Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care and Vertigo

Some of the patients we see in our practice have either previously experienced or are experiencing vertigo, the disorienting sensations of dizziness that vary greatly in acute intensity and duration. Treatments that include a detailed analysis of the upper cervical spine have been shown to more clearly identify the root causes of these frightening symptoms.

Patients who experience vertigo may feel off-balance when standing still, and the sudden attack or episode is often accompanied by nausea, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and general malaise.

While it is possible that this condition is due to a virus, an adverse reaction to medication, or an inner ear infection or anomaly such as Meniere’s disease, more often the discomfort is a direct reaction to a specific episode of trauma or displacement.

An incident involving head trauma or neck injury can trigger a vertigo response, sometimes long after the initial event takes place. Even a slight displacement caused by chronic strain or a shampoo treatment at a hair salon could be enough to irritate joints and tissues in the upper neck and spine.

The upper cervical specific procedure that properly addresses the condition of the top two vertebrae, the atlas and the axis, as well as the area where the neck and spine meet, requires specific training and experience by a qualified chiropractic care professional. In particular, a care provider should utilize digital infrared imaging and laser radiography to help determine whether these areas are distressed.

The proper treatment of vertigo and similar conditions can produce amazing results. A 2001 case report details the significant improvement of a female Multiple Sclerosis patient whose lesions and associated symptoms disappeared after just four months of treatment. Patient monitoring continued for two years before doctors credited the upper cervical chiropractic care she received as the major component of recovery.

A similar study by Dr. Erin Elster, D.C. involving sixty patients yielded similar results. Ninety-three percent of these patients reported a history of trauma, and cervical subluxations in the upper spine were present in all sixty. All of these patients experienced significant improvement or complete reversal of symptoms after treatment.

Many other patients with similar circumstances have received positive results that have greatly improved their health and well-being, both mentally and physically.

The neural gateway that flows through the brain stem affects our most vital systematic functioning, things like equilibrium, coordination, balance, and controlled movement. When trauma or displacement of the upper cervical spine occurs, vertigo is just one of the many conditions that can develop as a result.

Too often, doctors address these conditions with medication that brings as many unwanted and debilitating side effects as the symptoms themselves.

The Specific Chiropractic Center will be conducting a seminar this month to address these concerns for sufferers of vertigo, educating the public on the range of options available to those who understand these conditions more thoroughly. We welcome you to join us for an intimate and revealing discussion that could completely change your life.