Vertigo
Vertigo can be defined as a sense of motion while one is stationary. The condition normally originates in the vestibular system of the middle ear but can also but caused by dysfunction in the brain. Because of the severity of the symptoms that can ensue such as nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, excessive sweating and unsteady gait, a person’s quality of life can be severely affected.
The treatment of vertigo is focused around the actual cause. Some of the causes include flus, colds, infections and blunt traumas as well as a possible mechanical malfunction of the inner ear involving the little calcium spheres that rotate around the semicircular canals. These spheres might become unequally distributed within the canals leading to vertigo. This common condition is known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and studies tend to support the use of a repositioning maneuver called the Epley Maneuver.
Because some types of vertigo can involve serious underlying pathology, it is important to rule out these conditions first. Your family medical doctor or a neurologist is normally a good place to start. After a more serious pathology is ruled out, then conservative treatments such as chiropractic, acupuncture or the Epley maneuver can be pursued.
Because vertigo is more common in the elderly and the elderly are more prone to falls, it is very important for the elderly to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. Falls can lead to injuries in the elderly that severely affect the quality of their life and at times can be too much to overcome. Most of the treatment protocols for positional vertigo are just a few visits with a relatively high success rate and relatively low re-occurrence rate.
Discussion of vertigo would not be complete without mention of disequilibrium. Disequilibrium is similar to vertigo and is described as feeling off balance or that something is pulling a person to one side. This condition is likely associated with problems in the neck or cervical spine. Chiropractic may be well suited to help with both vertigo and disequilibrium with the use of chiropractic adjustments as well as proprioceptive training methods such as a balance or wobble board.
If you are suffering with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or disequilibrium, call Frisco Spinal Rehab today to schedule a time to go over treatment options or further testing. Our Frisco, TX chiropractic center may be able to help you overcome this condition.
