Vertigo treatment

Available at Lake Forest, San Diego, and Spring Valley

Vertigo is a spinning feeling when you are still, and two common causes are loose crystals in the inner ear (positional vertigo) and tension or joint problems in the upper neck. Chiropractic care may help these two types with gentle repositioning maneuvers and neck care; other causes of dizziness need a medical evaluation.

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When to seek urgent care

Dizziness can be a sign of a stroke or heart problem. Call 911 if dizziness comes with:

  • Slurred speech or trouble speaking
  • Double vision or sudden loss of vision
  • Weakness or numbness, especially on one side
  • Chest pain or a racing heart
  • A sudden, severe headache or fainting

Get emergency care straight away.

When the room starts spinning

Dizziness, spinning or balance problems can start suddenly or build up over time. Even when vertigo feels new, a problem in the neck or inner ear may have been developing for longer, and symptoms can become more frequent if the cause is not found.

Our chiropractors do a detailed exam of balance, posture and neck function. Based on what we find, care may include gentle maneuvers, neck care, exercises and guidance to support balance. We care for positional vertigo and dizziness linked to the neck. Other causes, such as inner ear infections, Ménière’s disease, migraine, blood pressure, heart or medication-related dizziness, need a medical evaluation, and we will refer you when your exam suggests it.

Two causes we care for

Positional vertigo (BPPV)
Much vertigo, especially in older adults, comes from tiny crystals in the inner ear that move out of place and lodge in the balance canals. Turning over in bed, looking up or bending down can then bring on brief spinning.
Neck-related (cervicogenic) dizziness
Tension or joint problems in the upper neck, often around the top vertebra just below the skull where there are many nerves, can cause a dizzy or unsteady feeling, especially when you turn your head.

How we find the cause

Diagnosis starts with a full evaluation rather than assumptions. It may include:

  • A physical and neurological check
  • Your symptom pattern and triggers
  • Posture
  • Neck movement and joint function
  • Balance and coordination tests

Your chiropractor looks at whether your symptoms fit positional vertigo or neck-related dizziness, how they respond to head movement, posture and sleeping position, and the pattern of tension in your neck. If your symptoms do not fit these causes, we refer you to your medical doctor.

How we treat vertigo

For positional vertigo, your chiropractor may use the Epley maneuver, a series of slow head and body positions that guide the crystals back to where they belong. It sometimes needs to be repeated.

For neck-related dizziness, care addresses joint restriction and muscle tension in the neck with gentle adjustments and soft tissue work. Instrument-assisted adjustments are available if you are nervous about neck adjustments.

We also ask about your workstation and how you sleep. Sleeping on your stomach with your head turned to one side puts a lot of tension on the neck, and we often see this in people with neck-related dizziness.

Staying safe while you are dizzy

  • Get up slowly, sitting on the edge of the bed for a moment before standing
  • Keep a light on at night and clear trip hazards from the floor
  • Avoid driving or using ladders until dizziness has settled
  • Turn your head and body together rather than turning your head quickly

Care that may be part of your plan

Your chiropractor recommends care after your exam. Some therapies are offered only at certain offices.

Book a visit for vertigo

Vertigo is treated at all 3 Greenlight offices.

Your questions,
answered

About vertigo care at Greenlight.

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a feeling of spinning or movement when you are still. It is different from general lightheadedness and often involves the balance system.

What are the common types of vertigo?

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), brought on by certain head movements; vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis, linked to inner ear inflammation; and cervicogenic dizziness, linked to the neck. We care for BPPV and neck-related dizziness. Inner ear inflammation and other causes need a medical evaluation.

What symptoms come with vertigo?

Spinning, balance problems, nausea, unsteadiness and trouble focusing. Symptoms may worsen when you turn your head or change position.

How does the neck affect dizziness?

The joints and muscles of the upper neck send the brain information about head position. When they are irritated or tight, that information can be disrupted and contribute to dizziness or unsteadiness.

Can vertigo go away on its own?

Some cases do. When it keeps returning or is linked to the neck, finding the cause helps.

What techniques are used?

Gentle techniques chosen for your findings, such as the Epley maneuver for positional vertigo, neck adjustments, posture work and balance-focused exercises.

What results can I expect?

Many people with positional or neck-related vertigo notice gradual improvement in balance and dizziness. Progress depends on the cause and how you respond. Individual results vary.

Can chiropractic care cure vertigo?

No. Chiropractic care does not cure vertigo. It focuses on contributing factors such as loose inner ear crystals and neck problems.

How many sessions are needed?

It varies with the type of vertigo, how severe it is and how you respond. Some people with positional vertigo respond quickly to the Epley maneuver; neck-related dizziness usually takes longer. Progress is checked and care adjusted as you go.

Is vertigo treatment uncomfortable?

Care is gentle. The Epley maneuver can briefly bring on dizziness while it is done, and your chiropractor guides you through it slowly.

When should I see a doctor instead?

See a medical doctor if dizziness persists without a clear pattern, comes with hearing loss or ringing, or follows a new medication. Call 911 if dizziness comes with slurred speech, double vision, weakness, chest pain or a sudden severe headache.

Can I do the Epley maneuver at home?

Some people are taught a home version, but it should be shown to you first by someone who has confirmed which ear and canal are involved. Doing the wrong maneuver can bring on dizziness without helping.