Understanding Vertigo and Disequilibrium
Do you feel like everything is spinning even when you’re standing still? You may be experiencing vertigo or disequilibrium. While similar, there are important differences:
- Vertigo – the sensation of spinning when no movement is actually occurring.
- Disequilibrium – the sensation of falling, the floor tilting, or floating.
Both are symptoms of underlying conditions, so it’s important to determine whether a person is experiencing vertigo or disequilibrium. This week we’ll look at several conditions linked to vertigo.
Vertigo-Related Conditions
- Acute Vestibular Neuritis – Inflammation of the inner ear that causes constant vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and trouble with balance. It can also lead to sudden hearing loss, though it often resolves on its own.
- Ménière’s Disease – Caused by fluid buildup in the inner ear. Symptoms include fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), a feeling of fullness in the ear, and vertigo.
- Vestibular Migraine – A type of aura that occurs before a migraine headache. Episodes may last for hours or days and often include sensitivity to light and sound.
- Acoustic Neuroma – A noncancerous growth on the vestibular nerve (which connects the inner ear to the brain). This can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo.
Living Beyond Vertigo
While vertigo may stem from the conditions above, it can also result from neurological issues such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or brain hemorrhage. In those cases, other symptoms—such as facial weakness, numbness, double vision, slurred speech, or severe balance problems—may also be present.
If you experience vertigo, dizziness, or disequilibrium, it’s important to seek proper evaluation to identify the deeper cause. A Board Certified NUCCA Doctor can determine whether a misalignment in the upper neck is contributing to your symptoms. A history of head or neck injuries often plays a key role.
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Dr. Craig Lapenski at Advanced Spinal Care, in Graham, Washington is one of 27 Board Certified NUCCA Doctors worldwide. His clinic serves the highest quality upper cervical care in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Lapenski also serves a number of patients who are out of state including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New York, and more! He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines, headaches, fibromyalgia, vertigo, neck pain, back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.nuccawashington.com/