What is Vertigo and can it be Treated? In this edition of Chiro Chat, we are looking at a condition that we tend to see a lot in our practice, which is Vertigo. The spinning sensation can sometimes present as a symptom of something else, but in itself can be a very debilitating condition.
Vertigo, as mentioned is the false sensation that you are spinning or moving when you are in fact stationery. It differs from “dizziness” or light-headedness in that patients usually describe it as more violent than feeling dizzy, and patients normally need to sit down and often hold onto something until the episode of vertigo stops, which can take up to about 15-20 seconds commonly. Vertigo can occasionally result in the sufferer vomiting, but not usually.
Causes of Vertigo are varied and whilst there are 4 main “benign” causes that make up about 99% of cases, there is always a chance of a more sinister cause such as a tumour in the balance part of the brain, so it is crucial that all cases of Vertigo are assessed thoroughly and as soon as they appear.
The first of the common causes of Vertigo is a condition called Labyrinthitis, which is due to an infection of the middle and often inner ear, usually resulting from a cold or flu. This can affect the balance system and result in vertigo, but often also affects hearing, however is usually responsive to antibiotic treatment.
Another cause of Vertigo is called Meniere’s disease, which is a less common cause.
It is a syndrome of vertigo, balance disturbance, hearing loss and often headache and vomiting episodes that can last 2-4 hours at a time. It is due to an abnormal build-up of fluid in the inner ear resulting in pressure changes affecting the cells responsible for balance and hearing. The cause of the fluid build-up is largely unknown.
A build–up of calcific crystals in the inner ear balance canals is a very common cause of vertigo, which is called BPPV (Benign Paraxysmal Positional Vertigo). It is probably in the top two most common causes of vertigo.
Chiropractors treat this with a particular procedure called the “Epley Manoeuvre” where the head is positioned in a certain series of positions to re-align the crystals and re-set the balance system. This technique is usually extremely successful in treating BPPV.
The final condition making up the top 2 most common causes of vertigo is upper neck joint dysfunction causing nerve irritation, which can have an effect on the balance structures in the brain and result in Vertigo (and sometimes ringing in the ears, called Tinnitis). Being a neck joint problem, this is something we as Chiropractors treat on a daily basis through neck and spinal adjustments, which normally has a hugely successful outcome.
Chiropractic is very successful in treating the most common causes of Vertigo (BPPV and Upper neck dysfunction), however, as mentioned it is important to get it checked as soon as possible to correctly diagnose the cause and get the symptoms settling down as soon as possible.
Written by Dr Mark Whitfield.
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