Vertigo is a common symptom because it is caused by many different conditions. While about half of sufferers will never find out what the underlying cause of vertigo is, we don’t want you to give in to despair thinking that this is something you have to deal with for the rest of your life. One of the most commonly overlook underlying factors is an upper cervical misalignment. We will discuss that further at the end of our article.
For now, we are going to take a closer look at the symptoms of some of the most common vertigo diseases. This will help you to see what may be behind your episodes. Then we will discuss the connection between the neck and vertigo, and how you can find natural assistance for this common problem.
Table of Contents
Here are a few of the most common vertigo causes and the symptoms of each:
Sometimes shortened to positional vertigo, BPPV is is the most common diagnosis for patients who experience false sensations of movement. Having vertigo in the condition name causes some people to think that vertigo is a disease rather than a symptom. Positional vertigo basically means that vertigo is a symptom that occurs when the head changes position. This is due to one or more of the crystals in the inner ear that help the body to balance itself becoming dislodged. However, many doctors use this as a catchall when the underlying cause of vertigo is unknown.
This underlying cause of vertigo is related to swelling in the inner ear. It frequently occurs following a virus such as the flu or a cold. Therefore, other symptoms include those of a head cold or the flu. Once the illness goes away, vertigo should cease within the next week or two.
While the underlying problem of a cold or flu causing inflammation is similar to labyrinthitis, there is a distinct difference with this condition. Instead of the inflammation being in the inner ear, it occurs in the vestibular nerve. This is the eighth cranial nerve and is responsible for sending information from the ear to the brain regarding balance and spatial orientation. Therefore, inflammation can lead to vertigo. Again, vertigo should go away within two weeks of the end of the virus.
Meniere’s has four primary symptoms that vary in severity as the condition progresses. It usually affects only one ear, at least in the earlier stages. However, patients can develop Meniere’s in the other ear later on. The symptom that usually results in diagnosis is the severe vertigo that is an early symptom of the condition. Bouts can last anywhere from 20 minutes up to a full day. There is also a feeling of fulness in the affected ear(s). As the condition grows worse, the other two symptoms progress. Tinnitus is a ringing or buzzing sound in the ear. Hearing loss starts in the low tones and leaps to the high tones later on. While hearing loss begins in a temporary way, it can become permanent.
Translated from French, it literally means maladjustment, and it is a fitting term. This is vertigo that occurs when the body is subjected to a particular motion, and it continues to feel the motion long after it stops. A minor example would be the feeling you get after you spin in circles a few times. The longer you spin, the longer it takes to go away. A larger example is when a person gets off of a boat after a long time at sea and can still feel the waves for minutes or even hours. People sometimes feel this effect after a rollercoaster as well. In rare cases, the false sensation that movement is continuing does not go away. Mal de Debarquement can continue on for weeks, months, or even years.
A common thread among people who suffer from recurring bouts of vertigo is a history of head or neck trauma. Why is this the case? The problem may be that upper cervical misalignments are a commonly overlooked underlying factor. In fact, such misalignments can be related to many of the conditions that we have already discussed in our article. Here are a couple of ways:
If you are suffering from recurring bouts of vertigo, whether it is related to ear function or to the central nervous system, it makes sense to see an upper cervical chiropractor. We are specially trained to identify and correct even the slimmest of upper cervical misalignments. This, in turn, can give your body the opportunity that it needs to heal naturally.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
