it makes a difference.
hi, firstly i was impressed with your response. I would like some advice if you may,
I fell 2+ years ago and after falling later in the same day was suffering from headache and sickness, was diagnosed with concussion and whiplash told should be ok in 6 weeks. since I have servere headache and dizziness constantly, plus i fall alot and faint/blackouts i dont remember what has happened upon regaining consiousness.ive had mulitple x rays, mri,and scans only thing that came back was i had white foci matters! but nothing to worry about? and small annular tears at L3-4 and L4-5 with minimal posterior bulging of the discs but with no significant disc herniations. yet i still have lower back pain and numbness in the legs.
I have fallen so many times i can not exspress my concerns. the falls and blackouts are happening more and recently the last few falls i got injuries, one i fractured my elmbow the other i have a neck and shoulder injury im awaiting treatment this was in october. ive been refered to a ENT consultant and i had a balance test done that i have BPPV- whiplash this was from the man that did the test, he told me to do the exercises which are for 10days only then stop! im to see my consultant in january 2017. I explained i have already been doing these exercises for over 18months what is 10 days going to do! i still have to see my consultant. my neurologist had diagnosed me with post traumatic vertigo and p/t migraine ive been on anti depressents and other migraine pain killer but nothing works im currently on 300mg lyrica and naproxen. Im not able to work and this is getting tiring. my question!
Is this going to stop?
or
will i be cured?
or
Will i have to be managed throughout my life?
plus what is really wrong? or is it me I can not beleive this is normal to be left in limbo to what needs answers.
I look forward to hear from you.
kind regards