Many people have heard of vertigo or may wonder if they are experiencing it, but they may not fully understand what it is. Vertigo is a sensation of dizziness that makes a person feel as if they are spinning or that the world around them is spinning. In many cases, vertigo is related to a problem within the inner ear. But what causes these issues to develop?
Several conditions are commonly associated with vertigo:
Meniere’s Disease:
This condition is known for severe episodes of vertigo along with tinnitus (ringing in the ears), a feeling of fullness in the ears, and possible hearing loss.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV):
This occurs when tiny calcium particles become lodged in the inner ear canals. These particles interfere with the signals sent between the brain and the body about position and movement, which can lead to balance problems.
Labyrinthitis:
Often caused by a viral infection, this condition results in inflammation near the nerves responsible for balance. This inflammation can disrupt communication between the brain and the body, leading to dizziness and vertigo.
Sometimes, however, a very common contributing factor is overlooked. These vertigo-related conditions can also be connected to head or neck trauma. Injuries may be severe, such as those sustained in a car accident that results in whiplash. In other cases, the injury may come from something as simple as a fall that happened years earlier, even during childhood, and seemed insignificant at the time.
If a trauma causes a misalignment of the C1 or C2 vertebrae—the uppermost bones in the neck—it may interfere with the body’s normal balance systems and contribute to vertigo symptoms.
Upper cervical chiropractors are specially trained to locate and correct these misalignments. At Advanced Spinal Care, we recognize that misalignment in the upper neck can place stress on the brainstem and potentially interfere with normal nerve communication and blood flow between the brain and the body. This disruption may play a role in the development of inner ear balance problems.
Proper alignment of the C1 and C2 vertebrae is essential for overall health. When these bones are in their correct position, the brainstem can function more efficiently. Because the brainstem regulates many of the body’s automatic functions, restoring alignment may help the body regain balance and stability.
By gently correcting these misalignments using the NUCCA technique, some individuals may experience a reduction in vertigo symptoms—and in certain cases, symptoms may even go into remission.
To schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below.
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our patient results here.
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/