Can Pain Make you Dizzy?

Feeling dizzy all the time can really disrupt your daily activities. When a dizzy spell hits, you may not be able to stand, drive, or even read properly. This article is focused on pain and dizziness. We’ll talk about what pain conditions can present with dizziness, and also what to do if your pain medications are making you feel dizzy.

Pain & Dizziness

There are numerous injuries, conditions, and illnesses that can cause both pain and dizziness. Here are some common pain conditions and injuries that may cause dizziness:

• Head trauma. Any injury to your head (from a mild concussion to a traumatic brain injury) may present with a feeling of dizziness.
• Many people begin to feel lightheaded when they cut themselves and start bleeding.
• Common illnesses like the flu and colds can cause dehydration, which can lead to symptoms of dizziness.

Pain Meds

Dizziness can also be a common side effect of a lot of pain medications. Many prescription opioids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsant pain relievers commonly cause dizziness in the patient. Each patient reacts differently to specific medications, and it’s sometimes difficult to predict what side effects will impact you until you start taking the medication. Thankfully with most of these meds, there are alternatives that you can try if you are experiencing dizziness as a side effect.

If you are experiencing dizzy spells and you think your medications may be the culprit, make an appointment with your doctor to see if there are any alternative medications for your condition.

If you are experiencing dizziness as a result of your pain medication, or simply feel dizzy in conjunction with your pain – contact a skilled pain management physician. Our pain doctors at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have two decades of experience treating patients in pain. Contact our office today to set up your appointment, get diagnosed, and formulate a plan for recovery.