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Vertigo Treatment In Mount Dora, FL

Vertigo Conditions Treatment Chiropractor Mount Dora, FL

Vertigo is a form of dizziness in which the person has the sensation of spinning or whirling. Those suffering from vertigo often feel like their surroundings or the world around them are spinning even though they are standing still. It can be a very scary and debilitating condition. It is important to note that vertigo is a symptom of an underlying condition rather than a condition itself.

Symptoms may include:

  • Dizziness
  • Lightheaded or foggy feeling
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • Headaches
  • False sense of movement
  • Fainting or the feeling like you are about to faint
  • Spinning
  • Tilting
  • Loss of balance
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Hearing loss
  • Abnormal eye movements

Vertigo Causes

Cervicogenic Vertigo

This type of vertigo is caused by dysfunction in the neck (cervical spine) and, even more specifically, the upper neck (craniocervical junction). This form of vertigo is characterized by dizziness or spinning, often accompanied by stiffness and neck pain. In this case, sensory input from the neck (via proprioceptors that detect position sense) can have a mismatch from sensory input coming from the eyes and inner ears—this mismatch of incoming messages causes dizziness or vertigo.

Vertigo Conditions Treatment Chiropractor Mount Dora, FL

Origin of the Problem:

  • Eyesight- 10% of the information about orientation to the environment
  • Inner Ears– semicircular canals provide about 20% of all the information needed for balance and orientation
  • Proprioception– special nerves throughout the body which tell the brain how the body is positioned. About 70% of the information in the balance system comes from these proprioceptors. The most numerous and sensitive are those found in the upper neck.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

This is a very common cause of vertigo caused by small calcium or crystal particles within the inner ear. BPPV will typically produce brief episodes of vertigo when the individual changes the position of their head and neck. This particular cause of vertigo will generally respond well to the “Epley Maneuver”—a simple positional exercise you can do to reposition the crystal particles in the inner ear.

Vertigo Conditions Treatment Chiropractor Mount Dora, FL

Meniere’s Disease

This type of condition may also be accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, and bouts of vertigo. Meniere’s disease is caused by a chronic inner ear disorder. Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic care can significantly impact this condition due to the proximity of the nerves and blood vessels in the upper neck, which can influence the inner ear.

Vestibular Neuritis

This form of vertigo is caused by an inflammation/irritation of the vestibular nerve, which helps to control eye movement, balance, and sense of position. It can cause sudden and severe bouts of vertigo, which may accompany nausea and vomiting. Again, as with Meniere’s, Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic care can positively impact this condition due to the proximity of the vertebrae in the upper neck to the vestibular nucleus, which may be irritated due to the spinal misalignment.

Migraines

Vertigo may sometimes accompany migraine headaches. Upper Cervical Chiropractic has an excellent track record for helping those suffering from migraines and headaches.

Head Injury

Trauma to the head, such as a concussion, can affect the inner ear or parts of the brain involved with balance and position, thus causing vertigo symptoms. *It is important to note that head trauma is one of the primary causes of misalignment (subluxation) of the upper neck. It is essential to be evaluated by an Upper Cervical Chiropractor to rule out this condition and treat it appropriately.

Medications

Some medications, such as anticonvulsants and even antibiotics, can have a side-effect of vertigo—speak with your prescribing physician about possible side-effects of your medication(s).

Anxiety and Panic Disorders

It may be difficult to fathom, but even psychological factors can contribute to vertigo and dizziness. It should also be noted that the medications sometimes used to treat these issues may have dizziness as a side effect.

Acoustic Neuroma

An acoustic neuroma is a type of growth (non-cancerous) on the vestibular nerve that can cause ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and vertigo.

Of course, there are plenty of medications to help with vertigo symptoms, but Upper Cervical Chiropractic care is one of the best all-natural approaches to address the causes of vertigo, helping to reduce symptoms and prevent recurring flare-ups.

How We Treat Vertigo in Mount Dora, FL

Comprehensive Consultation and Exam

The doctor and team will first do a consultation and preliminary evaluation (complimentary) to ensure you’re in the right place and that we believe we can help you. If we can help, we’ll dive deeper into your condition and how it affects your life. Once we understand you clearly, we’ll thoroughly examine your spine and nervous system utilizing chiropractic, functional, and neurologic testing to find the root cause of the problem(s).

CBCT (3D Panoramic X-ray) and Motion Study X-rays

Once we’ve determined that you are a good candidate for care, we will likely need to take precise forms of imaging to pinpoint the problem (unless you are pregnant). We want to get a good look at the curve of the spine, the alignment (or lack thereof), any degenerative changes, contraindications to care, and ultimately find out EXACTLY what we need to do for you to get better.

Specific Chiropractic Care in Mount Dora, FL

Our family-oriented practice in Mount Dora provides a very specific and unique form of Chiropractic care that is precise, extremely effective, and very gentle. In fact, there is no twisting or “cracking” of your neck. Utilizing a form of care known as Blair Upper Cervical, which focuses on the top two bones in the neck, where your head and neck come together, which tends to yield uncommon results due to the neurological influence of this critical area of your spine. We add a supportive type of adjusting for the rest of your spine known as TRT (Torque Release Technique). This is also a precise and effective yet gentle instrument-based technique that produces fantastic results.

When the joints of your spine are misaligned, it puts pressure on the joints and, more importantly, on your nervous system. A misalignment—known as a subluxation—may cause pain but also can affect your global health. The goal of your specific adjustments is to reduce the Subluxations, taking pressure off your spine and nervous system so that your body can self-heal the way it was created to.

Vertigo Conditions Treatment Chiropractor Mount Dora, FL
Vertigo Conditions Treatment Chiropractor Mount Dora, FL

Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan

Depending on your particular case, we will design a custom rehab/exercise plan to help you recover quicker and, most importantly, attain lasting results. Your unique exercise plan aims to help restore global spinal and vestibular imbalances, address muscle weakness, increase range of motion, and improve your posture. We want to keep it simple—so you can do it at home in very little time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I should see a chiropractor for dizziness or vertigo?

If you have unresolved dizziness or vertigo attacks that haven’t responded to other treatments or home care, getting a proper upper cervical chiropractic spinal evaluation would be prudent. Also, if you have accompanying headaches, neck pain, upper back or shoulder pain, or muscle tension, these are red flags for spinal/structural issues best addressed by a great chiropractor.

Is a massage or chiropractic better for vertigo?

Both are great but serve different purposes. Massage primarily focuses on the soft tissues (muscles, fascia), improving circulation and reducing stress, whereas chiropractic focuses on the neuro-structural system (the spinal joints and adjacent nerves). Because a chiropractic adjustment affects the nervous system, it will also directly affect muscle tension. Massage is a wonderful compliment to chiropractic care, but not a replacement for it.

What can I do in the meantime to relieve vertigo symptoms?

We recommend avoiding medications unless absolutely necessary—but instead utilize cold packs to reduce inflammation around the joints, nerves, and muscles (10-15 mins every hour as needed to the upper neck/base of the skull). You can alternate hot and cold but end with cold. Stay well hydrated—approximately half your body weight in ounces of water. Stay mobile (within current limitations), as mobility is beneficial for joint health and flushing out the inflammation along with your water intake. These tips will help with your symptoms until the cause is corrected.

If the cause of your vertigo is the malposition of calcium crystals in the inner ear (BPPV), you may try performing the “Epley Maneuver” at home. We have some resources on this site on how to perform it; you can also view videos on YouTube on the procedure. It is fairly simple to perform, but it is best to do it with someone to assist you. If you’re not comfortable performing on your own, consult a health professional to assist you. If you do not find relief from performing this exercise, then you likely have a cause unrelated to calcium crystals in the inner ear. Our advice would be to seek professional help to find the cause.

How should I sleep with vertigo?

The best posture to sleep in if currently symptomatic is semi-recumbent (as in a recliner chair) with support under your neck. Some contoured pillows are good (some are terrible)—we recommend the Killapilla—or simply roll a small towel under your neck. If you can lie flat in bed, put a pillow under your knees to help achieve a more neutral spinal posture. If on your side (avoid the “bad side”), it’s important to have just the right amount of pillow height so that your head is not tilted up or down, which will only irritate your neck joints and receptor nerves, possibly aggravating your symptoms.

Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?

No, a chiropractic adjustment should not hurt. Some technique models use more force to move the vertebrae where there may be an audible “cracking” or “popping” sound. This is just gas escaping the joint and nothing to be afraid of. In our office, we utilize a very specialized form of care that does not involve any twisting or “cracking” of your spine—it is very gentle, very precise, and extremely effective at producing results. You can learn more about “Upper Cervical” chiropractic care on our page.

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