Living Vertigo-Free – Is It Possible?

Vertigo episodes are horrible because they can happen out of the blue, even while you’re walking on the street on a lovely afternoon. While it doesn’t pose serious health threats, it can increase your risk of slipping, tripping, or suffering from a severe injury.

Surely enough, you want it gone, but you don’t know what to do, let alone ensure that it never bothers you again. As a vertigo chiropractor in Bend, Dr. Kevin Hallmeyer D.C thought of discussing your key options to begin living vertigo-free. 

  

Help! I’m Confused – Do I Have Vertigo or Dizziness?

Not sure whether you’re experiencing a vertigo attack or a dizzying spell? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Thousands of frustrated and suffering patients who come to us here at True Spine Chiropractic have difficulty distinguishing between the two symptoms.

That’s because many patients use dizziness when describing a feeling of disorientation and loss of balance. On the other hand, vertigo often gets confused for simple lightheadedness or dizzying sensations, when in fact, it causes false motions. 

During a vertigo attack, your brain gets tricked into perceiving movement in your surroundings or your body. This causes difficulty in figuring out several things, such as your body’s current orientation. Vertigo episodes can also leave you confused and unsure of what to do next, especially when you’re doing a task.   

  

What’s Causing My Spinning Sensations

Doctors and researchers have plenty of explanations on why a spinning episode occurs. For example, a few cases of spinning sensations arise as a side effect of a particular medication. Others, on the one hand, serve as a tell-tale symptom of a health condition such as the following:

A vestibular migraine 

Did you know that some migraine cases report spinning as one of the primary symptoms? In addition, patients describe their false spinning sensation as a “to-and-fro” motion, causing them to feel lightheaded and confused. Most of these patients also say that they experience sensitivity to noise, odor, and light during their migraine attacks. 

BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)

When calcium crystals in the ear migrate to another location, you develop a condition called BPPV or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is because the displaced crystals mess up the signals sent by your vestibular system – the group of organs in charge of detecting motion or balance changes – to your brain. 

Your brain thinks that you or your surroundings are moving even when there’s no movement at all. This sensation can readily occur whenever you make sudden movements like bending your body to pick up an object or rolling on the bed.   

Are There Other Potential Reasons Behind A Vertigo Attack?

Aside from the two health problems we listed above, we also notice other diseases or disorders that trigger mild to highly severe vertigo episodes. For example, some of our patients who consult with our vertigo chiropractor in Bend have one or two of the following conditions:

  • Meniere’s disease
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Vestibular neuritis
  • Benign tissue overgrowth in the ears
  • Previous head injuries 
  • Brain tumors

  

What Are the Best Options to Resolve Vertigo Symptoms?

Now that you have a better grasp of vertigo as a symptom, you can conveniently manage your expectations for the remedies that you try. Unfortunately, unless you get to the bottom of the health problem behind your spinning episodes, the symptoms will keep coming back. It may or may not get worse over time, but you can expect it to recur each time you aggravate your existing health condition.

If your spinning attacks stem from a viral or bacterial infection like labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis, your best chance at living-vertigo-free is by taking the necessary medication to kill off the pathogen infecting your inner ear. 

On the one hand, if your spinning sensations stem from a previous brain or neck injury, Meniere’s disease, or BPPV, you might find it helpful to seek help from your doctor or vertigo chiropractor in Bend.

Apart from these vertigo relief efforts, you can also try the following:

  • The Epley Maneuver – This works well if your spinning sensations stem from BPPV or displaced calcium crystals in the inner ears. 
  • Practicing relaxation tactics – Keeping your stress levels at bay may help curb your symptoms and prevent further aggravation of your vertigo-causing condition.
  • Check for Vitamin D deficiency – According to a 2013 study, vitamin D deficiency worsens BPPV symptoms. So if you notice signs like sudden mood changes, fatigue, bone pain, or muscle weakness, it may help to have yourself checked for vitamin D deficiency. 
  • Working on your sleeping habits – Lack of sleep leads to worse vertigo episodes. So as much as possible, you focus on getting at least eight hours of quality rest during bedtime. 

  

How Can a Vertigo Chiropractor in Bend Help?

A significant fraction of patients with spinning symptoms go to a vertigo chiropractor in Bend for help. That’s because most of these cases arise from slight changes in the upper cervical bone alignment. 

When the C1 and C2 neck bones slip out from their original position, they can wreak havoc on nearby tissues like muscles, nerves, and your brainstem. Unfortunately, when this occurs, the rest of the body has trouble communicating with the brain, causing you to experience false motions and even increased sensitivity to pressure and pain. 

If you are not getting anything out of the remedies you try for vertigo attacks, you can consult with an upper cervical care practitioner like Dr. Kevin Hallmeyer D.C. This way, you can get your neckbones assessed and adjusted. 

Want to learn more about how an upper cervical chiropractor can help you enjoy living vertigo-free? Please book your appointment with us today!

  

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hallmeyer, call our Bend office at 541-848-6834. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

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Bend, Oregon 97703
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