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Explaining Cervicogenic Dizziness and Upper Cervical Care

By April 9, 2023July 12th, 2024No Comments

Vertigo can be a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Are you one of them? Do you often feel like the world is spinning around you, even when standing still or making minimal movements? Do you feel shaky standing on your feet? Are you constantly worried about falling over or losing your balance? Does the constant spinning bring nausea and sometimes prompt you to vomit?

Vertigo is usually a result of an inner ear issue affecting your balance. But in some cases, vertigo isn’t just an inner ear issue but a result of neck problems. Some patients who seek vertigo relief in Anchorage are surprised to learn about neck issues linked to vertigo episodes. This is called cervicogenic dizziness or cervical vertigo. A lesser-known cause of vertigo that can equally leave you feeling lost and frustrated. If you’re tired of living with this constant sense of unease and want to know more about cervicogenic dizziness, keep reading.

Cervicogenic Dizziness Explained by an Upper Cervical Chiropractor

Cervicogenic dizziness, simply put, is a condition where you feel dizzy and have neck pain. There are no specific tests to diagnose this condition, so doctors must rule out other conditions that can trigger dizziness or vertigo. This condition is known to develop from a neck disorder, such as a cervical spine injury, and other causes, including:

  1. Arthritis (cervical spondylosis)
  2. Atherosclerosis in your neck
  3. Cervical degenerative disk disease
  4. Inflammation
  5. Injured disks
  6. Joint issues
  7. Muscle strain
  8. Neck trauma
  9. Poor posture

Below are known symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness:

  1. A sensation of unsteadiness or loss of balance
  2. Dizziness or lightheadedness that is worsened by neck movements
  3. Fatigue or difficulty concentrating
  4. Neck pain or stiffness
  5. Nausea or vomiting
  6. Headache
  7. Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  8. Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision or double vision

These symptoms are not unique to cervicogenic dizziness, so it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and appropriate care for your condition.

How to achieve cervical vertigo relief in Anchorage

It is possible to manage vertigo attacks caused by neck-related issues. The following remedies can potentially help you to better cope with your symptoms:

1.Reduce risks of further neck bone shifting

To minimize the risk of further misalignment of the neck bones, avoiding activities that can worsen your posture problem is essential. In addition, your symptoms can progress if you fail to address your neck bone misalignments. Here are some activities you should avoid to prevent or reduce risks for atlas bone shifting:

  • Exercising excessively or too little
  • Performing tasks that require you to tilt your head for prolonged periods
  • Practicing poor postural habits
  • Neglecting underlying health issues that may exacerbate your condition, such as disc herniation, osteoarthritis, or muscle strain

2. Seek vestibular rehabilitation therapy

Chronic vertigo attacks can significantly impact your overall well-being, including your physical and mental health. If you’re experiencing this condition, you may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapy. This is known to help retrain the brain and minimize the effects of a typical vertigo attack.

It is widely recommended for patients with cervicogenic dizziness, Meniere’s disease, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This method involves various guided activities, including vision stability training, balance retraining, walking, and stretching exercises.

3.Explore Upper Cervical Care

Upper Cervical Care involves assessing and correcting misalignments or subluxations in the upper part of the neck. Misalignments in this area, from a past or recent accident or injury, can lead to nervous system dysfunction and cause symptoms such as cervicogenic dizziness.

Upper Cervical Care aims to restore proper alignment and function of the upper cervical spine, which can improve nervous system function and reduce symptoms such as dizziness. By correcting the underlying issue causing the dizziness, upper cervical care can help alleviate cervicogenic dizziness and improve your overall health and well-being.

Getting your spine alignment checked can be a life-changing first step to help restore the quality of your life. Book your appointment ahead, so you don’t have to wait long when you visit us for a spine assessment.

Many patients have reported significant improvements in their symptoms following gentle upper cervical alignments. You, too, deserve to experience improvement and relief. Book your appointment with Pairmore & Young Synergy Chiropractic today!

 

To schedule a consultation with Pairmore & Young: Synergy Chiropractic, call our Anchorage office at 907-677-6953. You can also click the button below.