Being light headed, from a pinched nerve.

[joestone]

I have had a pinched nerve in my neck for several years,caused from a car accident.
I have recently returned to the gym after a two year hiatus.
I have had alot of discomfort in my neck, arms, and fingers;as I have been progressing ,I've been getting dizzyness later on in the day.
My question is, can a pinched nerve cause this type of symtom????

[Nokio1]

A related discussion, Panic! was started.

[Bets410]

A related discussion, Lightheadedness was started.

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

It is difficult to answer your question without further information. A pinched nerve (depending on location) can cause numbness and sensory changes in particular regions of the arms such as with a herniated disc, which is expulsion of the cushioning material between the vertebrate toward a nerve or the spinal cord. If you have discomfort in both arms and fingers, I would not believe that a single pinched nerve could do this. Bilateral causes of sensory changes would require at more central nervous system disorder.

Dizziness itself is nonspecific. It can mean room spinning, imbalance, or lightheaded.

If by dizziness you mean vertigo (room-spinning), the causes could be either the inner ear or the brain. Inner ear causes of vertigo most commonly include benign positional vertigo (BPPV), which is due to small particle in the inner ear that moves out of place, and can be repositioned with simple head maneuvers. The symptoms often include vertigo that occurs with turning of the head, often while turning over in bed. Another cause, if your symptoms are associated with tinnitus (ear ringing) and hearing loss is called Meniere’s disease and can be treated with medications and sometimes surgery. And so on, several other causes from inner ear problems exist.

Vertigo can also be due to problems in the brain. The most common is a benign tumor called a schwanoma (also called acoustic neuroma). This is diagnosed by MRI of the brain. Multiple sclerosis can cause vertigo, but often, other symptoms are present as well. A normal MRI of the brain excludes multiple sclerosis. Thyroid problems can also lead to vertigo. Lastly, a basilar migraine can cause dizziness sensation.

If by dizziness you mean light-headedness, causes could include low blood pressure such as due to dehydration or autonomic dysfunction, cardiac problems, and several other non-neurologic causes. Anemia can cause light-headedness as well.

The symptoms you are having may all be related to your workout regimen. You may benefit from "taking it easy" for a while and ease into the workout routine.

As you can see, it is difficult to diagnose without a formal evaluation. I would suggest that you follow up with your primary care physician. I would suggest that orthostatic vitals are obtained as well as a thorough sensory and motor examination. If abnormalities are found or are concerning a referral to a neurologist who specializes in EMG/NCS (tests for nerve damage) maybe appropriate.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.