Vertigo is a common complaint among patients seeking chiropractic treatment, especially vertigo that arises after trauma. Vertigo is a sometimes debilitating sensation of spinning and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, fatigue, or headache.
There are many possible causes of vertigo, but most of them are easily treated. Effective treatment depends on accurate diagnosis, so your chiropractor will perform a thorough exam, including comprehensive medical history and positioning tests such as the Dix-Hallpikemanoeuvre that can help pinpoint the cause by examining how your body reacts to certain movements and positions.
If your vertigo is accompanied by certain other symptoms, including weakness, drowsiness, headache, clumsiness, uncontrolled movement, abnormal eye movement, or unusual behavior, you may be referred to a neurologist for further assessment, as these may indicate a more serious neurological condition such as stroke, tumour, or multiple sclerosis.
Perhaps the most common cause of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. It typically resolves itself in a few weeks or months, but often recurs. While it can occur in patients of all ages, BPPV is most often seen in older individuals.
BPPV is most often caused by calcium crystals in the inner ear. These can be caused by:
- head trauma or whiplash
- cold or other viral infection
- minor stroke
- certain medications
- formation of calcium deposits in the inner ear
- advanced age
While symptoms of BPPV are often treated with sedative medications such as prochlorperazine, these can make you very drowsy and have a number of other side effects. In many cases, vertigo can be more effectively treated by a chiropractor using repositioning techniques such as the Epleyor SemontManoeuvres. These techniques are intended to shift the calcium deposits to a less sensitive part of the inner ear. Vestibular exercises may also be recommended to help you avoid recurrence.
Other causes of vertigo include:
- Problems with the central or peripheral nervous system, including Meniere’s disease, labyrinthitis, and acute vestibular neuronitis in the peripheral nervous system, and cervicogenic vertigo, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and acoustic neuroma in the central nervous system
- Symptoms of certain conditions, including food allergies and sensitivities, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, and blood pressure that is too high or low
- Side effects of many medications, including antidepressants, antibiotics, antineoplastics, antihypertensives, diuretics, sedatives, hypnotics, antibiotics, cold medicines, and aspirin
While patients with certain conditions, such as cervical spondylosis, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, or carotid stenosis should not undergo these manoeuvres, they are highly effective in most cases. Approximately 80% of patients see significant relief after just one session, while most of the remaining patients see significant relief after only a couple of additional sessions, with only approximately 15% of patients experiencing a recurrence of vertigo.
No matter the cause of vertigo, certain lifestyle changes can help alleviate the problem. Limit your consumption of alcohol, salt, and fried foods, and don’t smoke. Get some exercise and enough sleep, and reduce your stress level. If you experience vertigo associated with migraine, you will also want to avoid migraine triggers as much as possible.
If you have a condition that may contraindicate these manoeuvres, or if your vertigo is accompanied by symptoms that indicate a neurological condition, your chiropractor will refer you back to your general practitioner or another health care professional. Don’t jump to symptomatic treatment with medication,
To find out what may be causing your vertigo, and to find out how chiropractic care may be able to help you, call Eastern Brain Centre today on 03 8652 1628 to schedule an appointment.
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