Some people have been in minor accidents that left them dazed, sore, and stiff from whiplash. A few weeks or months later, they dealt with a sudden loss of balance. Out of the blue, they begin to feel like the world wildly spin around them.

Unknown to many, there is a connection between whiplash and vertigo. To better understand how these two conditions relate to each other, let’s first dissect each ailment.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a neck injury that results from a forceful front-to-back movement of the head and neck. It feels like having one’s neck pushed violently forward then suddenly pulled back, in a whip-like motion.

Symptoms of Whiplash

People who get into fender-benders are prone to whiplash because of the sudden stop in car collisions. Physical activities like sports and even fun stuff like riding on a rollercoaster can also cause this neck pain. Below is a quick list of some common symptoms of whiplash.

• Stiff neck and neck pain
• Headache
• Pain in the arms and shoulders
• Dizziness
• Memory problems
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Fatigue

What About Vertigo? What is It?

Vertigo, on the other hand, is a condition described as intense, spinning dizziness. A person with vertigo may also experience the following symptoms:

• Loss of balance
• Nausea or vomiting
• Problems focusing the eyes
• Short-term hearing loss in one or both ears
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Sweating

The Relation Between Whiplash and Vertigo

Research shows that there is a strong relation between whiplash and vertigo.  People who experienced whiplash later on, develop vertigo because of problems in the inner ear. 

Many whiplash sufferers also had sensitivity in the back of their neck. In the interior part of the neck, special bones are responsible for bearing the head's weight and enabling movement. These bones are the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2) bones or vertebrae. They encircle the brainstem, which is like an intersection between the brain and the spinal cord.

Through this brainstem, signals travel back and forth across the body, enabling us to move, feel, and function physically. If these bones misalign or get injured, a person’s sense of balance can begin acting up. It can also trigger pain in the various parts of the body.

Besides the head, there could also be problems in the inner ear, particularly the vestibular system. This system is responsible for our sense of balance and space recognition in relation to our body’s position or movement. Problems in the vestibular system can trigger vertigo or dizziness.

Ways to Ease Whiplash and Vertigo

When dealing with whiplash and vertigo, some take prescription medicine for reducing pain and inflammation. This, however, is just one among several approaches for whiplash and vertigo relief. At home, you can try these remedies to help reduce the pain and discomfort:

• Apply an ice pack on the painful area of the neck for 15 to 20 minutes. The ice will help reduce inflammation.                                                                                                                                                                                         
• After the pain and inflammation in the neck subside, a warm bath can also help promote neck muscle relaxation.                                                                                                                                                                    
• If the whiplash is still painful, using a neck brace is also advisable to isolate the neck and avoid sudden movements that may cause more pain.                                                                                             
• Resting in bed is also a good idea since it will allow the body to heal itself while preventing you from using the neck muscles. This allows the neck to recover faster.                                                                                          
• Consume foods that are high in potassium content like bananas. This mineral helps bring back a sense of balance and stability.

Where to Get Whiplash and Vertigo Relief 

The encouraging news is that we can also cut the connection between whiplash and vertigo through natural, gentle, and precise upper cervical spine adjustments.  With an upper cervical chiropractor’s help, a person’s atlas and axis bones can be examined and adjusted back to their original position.

Nobody needs to suffer from these ailments for even a second longer than necessary. By returning the upper cervical spine to its proper alignment, you can relieve muscle tension and stress.  The brain signals flow down to the brainstem as they should and outwards to the spinal cord's different nerves. 

The fine spinal adjustments also unblock nerves that have been compressed or irritated by trauma or injury.  Over time, the health of the spine improves, and whiplash pain gets better if not eliminated. Even the symptoms of vertigo may become less intense and less frequent.

Dealing with pain from whiplash, vertigo, and other ailments can be as easy as speaking with an experience upper cervical chiropractor, followed by scheduled sessions to get the needed upper spine adjustments.

Learn more about upper cervical chiropractic and its potential as a natural relief method for whiplash and vertigo.  Book an appointment with one of your city’s best upper cervical chiropractors.  Please search for a practitioner in your area using our handy directory to start.

to schedule a consultation today.