Natural Vertigo Treatment

Here at Health From Within we offer effective natural treatment of vertigo and dizziness. Typically, dizziness is simply a minor annoyance. When dizziness becomes frequent or is accompanied by nausea or other distressing symptoms, it can interfere with enjoying your daily life. People often use the words dizziness and vertigo interchangeably, however, they are two different conditions. 

Dizziness is usually described as a constant spinning, and it often occurs after getting up too quickly or getting off an amusement park ride. This form of dizziness goes away in a few minutes and is not the result of an underlying medical condition.

Vertigo, on the other hand, is a more serious condition that can last for weeks or even months. It is the result of a problem with the inner ear or brain and can be very debilitating. People with vertigo often feel as though they are constantly spinning, even when they are lying down. Vertigo can also cause nausea and vomiting.

Common Causes of Vertigo and Dizziness

Dizziness has a reasonably immediate cause and usually resolves itself quickly on its own. Vertigo, however,  is caused by underlying medical issues. There are two types of vertigo; peripheral and central vertigo and each is caused by different medical conditions.

Peripheral Vertigo

Peripheral vertigo is the most common type of vertigo. It is caused by structural issues in the inner ear and can begin suddenly. Symptoms may include severe nausea, vomiting, and other distressing symptoms. These symptoms can occur unpredictably and may vary in intensity depending on head movement and positioning. Treatment for peripheral vertigo often includes medication to help relieve symptoms and vestibular rehabilitation exercises to help retrain the brain to process information from the inner ear correctly.

Some of the inner ear issues that most frequently cause peripheral vertigo include:

Meniere’s Disease

If you experience vertigo, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or a feeling of pressure in one ear, you may have Meniere’s disease. This inner ear condition typically only affects one ear. Vertigo spells caused by Meniere’s can last from 20 minutes to 24 hours each. While there is no cure for Meniere’s disease, there are treatments that can help lessen the symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

Labyrinthitis or Inner Ear Infection

Patients with labyrinthitis typically experience vertigo, nausea, vomiting, imbalance, and jerky eye movements that affect vision. These symptoms usually begin within minutes to hours after an infection causes inflammation in the inner ear. Labyrinthitis can be a debilitating condition, making it difficult for patients to carry out everyday activities. However, with proper treatment, most patients recover fully and return to their normal lives.

Vestibular Neuritis

Viral infections are a common cause of vestibular neuritis. The most common viruses that can lead to this condition include chickenpox, measles, and other similar viruses. When these viruses affect the vestibular nerve, it can cause severe vertigo that can be difficult to cope with. There is usually no loss of hearing associated with vestibular neuritis, though the symptoms can be very similar to those experienced with labyrinthitis. This condition typically comes on suddenly, without warning.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

The most common cause of peripheral vertigo in people ages 65 and older is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This is caused when turning the head or other head movements move the calcium crystals in the ear from their proper position. When the calcium crystals are in the wrong place, the brain perceives the crystal movement as sudden spinning or swaying since it believes the head is moving. As a result, people with this condition feel intense dizziness, lightheadedness, and other symptoms of vertigo.

Central Vertigo

Central Vertigo has its roots in the central nervous system or brain and spinal cord. This condition is not affected by changes in position or head movement. The onset of Central Vertigo is gradual and produces mild symptoms that are chronic. In addition, it can cause varying degrees of nausea and vomiting.

Multiple Sclerosis

If you have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), central vertigo can be a bothersome symptom. It is usually not very severe, but it can persist for days or weeks. Sudden movements can make vertigo worse.

Migraine Headaches

There are many different possible causes of central vertigo, and it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause in any given individual. However, some of the most common underlying causes include people that suffer from migraines, even if they aren’t currently experiencing a migraine. For these individuals, central vertigo can be constant, change depending on the position you're in, and can last for as long as 24 hours. 

Head or Neck Trauma

A spinal subluxation can cause a number of problems, including pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. It can also lead to balance problems and difficulty walking. In some cases, it can even cause paralysis. If you have suffered a head or neck injury, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Our chiropractor can determine if you have spinal subluxation and develop a treatment plan to help relieve your symptoms.

Cervical Spondylosis Degeneration

As we age, the discs in our cervical spine (neck) begin to wear down. This is known as cervical spondylosis. Since these discs act as shock absorbers, the added pressure on the spinal nerves can lead to a number of problems, including central vertigo

When the discs in our neck deteriorate and wear down, it reduces blood flow to the inner ear and brain. This can cause problems with nerve communication to the brain, resulting in dizziness and balance problems. Central vertigo can be a very debilitating condition, making everyday activities difficult or even impossible.

Other Causes of Vertigo

Some other causes of vertigo include changes in air pressure, circulatory issues, motion sickness, or drug or alcohol use. It can also be caused by a brain tumor or exposure to toxins, so it is always important to seek medical care for vertigo.

Symptoms of Vertigo and Dizziness

Symptoms of dizziness and vertigo can vary greatly. They can be very mild, or they can lead you to search online for natural vertigo and dizziness treatment near me. The symptoms can also be unpredictable or occur constantly. Below is a list of the most common symptoms our patients report:

  • Ringing in the ears

  • Reduced hearing, typically in one ear

  • Blurry vision

  • Double vision

  • Difficulty with balance

  • Constant fatigue

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Vertigo and Dizziness

Because balance depends heavily on nerve function, our chiropractor has the tools to help patients with vertigo. When patients come to us for natural vertigo and dizziness treatment, we perform a detailed assessment, including physical examination and possibly scans. Once we’ve determined a patient has vertigo, we can verify the diagnosis using the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. Detailed interviews and movement analysis are two more methods we use to find the root cause of their dizziness and vertigo symptoms.

Vertigo and Dizziness Treatment

Once we locate the root cause of our patient’s vertigo, we are able to offer more treatments to help. In addition, we can also prescribe a series of therapeutic home exercises.

Spinal Manipulation

Movement and balance are very dependent on communication between nerves. Because of this, removing any subluxations via spinal manipulation can restore the free flow of information between the brain and body. The nerves that travel between the inner ear and upper neck impact blood flow, balance, and immune function. Our vertigo chiropractors gently manipulate this area back into proper alignment using their hands.

Canalith Repositioning Procedure

This procedure is designed for patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and involves placing the head in a series of four positions. These positions are important because they are designed specifically to move the calcium crystals back into their proper location. 

Epley’s Maneuver

If you have been diagnosed with positional vertigo, our chiropractor may recommend a treatment called Epley's maneuver. This is a series of movements that are designed to reposition the inner ear crystals that are causing your symptoms.

The maneuver was named after Dr. John Epley, who developed it in 1980. It is also sometimes called the canalith repositioning procedure or CRP.

In this maneuver, we not only reposition the head but the entire body. Another variant of this treatment is that the movements differ depending on which ear is affected. 

Prescribed Movement

Each movement our bodies make is very dependent on balance. Because of this, we’re very careful when we design any movement program for patients experiencing symptoms of vertigo or dizziness. The prescribed movements we add to your overall wellness plan are gentle and keep the head in as stationary of a position as possible.

The Brandt-Daroff Habituation Exercise is one example of the exercises we provide. To perform this exercise, the patient sits on the edge of their bed and turns their head 45 degrees. Then, they quickly lay down on the side opposite the head turn direction. Repeating this home exercise helps reposition inner ear crystals.

Chiropractic Care for Vertigo and Dizziness

If you're someone who suffers from dizziness or vertigo, you may feel like you have to just live with it. But that doesn't have to be the case! At Health From Within, our chiropractors are dedicated to helping people find relief from these symptoms.

We understand how debilitating dizziness and vertigo can be, and we want to help you find relief. Give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you. We'll be happy to answer any of your questions and get you started on the road to recovery.