Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center

Brain Based Treatment for the 21st Century!

 

Vertigo Treatment

Vertigo Treatment in Atlanta

 

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a sensory disorder characterized by a profound and often disorienting sensation of motion, where the individual feels as if they or their environment is spinning or moving, despite being stationary. Vertigo can occur suddenly or develop gradually, with durations ranging from brief episodes to prolonged experiences. Regardless of its onset or length, vertigo can significantly impact various aspects of daily life.

Why are there so many vertigo definitions?
Vertigo can vary significantly from person to person. The complexity arises from the fact that vertigo can originate from multiple systems within the body, and depending on how that individual is affected, will impact how their symptoms present. While some causes may be identifiable through diagnostic imaging or testing, others may remain unexplained. Chronic vertigo can result from a combination of factors, including previous trauma, chronic conditions, or vestibular dysfunction. Each individual’s experience with vertigo is unique, necessitating an individualized approach to treatment and management to address both the symptoms and the underlying conditions. Working closely with healthcare providers to create a personalized treatment plan can be essential in restoring balance and improving quality of life.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us or call our office at 770-664-4288.


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Common Symptoms of Vertigo

 

  • Dizziness
  • Spinning, rocking or swaying sensations
  • Balance problems
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Feelings of unsteadiness or tilting
  • Sensitivity to motion
  • Visual disturbances (eg. blurry vision)
  • Headaches
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Lightheadedness
  • Increased risk of falls

Understanding the Different Types of Vertigo

What Does The Vestibular System Do?
The vestibular system is made up of several other systems and they all have to work together for optimum health. The vestibular apparatus inside your inner ear sends messages to the regions of the brain responsible for processing information from the visual and proprioceptive systems. The integration of these different systems helps you to understand how you are moving in the world and how the world is moving around you. If there is an imbalance within any of these systems, the person can get vertigo.

The Semicircular Canals

The semicircular canals are known as the problem area for BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). People experience dizziness and disorientation that is brought on by moving the head - for example when laying down, rolling over or bending forward to brush teeth. Long-term problems in this area can result in central vertigo.

The Cochlea

The cochlea is responsible for the transfer of pressure waves into nerve impulses, which gives us the sense of hearing. When symptoms of vertigo make changes in your hearing, this is often due to Meniere’s disease or an inner ear infection.

The Vestibulocochlear Nerve

The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for both hearing and balance - it transmits information from the inner ear to the brain in order to integrate sound and help you understand where your head is in space. With vertigo affecting this nerve (vestibular neuritis), loss of hearing and loss of balance are common symptoms. The vestibular nerve goes into the lower pons to activate the vestibular nuclei which integrate information from your eyes, body and inner ear to help control balance and movement. Vertigo symptoms stemming from this area can consist of nausea, balance, fear-based anxiety and digestive issues.

The Midbrain

Does many things; it receives information about sound and light and is main area in your brain where dopamine is produced. It is involved with emotions especially ones associated with anger outbursts and anxiety. Vertigo from this area is often associated with visual disturbances, light and sound sensitivity and people may become short tempered and easily upset.

The Cerebrum

Known as the “higher brain” as opposed to your brain stem which some people call your “primitive brain”. Vertigo can come from many different parts of your cerebrum and will have slightly different symptoms depending on the specific area. One of the most common regions is an area called your parietal insular vestibular cortex. This area of the brain is a major association area. It is responsible for taking information from all the other areas in the brain and integrating it into a coherent picture. Problems in this area are often difficult for people to explain. There is almost an infinite number of different symptoms that can occur. People will often “just not feel right”, sometimes they feel disconnected to their own body or limb. They may feel like they are slowly swaying or rocking. Often, they have odd body sensations like the feeling of bugs crawling under their skin. If you are experiencing these types of odd symptoms, please call 770-664-4288 or <a href="https://georgiachiropracticneurologycenter.com/contact-us/">contact us</a> to schedule a free consult.

Common Causes of Vertigo

Vestibular Causes

  • Head injury
  • Aging
  • Lack of blood flow to inner ear
  • Displacement of crystals in inner ear
  • Viral infection
  • Migraines
  • Benign tumors

Non-Vestibular Causes

  • Muscle strain or arthritis
  • Aneurysm, stroke, atherosclerosis
  • Medications
  • Damage of nerves that supply sensation to the feet
  • Dysautonomia
  • Faintness when sitting or standing
  • Cataracts and macular degeneration
  • Anxiety

Common Treatments for Vertigo

  • “Wait it out approach” to see if the brain can adapt
  • Vestibular rehabilitation
  • Physical therapy
  • Medications for symptoms associated with vertigo (eg. nausea, motion sickness or anxiety)

 

Individualized Treatment Plan for Vertigo
At Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center, we specialize in understanding vestibular imbalances, concussions and other central nervous system deficits. Our team is trained to look at the nervous system with a unique approach, making our doctors successful at treating cases that are often not resolved in the traditional medical practice. After a detailed initial examination, our team will develop a Healthy Brain Now™ treatment plan specifically based on your exam findings to help you get back to your life because every type of vertigo is unique and requires an individualized diagnosis and treatment plan.

If you have questions please feel free to contact us or call our office at 770-664-4288.

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