Cervical Vertigo and Neck Pain: Tracing Their Connection

October 9, 2022

vertigo, neck pain, Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Are you having a hard time because of vertigo attacks that result from previously sustained neck injuries or compromised cervical spine? Chances are, you have cervical vertigo, a health complaint common to patients seeking an Upper Cervical Chiropractic doctor. It's a widespread concern that rarely poses immediate health threats but can increase the risks of slipping, tripping, and other freak accidents. Learn more about cervical vertigo and its close relationship with atlas subluxation and neck pain.

 

Cervical Vertigo and Neck Pain Relationship

Did you know that there is a perfectly logical reason why neck pain and vertigo attacks often go hand in hand? As it turns out, the neck doesn't just hold the head upright. Also, it performs additional functions such as encasing the brainstem – an essential nervous system organ and assisting in the body's sense of balance and proprioception. 

It also houses most of the nerves needed to maintain optimal health. As a result, several physiological functions go amiss when the structure and alignment of the cervical spine change, even by the tiniest fraction. 

According to studies, several things can cause cervical vertigo. Here's a closer look at them: 

  • Natural degeneration of the spine
  • Inflammation in the neck
  • High muscle tone 
  • Neck and head trauma (concussion, whiplash, etc.)
  • Advanced neck osteoarthritis

It's a good idea to seek a chiropractic doctor if you have any of the risk factors listed above. This will help you assess your risks for cervicogenic dizziness or vertigo attacks. It will also help you determine if you need to seek Upper Cervical Chiropractic care.

 

Other Symptoms Associated with Cervicogenic Vertigo and Dizziness

Besides disorienting spinning sensations, cervicogenic vertigo and dizziness can trigger additional health concerns. Here are a few examples, according to studies:

Uncoordinated movement 

This may be due to cervical vertigo's effect on the sense of proprioception. Clinicians define proprioception or kinesthesia as the ability to detect movements. Unfortunately, traumatic injuries or structural compromises in the neck can affect the transmission of messages from the sensory receptors of the muscles to the brainstem and brain.  

Vision difficulty

Impaired or disrupted signal transmission between the brain and the vestibular organs can confuse your sensory organs, like the eyes. This could lead to vision problems like rapid and uncontrollable eye jerking (nystagmus). 

Gait problems

Because cervicogenic vertigo or dizziness often stems from postural misalignments, it can come hand in hand with gait problems. That's because postural imbalances that affect the topmost neck bones can compromise the rest of the vertebral bones. Consequently, this can affect the shoulders, hips, and legs, leaving an affected individual struggling with gait issues. 

Headaches

Case studies have revealed that besides vertigo attacks, cervical spine misalignments can set off severe migraine headaches. Neurovascular compression and poor fluid drainage are the main risk factors associated with cervical subluxation. However, studies continue to look into other possible links, such as disrupted sleep and circadian rhythm, fatigue, and body stiffness.

vertigo, neck pain, Upper Cervical Chiropractic

How to Cope with Episodes of Cervical Vertigo 

Managing neck-related vertigo attacks is possible. Like in any other vertigo-causing health concerns, the following remedies can potentially help you cope with your symptoms better:  

Reduce risks of further neck bone shifting

The more complicated your neck bone misalignments get, the worse problems you will likely experience. Hence, we suggest avoiding things that might worsen your posture problem. Some of these things include: 

  • Exercising too much or too little
  • Engaging in tasks that require tilting the head for several hours
  • Following poor postural practices
  • Failing to address underlying health concerns that may aggravate your situation (disc herniation, osteoarthritis, muscle strain, etc.)

Undergo vestibular rehabilitation therapy

Chronic vertigo attacks can affect your overall well-being, so it might help to undergo vestibular rehabilitation therapy. Studies have found that this therapy can help retrain the brain and dampen the effects of a typical vertigo attack. It's a widely recommended form of vertigo relief that can help patients with conditions like cervicogenic dizziness, Meniere's disease, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It consists of various guided activities like vision stability training, balance retraining, walking, and stretching exercises.  

Include Upper Cervical Chiropractic into your care plan

Because cervical vertigo attacks stem from postural imbalances, you might find it helpful to explore Upper Cervical Chiropractic. After all, many patients have experienced significant improvements in their neck bone alignments thanks to the careful adjustments provided by an Upper Cervical doctor. 

The process itself is straightforward and evidence-based. It begins by understanding the structure of a patient's upper cervical spine through a series of diagnostic procedures like 3D X-ray scans. Analyzing the neck bone structure will allow your Upper Cervical doctor to gauge how far the bones have shifted and check for other discrepancies that can influence the effectiveness of a typical care plan. 

Additionally, Upper Cervical Chiropractic physicians look into the affected individual's medical history to check for previously sustained trauma to the head or neck. This could give a clue as to how long the neck bone misalignment has been affecting the body. 

If you haven't explored this option for vertigo relief, we suggest booking a visit to the nearest Upper Cervical Chiropractic practice. Doing so will help you determine how you can finally regain control of your life with the help of gentle and meticulously planned neck bone adjustments. 

You can find the nearest options through the Upper Cervical Awareness chiropractic doctors' directory.

 

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

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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.

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