vertigo, Rockford chiropractorMany patients make the mistake of visiting a Rockford chiropractor without knowing the reason behind their symptoms. Vertigo is the feeling where you or your surroundings are moving and spinning. It is not dizziness because vertigo involves a rotational element to it, while dizziness does not. Vertigo is a fake feeling of movement. When you feel as if you’re spinning or whirling, you have subjective movement. However, if it would seem like your environment is moving around, then you are experiencing a bout of objective vertigo.

Symptoms That Accompany Vertigo

The primary symptom of vertigo, as mentioned before, involves a spinning or rotating sensation of movement. Motion sickness is different from it because it is only a feeling of being off-balanced. It is not similar to fainting or lightheadedness as well. If you experience true vertigo, you will feel it as a sensation of motion or disorientation with any or all of the following symptoms:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Nystagmus – abnormal shuddering eye movements
  • Weakness
  • Visual disturbances
  • Hearing loss and a ringing noise in the ears
  • A decreased level of consciousness
  • Problems with speech
  • Difficulty walking
  • Movement in head position can worsen or trigger vertigo attacks.

List of Possible Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo can be due to a problem in the brain, the inner ear, or the central nervous system. It is a symptom of another condition, and it can never be contagious. Before you seek a Rockford chiropractor for vertigo relief, you must first pin down the reason behind your vertigo. Here are several conditions that have vertigo as one of their primary symptoms:

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is the most common form of vertigo regarded as a motion period that can last about 15 seconds to several minutes. It is frequently called a sudden vertigo attack caused by an abrupt or particular head movement. Examples include rolling over in bed or standing up suddenly from a sitting position.

  • Labyrinthitis or Vestibular Neuritis

These conditions are due to an inflammation of the inner ear. They are known for causing sudden vertigo attacks and possible hearing loss. Most often, they are due to a viral or bacterial infection of the inner ear. The symptoms may linger for days or until the inflammation improves. Some viruses responsible for causing these conditions are influenza, polio, herpes, measles, Epstein-Barr, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis.


vertigo, Rockford chiropractor

  • Meniere’s Disease

It is well-known for having these three symptoms – vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Meniere’s disease can be debilitating. Vertigo and hearing loss may come on rapidly and then fluctuate. Thus, it can give patients periods of severe disability and time without any symptoms. Meniere’s disease can stem from a viral infection of the inner ear, allergies, a head or neck injury, or genetics.

  • Migraines

These are severe kinds of headaches, which can cause vertigo in some cases. Frequently, vertigo occurs first, and then the headache follows, but this is not always the case.

  • Acoustic Neuroma

While this is an uncommon occurrence, a tumor of the inner ear’s nerve tissue can cause this condition. Symptoms would include vertigo, hearing loss, and one-sided ringing in the ear.

  • Hormonal Changes and Low Blood Sugar

Combining these two can cause pregnant women to suffer from vertigo attacks, particularly in the first trimester. In the second trimester, vertigo can appear due to excessive pressure on the growing uterus’ blood vessels. Later on, whenever the would-be-mother lies on her back, vertigo can happen because of the baby’s weight and the large vein’s pressure, which carries blood to the head.

  • Head And Neck Trauma

Cervical vertigo connects to neck problems like impairment of nerves or blood vessels in the neck.

  • Mal de Debarquement

This term means sickness of disembarkation. It is the medical term for the feeling of vertigo that you acquire after boarding off from a ship or boat.

  • Panic Attacks and Anxiety

These two can also bring on the feeling of vertigo. Increased stress can worsen vertigo symptoms. However, it does not usually trigger them. 

  • Diabetes

Diabetes can cause one complication, such as hardening of the arteries. When this happens, it can cause a decreased blood flow to the brain. 

  • Decreased Blood Flow to the Brain

A stroke in the brain occurs when there is a blood clot or blockage in blood vessels. When there is bleeding in the brain, it can be another problem. When this happens, it will cause headaches, vertigo, difficulty with walking, and an inability to look to the side where the bleeding occurred.

A Case Study Gives Hope to Vertigo Patients

A study observed 60 patients with various types of chronic vertigo. They all reported experiencing previous trauma or injury to their neck or head. Some of the trauma that happened before the start of their vertigo included automobile and sporting accidents, sliding or slipping on icy sidewalks, and falling down the stairs or ladders.

After their diagnostic testing, researchers revealed that each patient suffered a misalignment in their upper cervical spine’s bones. They received personally tailored care for their particular problem. They all positively responded to upper cervical care within one to six months of care. 

Out of the 60 patients, all but twelve had their vertigo entirely gone. The remaining twelve reported little to significant improvement in the frequency and intensity of their vertigo symptoms. It shows us a clear link between upper cervical misalignments and the inception of vertigo.

A Rockford Chiropractor Can Help With Your Vertigo

The top bones (the C1 and C2 vertebrae) of the neck keep the brainstem protected. However, if these bones misalign, they would put the brainstem under pressure and stress. Thus, they would cause the brainstem to send the wrong signals to the brain. When these signals cause conflict, telling the brain that the body is moving or in a different position than it is, this would not match the input coming from the ears and eyes. Thus, vertigo becomes the result. 

Visit us here at Upper Cervical Care Center-Rockford in Rockford, IL. Our Rockford chiropractor practicing the NUCCA technique can help check your spine. If misalignments exist, then a personally tailored care plan will be implemented suited to your specific needs.

We use a highly precise and very gentle technique to realign these misaligned bones. We encourage the bones to realign using a safe method. It often results in an improvement in vertigo and its accompanying symptoms.

Send us a message or call our office at 815-398-4500 to begin receiving long-lasting relief from vertigo.


To schedule a consultation with Dr Schalow, call our Rockford office at 815-398-4500. You can also click the button below.

vertigo, Rockford chiropractor
