Getting a Vertigo Diagnosis: What You Need to Know

September 19, 2021

chiropractor for vertigo

Have you ever experienced like your surrounding is spinning at an unprecedented speed? It’s that same sensation you feel after a brief time sitting in a merry-go-round. But, instead of making you feel thrilled, your insides churn. You find yourself desperately pleading to make the spinning sensation stop. Unfortunately, like other patients who seek a chiropractor for vertigo relief, this is your everyday reality.

Do you know why you have vertigo episodes? The sooner you get answers, the better you can take control of each vertigo attack.

 

How a GP Diagnoses Vertigo

Vertigo isn’t a condition or a disease. That’s why doctors mostly rely on tracing the root cause of the symptom to provide the best suggestion for relief. To determine the critical trigger of your vertigo attacks, a general practitioner might need to ask a few questions such as:

  • When do you usually experience your episodes?
  • What accompanying symptoms do you have during the attacks?
  • How often do you experience vertigo?
  • Does moving or tilting your head make it worse? 
  • Do you have ear congestion, uncontrolled eye jerking, or temporary hearing loss?

Your GP can also request additional tests such as Electronystagmography (ENG), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan, allergy test, or blood test. After that, your GP can provide you with a list of options to try, such as seeking a chiropractor for vertigo, trying the Epley Maneuver, or taking medication to manage inner ear infections. 

Once you confirm with your GP that you have a vertigo-causing disease or condition, you can start seeking the appropriate remedy to use.

 

Why Do You Get Vertigo Attacks?

To help you understand your symptom, we have listed some of the common causes of vertigo attacks and the best course of action that patients can take:

BPPV

Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV) is the most frequent reason behind a vertigo episode. Doctors describe it as a vestibular system malfunction that develops when the calcium crystals inside the ears break off or get dislodged. Most patients diagnosed with this condition seek a chiropractor for vertigo or try canalith repositioning techniques such as:

  • The Epley Maneuver
  • The Semont Maneuver
  • Foster Maneuver
  • Brandt-Daroff Exercise

If you have BPPV, you should avoid tilting your head excessively, especially when getting out of bed. You might also find it helpful to avoid activities that involve intense head movements, such as riding a roller coaster or playing high-impact sports

Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease affects about 615,000 individuals in the USA, making it a rare inner problem. It causes varying symptoms, including vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, vomiting, and nausea. 

If the doctor tells you that you have Meniere’s disease, we highly recommend making minor lifestyle adjustments, such as limiting your salt intake. This will help minimize fluid retention in the inner ears, which aggravates the different symptoms of Meniere’s disease. 

You might also find other remedies, such as upper cervical care to improve fluid drainage in your brain or inner ear injections to control the severity of your attacks.   

chiropractor for vertigo

Inner ear infection

Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis can impair your vestibular system function. Fortunately, unlike the two vestibular disorders we listed above, inner ear infections are more manageable, and you can eliminate them after taking the proper medication. 

Depending on your infection, your doctor can recommend either an antibiotic or anti-viral drug to kill the pathogen causing your symptoms. It could take a few days or weeks to get rid of the root cause of your inner ear infection. But, once your infection clears, you can experience significant improvements in your symptoms. 

Spinal misalignment after a neck trauma

Case studies reveal that many of the cases of vertigo attacks stem from cervical subluxation after a traumatic neck or head injury. When you have a cervical subluxation, your brainstem and the vestibulocochlear nerve can get pinched or compressed by the misaligned bones. 

As a result, they can’t function properly, and they might send mixed-up signals about your head’s motion and position. The brain gets confused, causing you to experience false movements or spinning sensations. 

If you have a history of neck injuries or head trauma, consult an upper cervical care doctor. This way, you can gauge the severity of your cervical bone misalignments. It will also help you receive the care you need as soon as possible. 

 

Your Next Step After a Vertigo Diagnosis 

Indeed, experiencing constant vertigo attacks due to vestibular problems like inner ear infection, BPPV, and Meniere’s disease or previous injuries like neck trauma can be quite worrying. Thankfully, natural remedies like upper cervical care increase a patient’s chances for vertigo recovery.

This unique chiropractic technique focuses on restoring your neck’s natural curvature. Once your upper cervical doctor determines how much your bones shifted, you can begin receiving your chiropractic adjustments. Depending on how bad the misalignment is, the procedure can take a few weeks or several months to complete. 

As your bones return to their neutral position, you can gradually experience less frequent vertigo attacks. You can also potentially eliminate other accompanying symptoms like ear congestion or temporary hearing loss as you experience improved fluid drainage and remove the pressure in your vestibular system.

Surely, no one wants to experience frequent vertigo attacks. If you feel tired and frustrated about your situation or if you want to try a new way of coping with your vertigo symptoms, you can try upper cervical care. 

Talk to a chiropractor for vertigo today to know how upper cervical care works for vertigo relief.

 

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

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