The cervical spine plays a bigger role in balance than most people realize
Dizziness is one of those symptoms people often live with for a long time before connecting it to the spine. For a meaningful number of dizziness sufferers, particularly those with accompanying neck stiffness or a history of neck injury, the cervical spine is part of the picture.
We've had patients come in primarily for neck pain and mention as an aside that they've been dealing with dizziness for months. And we've had patients come in specifically for vertigo that wasn't responding to other treatment.
One patient described overcoming "debilitating vertigo" through care at Community Chiropractic "without over-the-counter and prescription medications." That kind of outcome isn't universal — dizziness has multiple possible causes — but when the cervical spine is a contributing factor, addressing it directly can make a significant difference.
Dr. Steve takes a thorough history before evaluating anyone with dizziness, including questions about when symptoms started, what provokes them, and any relevant medical history. He works collaboratively with other providers when vestibular or neurological causes need to be ruled out — chiropractic is one piece of the puzzle, not necessarily the whole answer.
For cases where cervical dysfunction is contributing, restoring normal movement to the upper cervical spine can reduce the faulty sensory signals that the brain interprets as dizziness.
The Vestibular Disorders Association has excellent resources on the different causes of dizziness and vertigo, including the cervicogenic component.
Call us or request a new patient appointment. Dr. Steve will take the time to understand what’s going on before recommending anything.