Vertigo is the sensation that a person or things around him are spinning. In order to understand why vertigo happens, let’s take a deeper look at how the body works. The tissue that keeps the spine in place is called connective tissue. An accident or injury can tear or break down this tissue. This negatively affects the spine causing it to lock into a position of stress.
The part of the spine that is most often damaged is the upper cervical spine. While this area of the body has a great range of motion, allowing the head to move in many directions, it also puts it at risk for injury. If the top two bones in the neck become misaligned, it can affect the entire body. If a misalignment in the neck causes the head to tilt, vertigo can be the end result. Why?
When the head tilts to compensate for a neck misalignment, something called the righting reflex kicks in. This is a mechanism designed to keep the eyes level with the horizon line. It also affects the fluid-filled ear canals. When this occurs, mixed signals are sent to the brain about where the body is positioned in its environment. This is when vertigo happens. An upper cervical chiropractor can fix this misalignment and potentially help a person break free from vertigo.
A 23-year-old female began seeing an upper cervical chiropractor 5 months after she received a concussion due to falling. She showed the typical symptoms of post-concussion syndrome: vertigo and headaches. Headaches were not new to her as she had endured them before the fall. But they became much worse after her concussion. It was determined that due to a misalignment in the upper neck, revealed through x-rays, her entire body was extremely out of balance.
After just one adjustment, her vertigo and her headaches went away. The next day it was noted that her muscle spasms had decreased immensely, and her legs had become more balanced. Proper spinal alignment can indeed lead to a decrease or elimination of vertigo, dizziness, migraines, and similar conditions.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Nerve DamageAs a coat protects a person from the elements, the Myelin Sheath protects the body's nerves. The special coating plays a role in nerve cell communication as well. When this sheath is damaged, serious issues can arise as the body deals with and reacts to the attacks. The result is usually diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Studies have been conducted to test different theories as to the cause of the degeneration of the Myelin sheath and other immune and systemic conditions that result. One Italian researcher proposed that insufficient blood flow could trigger a chain reaction leading to the nerve damage. Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency describes how inadequate drainage of blood in the central nervous system causes iron deposits to build. The iron, in turn, can trigger the immune system to turn on healthy cells. The attack on the Myelin sheath sets the course for MS.
Recently a study conducted on this very subject was able to show that vascular conditions that hinder flow can result in Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency. What can cause the vessels to distort or impede blood flow? The researchers pointed to a misalignment in the upper cervical area of the spine. Correcting this through calculated adjustments can relieve the vessels and allow flow to normalize.
Seeing an upper cervical chiropractor can aid in determining if there is a misalignment in the C1 and C2 vertebrae. Through careful measuring and gentle adjustment techniques, corrections can be made to stabilize these important supporting structures. This, in turn, allows the region and its housed vessels to heal. With adequate flow and drainage, damage to the nerves and immune system has the opportunity to repair. Managing MS can be difficult, but having key structures in place and aiding normal processes to function properly can play a major role in treatment.
An injury to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head, backward, forward, or sideways, is commonly referred to as "whiplash." While the term "whiplash" is most frequently used to describe auto accident injuries (in which a person is rear-ended, hit head-on, or hit from the side), whiplash can also frequently occur during ski accidents, bike accidents, falls, blows to the head, and other head/neck traumas.
THE MYTH: "If I don't have any symptoms right away, I'm O.K.".
THE TRUTH... After many auto and sport-related traumas, symptoms can be so slight at first, an individual may not realize he/she has been injured. Even if a person feels relatively normal after an accident, he/she should be thoroughly examined. Symptoms can be delayed for days, months, or even years.
COMMON SYMPTOMS: The following are symptoms that can occur following a head/neck injury (days to years later):
In many cases, more severe immune-related, neurological, pain, and disease conditions (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Susceptibility to Infection, ADHD, Seizures, Multiple Sclerosis) can result from head/neck injuries, sometimes occurring many years after the accident.
Two million people are exposed to whiplash injury (related to an auto accident) in the U.S. every year.
When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth or side-to-side beyond its normal limits, ligaments supporting the neck vertebrae can be sprained (over-stretched) or torn, forcing vertebrae out of their normal position.
In tests of low speed rear impact collisions, it was reported that the neck can be injured even in slow speeds accidents as low as 5 mph.
Most rear impact accidents occur at crash speeds of 6 to 12 mph - speeds below the threshold for property damage to the vehicle - but sufficient to cause neck injury.
Whiplash injuries to the cervical spine can occur in sports (skiing, hockey, football, cycling, ice skating, gymnastics, boxing), due to falls, and more!
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Vertigo, Dizziness, Disequilibrium and many other types of conditions can be directly related to old head and neck injuries that have never been properly addressed and the underlying damage to the upper neck has led to dysfunction in the ears, the balancing system of the body or both.
When the head or neck is injured the upper neck (Atlas & Axis) frequently become twisted and misaligned leading to a slight displacement of the head...sometimes by as little as 3/4 of a degree. Once the heavy head (10-14 lbs) is tilting to the side the brain has to compensate for that change through the righting reflex to keep the eyes and ears level with the horizon at all times.
The entire structure of the body will twist and tilt in order to compensate for those upper neck misalignments and head tilt. Eventually leading to pressure building up into the nerve system.
The area that is first impacted by these problems is the brain stem area, which is just basically a part of the brain that extends down into the spine and connects to the spinal cord. The brain stem area is a key to the balance of our bodies.
The upper neck area also has more pressure sensors than anywhere else in the body that feed information into the brain stem and the brain. Also the brain stem sends messages via the cranial nerves to the ears for balance as well. Blood flow is also affected when the brain stem function is altered.
When someone is suffering from vertigo, dizziness, or disequilibrium, the brain stem is frequently involved. Upper neck misalignments alter the brain stem function and can lead to these types of problems. When these old injuries are dealt with by the correction of the head position by a precise upper cervical corrective procedure such as NUCCA, the healing process can begin.
Holding the corrections is the key to healing, not having your spine manipulated 1000's of times!
Now not all dizziness, vertigo and disequilibrium is related to head and neck traumas. But if you have a history of accidents involving your head or neck, then an evaluation with a qualified upper cervical chiropractor is very important. If the underlying cause can be identified, what a difference it can make for your life!
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Neck Injuries and DizzinessVertigo, Dizziness, Disequilibrium and many other types of conditions can be directly related to old head and neck injuries that have never been properly addressed and the underlying damage to the upper neck has led to dysfunction in the ears, the balancing system of the body or both.
When the head or neck is injured the upper neck (Atlas & Axis) frequently become twisted and misaligned leading to a slight displacement of the head...sometimes by as little as 3/4 of a degree. Once the heavy head (10-14 lbs) is tilting to the side the brain has to compensate for that change through the righting reflex to keep the eyes and ears level with the horizon at all times.
The entire structure of the body will twist and tilt in order to compensate for those upper neck misalignments and head tilt. Eventually leading to pressure building up into the nerve system.
The area that is first impacted by these problems is the brain stem area, which is just basically a part of the brain that extends down into the spine and connects to the spinal cord. The brain stem area is a key to the balance of our bodies.
The upper neck area also has more pressure sensors than anywhere else in the body that feed information into the brain stem and the brain. Also the brain stem sends messages via the cranial nerves to the ears for balance as well. Blood flow is also affected when the brain stem function is altered.
When someone is suffering from vertigo, dizziness, or disequilibrium, the brain stem is frequently involved. Upper neck misalignments alter the brain stem function and can lead to these types of problems. When these old injuries are dealt with by the correction of the head position by a precise upper cervical corrective procedure such as NUCCA, the healing process can begin.
Holding the corrections is the key to healing, not having your spine manipulated 1000's of times!
Now not all dizziness, vertigo and disequilibrium is related to head and neck traumas. But if you have a history of accidents involving your head or neck, then an evaluation with a qualified upper cervical chiropractor is very important. If the underlying cause can be identified, what a difference it can make for your life!
To schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
