The Link Between Concussion and Vertigo

concussion, vertigo, Encinitas chiropractor

Vertigo is a confusing and scary experience when you feel it, especially for the first time. One minute you're okay, then next thing you know, the world is spinning. It’s even worse if you don't know why and how it's happening. While you can always visit an Encinitas chiropractor, we encourage you to learn more if you deal with vertigo. Hence, you know how to approach and manage your condition when needed.

If you experience falls or any head injury, you are at a high risk of concussion, making you susceptible to more symptoms, including vertigo and other symptoms you'll feel in your head area.

  

Concussion Explained

A concussion could happen to both kids and adults alike. Should a sporting activity of a rough play lead to falling or bumping the head, you must watch out for symptoms to know if you are suffering from a concussion. The telling signs can include dizziness, tiredness, feeling off-balance, short-term forgetfulness, trouble in thinking, remembering, or concentrating, headaches, nausea that may lead to vomiting, moodiness, and changes in sleep patterns. These symptoms can either appear immediately or manifest after days from the initial trauma. Not all mentioned symptoms have to be present, too, for you to consider the presence of a concussion.

  

How Are Concussion and Vertigo Linked?

Anyone suffering from post-concussion syndrome with signs of vertigo can visit an Encinitas chiropractor. Research has shown that dizziness is common after a concussion. In addition, people who endured vehicular accidents or collisions or athletes who participate in contact sports can develop vertigo as a common complication of a concussion. 

A head or neck injury can cause the upper cervical bones to misalign, putting stress on the spinal cord and brainstem. This misalignment disrupts the flow of communication signals between your central nervous system and your body. If you are dealing with post-concussion syndrome, you may also experience continuing symptoms. These symptoms include vertigo episodes, headaches, fatigue, neck pain, anxiety, tinnitus, or ringing inside the inner ear.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

More Conditions Linked to Vertigo

Meniere's Disease

This rare inner ear condition affects roughly 615,000 people in the USA. Currently, there is about .2 percent of the population living with this disease. Meniere's disease affects a person's balance and brings out other symptoms, including spinning sensations, congestion in the ear, tinnitus, and neck pain. In addition, experts are looking at an abnormal fluid buildup inside the tubes found in the inner ear causing this condition.

Mal de Debarquement (MDD)

This condition translates to "sickness of disembarkment." This condition gives you the feeling of rocking or swaying while you're still. It's common for people who go on boat rides for long periods, and their brains still think they're on a boat even though they're back on land. Usually, this happens after a few minutes or hours and can even last for a couple of days, but with MDD, the feeling lingers longer.

This is one of the rarest and less understood vestibular system disorders. Apart from people traveling on a boat, individuals who frequently travel by plane, train, and automobile can also experience this condition. In addition, MDD may lead to central vertigo, which can bring uncomfortable symptoms.

Cervicogenic Dizziness

This condition is called cervical vertigo and usually occurs with neck pain and dizziness combined. Experts believe that these two health issues are linked to the disturbing sensory nerve fibers found along the neck. These affected nerve endings lead to miscommunication between the brain and the surrounding tissues, causing you to experience false motion. Like post-concussion syndrome, cervicogenic dizziness can stem from a spinal misalignment, specifically along the neck.

Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction

This condition usually results from defects or abnormalities in the eight cranial nerves or your vestibular organs or a combination of both. They play a significant role in recognizing your head's orientation or balance. But bilateral vestibular hypofunction causes a malfunction in these body parts. Apart from vertigo attacks, you may also experience being off-balanced, neck pain, depression and anxiety, and cognitive impairment.

Autoimmune Ear Disease (AIED)

A small percentage of Americans experience an autoimmune inner ear disorder. If you're one of them, you might notice a long list of health issues triggered by this condition. Some known issues include neck pain, balance issues, ear congestion, vertigo, and tinnitus or ringing in the ears. When your body starts attacking the cells of your inner ear, you will likely develop an autoimmune ear disease. Usually, your body mistakes these cells for bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens.

  

How an Encinitas Chiropractor Can Help

You may have noticed that some health conditions causing vertigo are also linked to a misalignment in the neck's bones. These misalignments need to be corrected to help manage vertigo and other symptoms. An Encinitas chiropractor can help correct the misalignments in your upper cervical spine to relieve your spine and brainstem.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic corrects and aligns your spine's top two bones in the neck. This specially designed technique focuses on your upper cervical spine only, which is essential to improve your overall health and minimize pain and discomfort in your body, including vertigo and other symptoms.

When your upper cervical spine shifts out of alignment, your brainstem gets irritated, which affects sending signals, including pain signals, between your brain and body. In addition, trauma and injury can easily affect the alignment of these bones, leading to a series of health concerns.

  

Visit K2 Health Center

Dr. Steven P.A. Keener is a trusted Encinitas chiropractor who can help you safely and gently correct the misalignments in your upper cervical spine. Once these misalignments are corrected, your body can utilize its ability to naturally heal to help with your vertigo and other symptoms linked to different health conditions.

To get started with your customized care regimen that best fits your needs, book your appointment by using this form or calling our office at 760-280-5460.

  

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Keener, call our Encinitas office at 760-456-9470. 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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We believe in the God-given intelligence that animates the living world.

We believe the body is a self-healing, self-regulating system -

when properly nourished, and when free from interference and toxins, the body’s default state is health.

We believe health is SIMPLE - maybe not all the time easy, but always simple.

Through integrity, education and chiropractic, we aim to help our patients build and maintain optimal health.
Dr. Steven Keener believes in the power that animates the living world, revering the body as an innately intelligent organism of health and wellness.

Through education and empowerment, Dr. K guides patients to embrace a belief system centered on principles of physiology, trusting in the cause and effect of natural law.

With an emphasis in cranio-cervical neurology, tailored care plans are expertly designed to optimize the body’s potential to thrive.
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