Dizziness and Vertigo
Introduction
It is not unusual for a chiropractic physician to evaluate a patient following a whiplash type injury, blow to head, or a fall, which caused injury to the neck and/or head. These patients frequently complain of headaches, neck pain, and dizziness. It is safest to visit the emergency room immediately following any injury that causes headaches, neck pain, or dizziness. If you are suffering with recurring dizziness or vertigo, you might best visit a chiropractic neurologist or chiropractic orthopedist for evaluation of the upper neck and inner ear.
Definition
Dizziness is usually described as lightheadedness or faintness with an unsteady feeling.
Vertigo implies that you are feeling like the room is spinning or moving with a loss of balance.
Immediate Care
Most causes of dizziness or vertigo are not dangerous and resolve quickly with little or no treatment. Yet, if this is your first episode of dizziness or vertigo, it is appropriate to make an immediate appointment with your primary care provider or seek out emergency room services if the symptoms persist more than a few hours.
Recurrent Symptoms
If you have injured your head and/or neck and recurrent symptoms of neck pain, headaches, and dizziness are affecting your daily living; you should see your primary care provider. It might require additional evaluation and management with either a chiropractic neurologist or a chiropractic orthopedist.
Cervicogenic Dizziness
It is common for patients to seek the services of a chiropractor for neck pain and also gain relief of dizziness. When joints in the upper neck (first and second cervical vertebrae) are dysfunctional, the upper nerves in the neck may become irritated and produce neck pain, headaches, and dizziness. Chiropractic adjustments or spinal manipulation performed by chiropractic physician should provide relief of symptoms within 1-5 treatments. If the condition does not improve or worsens, a neurologist should be consulted for a second opinion. It is not unusual for the neurologist to order specialized testing, which might include an MRI to evaluate the brain.
Vertigo
Is usually a more severe discomfort because of the loss of balance and the feeling that the room is spinning and may be more difficult to treat. It is important to diagnose the cause of the vertigo. The most common causes of vertigo are benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis.
Positional Vertigo
Head and neck trauma might be the cause of postitional vertigo. This type of vertigo will respond well to chiropractic adjustment and specific head positional treatment referred to as Epley’s maneuver.
Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis or inner ear infection might follow a cold, sinusitis, or environmental allergy episode. A primary care provider might refer you to see an ENT specialist for treatment of labyrinthitis. There are some chiropractic physicians trained to treat ear, nose, and throat conditions with natural methods and you might want to consult with one if your condition persists. It is suggested that you continue care with the ENT specialist and seek a second opinion from the chiropractic physician if the allopathic (M.D.) care does not provide satisfaction.