Vertigo And Chiropractic: When All Else Fails – Chiropractor In Holland

dr.kodysemrow@gmail.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:54:01 +0000

Chiropractic certainly has its time and place in the management of vertigo, but is rarely the first option that comes to mind for most people. As a result, most of my patients with dizziness come to me when they had exhausted other options.

Dizziness is a complex phenomenon that often has more than one cause. (1) Neck pain related dizziness is often ignored, because, to date, nobody can agree on its diagnostic criteria, and there is no specific lab test for it. (2) Also, it doesn’t explain why some people with really bad neck pain don’t have dizziness, while others with moderate neck pain do.

How Does A Neck Problem Cause Dizziness?
There are three systems that contribute to our sense of balance—vision, vestibular system (sensors in our inner ears), and proprioception (sensory from joints and muscles).

Proprioceptive disruption: There is more sensory input to the brain from the neck than any other spinal joints. It is reasonable to say that a disruption in this system can disrupt a person’s sense of balance. A study has confirmed that whiplash injury causes joint position errors in the neck, which is likely the cause of dizziness. (3)
Sympathetic dysfunction: This theory was abandoned until recent years. Scientists found that degeneration of the disc can compress a ligament in the neck and trigger sympathetic responses, such as vertigo, ringing in the ear, nausea, vomiting, and digestive issues. (4)
Blood Flow Disruption: Although this rarely happens, degeneration of cervical spine can temporarily cut off blood flow to the brain when turning one’s neck and cause dizziness. (5,6)

When Do I see A Chiropractor For My Dizziness?

Not all dizziness can be managed by conservative care. If a chiropractor is your first point of contact, with a thorough clinical exam, a well-trained chiropractor is able to identify the cause of dizziness in most cases and make proper referral if needed. Studies show that expensive diagnostics are rarely helpful in dizzy elderly people. (7)

If you have been to multiple doctors and specialists, and all your testing seems to come back normal, a problem in your neck maybe a contributor to your symptoms. Remember, there is no specific lab test for it, so many doctors don’t consider the possibility. However, studies clearly show an association between neck problem and dizziness. In this case, manual therapy, conservative treatment and vestibular rehabilitation are your best options. (2)

References:

About the Author

Dr. Lily Semrow is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist who focuses on Neuro-Structural Correction. She has a B.S. in Nutrition and a doctorate in Chiropractic. She has a passion for serving families, and helping people who could not get better through traditional and alternative means.

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Vertigo And Chiropractic: When All Else Fails – Chiropractor In Holland

How Does A Neck Problem Cause Dizziness? There are three systems that contribute to our sense of balance—vision, vestibular system (sensors in our inner ears), and proprioception (sensory from joints and muscles).

When Do I see A Chiropractor For My Dizziness?

Want to keep up with future posts?

How Does A Neck Problem Cause Dizziness?
There are three systems that contribute to our sense of balance—vision, vestibular system (sensors in our inner ears), and proprioception (sensory from joints and muscles).