Vertigo and Dizziness
Vertigo is the sensation that you or the room are spinning when nothing is actually moving. Dizziness is broader, covering lightheadedness, unsteadiness, and a feeling that things are not quite right with balance. Both are common, both are treatable, and both require finding the source before treatment makes sense.
Common sources
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, BPPV, is the most common cause. Small calcium crystals in the inner ear move into the wrong canal and send false movement signals to the brain. It produces brief, intense spinning triggered by specific head positions, like rolling over in bed or looking up. It is highly treatable with a specific repositioning maneuver.
Cervicogenic dizziness comes from the neck. The upper cervical joints contain receptors that help the brain orient in space. When those joints are restricted or irritated, the orientation signals they send become inaccurate, and the result is dizziness that is accompanied by neck stiffness and worsens with head movement. It is common after whiplash and other neck injuries.
Dizziness can also come from inner ear infections, blood pressure changes, medications, and other systemic causes. We screen for these and refer when something outside our scope is more likely.
How we treat it
Epley maneuver for BPPV.
A specific sequence of head positions that moves the displaced crystals back to where they belong. It resolves most cases of BPPV in one to three sessions and sometimes in a single visit.
Chiropractic adjustment for cervicogenic dizziness.
Adjusting the upper cervical spine restores accurate joint receptor signals and typically reduces or resolves the dizziness within a few visits.
Acupuncture.
For dizziness that has a vestibular or systemic component, acupuncture supports the nervous system's ability to adapt and recalibrate. Read more about acupuncture.
Common questions
How do I know if I have BPPV?
The hallmark is brief, intense spinning triggered by specific head movements, like rolling over, sitting up from lying down, or tilting the head back. If that sounds like your situation, BPPV is likely. We confirm it with a simple clinical test at the first visit.
I have had dizziness for months. Can it still be treated?
Yes. Chronic dizziness often has a cervical or vestibular component that responds to care regardless of how long it has been present. Dizziness that has not been evaluated is worth having assessed even if it has become something you have gotten used to.
If your vertigo came from a car accident, see our free Accident Injury Recovery and Claim Workbook and our page on delayed symptoms after a car accident.
Schedule an appointment or call 704-663-2010.
