How Can Chiropractic Help Cure My Vertigo?

If you are struggling with symptoms of Vertigo, you may be wondering if you should seek treatment. Your GP may have dismissed it, and the causes often go undiagnosed. But 40% of adults over the age of 40 are likely to experience an episode of vertigo at least once in their lifetime, and it can be a debilitating condition to live with, when often, it strikes unexpectedly. Chiropractic treatment is an effective and proven way to cure ongoing episodes of vertigo and has helped many sufferers put vertigo behind them.

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition itself. It is the sudden sensation that you’re spinning, or that the floor is moving or tilting around you. Vertigo can cause episodes of intense dizziness which may be brief or last for a few hours or even days. Although it is rarely serious, it can be debilitating for the sufferer and interfere with everyday tasks. Here at The House Clinics, Bristol, Dr Jonathan Cook has successfully treated and cured patients with the most common types of vertigo using a modified version of the Epley manoeuvre (see below), combined with Chiropractic adjustments to the neck.

What Causes Vertigo & Dizziness?

In most cases, vertigo is associated with inner-ear problems and is NOT an indicator of a more serious medical condition. However, if you are experiencing frequent attacks of dizziness, as well as the loss of hearing or tinnitus, you should visit your GP who can rule out any neurological conditions, and determine the cause of your vertigo.

The following are the most common causes for vertigo:

BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) - BPPV is the cause in over 50% of vertigo cases. Tiny crystals inside the Otolith organs in your ears, are responsible for making you sensitive to gravity. For various reasons, these crystals can become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals, which makes you more sensitive to head position changes. Episodes of vertigo are therefore triggered when you move your head suddenly; perhaps when getting out of bed, looking left or right when driving, or tipping your head up or down in any of your day-to-day activities. BPPV is not a serious condition and is often undiagnosed because in the majority of cases there is no obvious cause. It does become more common as you age, however.

Neck injury - This type of dizziness is caused by improperly moving joints in the cervical spine, perhaps following an injury such as Whiplash or post-surgery. The muscles and joints in your neck have receptors that send signals about head movement and orientation to the brain and vestibular apparatus (parts of the inner ear responsible for balance). This system also works with a larger network in the body to maintain balance and muscle coordination. When this system works improperly, receptors can’t communicate to the brain, causing dizziness and other sensory dysfunctions.

Migraine - In up to 30% of migraine cases, vertigo symptoms are experienced as part of the aura of a migraine. Often, vertigo symptoms may signal the onset of a migraine in the same way that a sufferer may experience visual disturbances or sensitivity to light or sound.

Stress - As with a neck injury, stress can cause your shoulder and neck muscles to tighten so much that the receptors in your muscles send incorrect signals to your vestibular system, again causing dizziness and the sensation of vertigo.

Inner Ear Infection (Labryntithis) - A viral infection, which may have started with a sore throat, a cold or flu, can cause the vestibular nerve to become inflamed, disrupting your sense of balance. Vertigo associated with this viral infection will usually pass within a week or two, and not persist when you are well again.

What are the Symptoms of vertigo, BPPV & dizziness?

Dizziness
A sense that your surroundings are spinning or moving, or that you’re falling over
A loss of balance or unsteadiness
Nausea
Vomiting

What Can My Chiropractor do for my Vertigo (BPPV)?

Chiropractic is an excellent option for treating vertigo, in cases where it is associated with BPPV, neck injury, migraine or stress.

Dr Jonathan Cook has over 30 years of Chiropractic experience and explains,

"We have had great success in treating patients presenting with vertigo, here at The House Clinics, Bristol. When a patient comes in, we can assess their symptoms by taking a full case history of their health and by examination of their muscular-skeletal system, determine what may be the cause of their vertigo. In the case of BPPV, we can perform a gentle manipulation (a technique I've modified which is based on the Epley Manoeuvre) to dislodge the crystals from the semicircular canals and bring the crystals back to the utricle, where they belong. In nearly all cases, the treatment works first time and patients are cured of vertigo symptoms. If, after examination, we believe the vertigo is associated with neck muscle and joint problems caused by injury or stress, we can apply other chiropractic adjustments to the neck or even advise massage therapy to relieve the underlying problems causing vertigo-like symptoms."

Here from one of our patients in the video below, about how Chiropractic treatment cured her vertigo...

In cases of vertigo caused by BPPV, your chiropractor can perform a simple and gentle technique known as the Epley Manoeuvre. There are absolutely no risks associated with this treatment, and it simply involves the patient lying down on a medical couch while the Chiropractor manoeuvres your head into different positions to reposition the crystals inside the inner ear. Your chiropractor may also teach you a few specific exercises to do at home that may be able to benefit the vestibular system and how it interacts with your brain.

Where vertigo symptoms are determined to be associated with stress, migraine or neck injury, Chiropractic adjustments are very effective to bring the muscular-skeletal system back into alignment and relieve muscle and joint inflammation.