Navigating Dizziness: Understanding BPPV and Neck-Related Vertigo in Baldwin WI

Dizziness and vertigo are unsettling sensations that affect millions of people each year, and they are among the leading reasons seniors seek medical care. If you're experiencing these symptoms, you're not alone. At our chiropractic clinic in Baldwin WI, we understand how disruptive dizziness can be to your daily life. The key to relief often lies in an accurate diagnosis, as various conditions can cause these sensations. This page focuses on two common causes we frequently address: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and Cervicogenic Dizziness (dizziness originating from the neck).

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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): When Head Movements Trigger Dizziness in Baldwin WI

BPPV is the most common cause of true vertigo, the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning.

• What is BPPV? It's characterized by brief but intense episodes of dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and sometimes involuntary eye movements (nystagmus). These episodes are specifically triggered by changes in head position, like rolling over in bed, looking up, or bending down.
• How Common is It? Over 7% of the population may experience BPPV in their lifetime. A signicant majority (around 80%) of those aected will seek medical consultation or even require time o work.
• What Happens in BPPV? To understand BPPV, it helps to know a little about your inner ear. Your inner ear contains tiny calcium carbonate particles (sometimes called "crystals" or medically, statoconia). In BPPV, these crystals can become dislodged from their usual location (the utricle) and migrate into one of the fluid-filled semicircular canals, structures that sense head motion. When you
  move your head in certain ways, these loose crystals move within the canal, sending misleading signals to your brain that conflict with what your eyes and
  body are sensing, resulting in vertigo. The posterior semicircular canal is most commonly affected.
• What Triggers BPPV or Increases Risk?
  • Many cases are "idiopathic," meaning the cause is unknown.
  • It commonly appears in the fourth and fifth decades of life, with incidence increasing with age. It's quite prevalent in seniors, though they may not always report dizziness.
  • It's slightly more common in females.
  • The right ear is affected more often, and there's a correlation between the habitual side you sleep on and the affected ear.
  • Risk factors include a sedentary lifestyle, head trauma, prior inner ear conditions (like vestibular neuritis or Meniere's disease), osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and vitamin D deficiency.
  • Individuals with migraines may experience more severe BPPV symptoms.
• Outlook: The good news is that BPPV is often effectively treated with specific, non-invasive head maneuvers called canalith repositioning procedures (like the Epley maneuver), which help guide the crystals out of the semicircular canal. However, BPPV can sometimes recur.

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Cervicogenic Dizziness: When Your Neck is the Source

Sometimes, dizziness or a sense of imbalance doesn't come from the inner ear, but from issues within your cervical spine (your neck). This is known as Cervicogenic Dizziness.

• What is Cervicogenic Dizziness? It's a clinical syndrome characterized by dizziness, unsteadiness, or light-headedness that arises from abnormal nerve signals originating from the joints, muscles, and ligaments of your neck.
• Your Neck's Crucial Role in Balance: Your cervical spine, particularly the upper joints (C0-C3), is densely packed with specialized nerve endings called proprioceptors. These receptors constantly send information to your brain about the position and movement of your head in relation to your body. This information is vital for maintaining balance and spatial orientation, working in concert with input from your inner ears (vestibular system) and your eyes (visual system). As leading physiologist Guyton noted, “the cervical spine is arguably the most essential contributor to equilibrium”.
• What Causes It? The most accepted theory involves a "sensory mismatch." If there's dysfunction in your neck, due to issues like:
• Joint restrictions or misalignments
  • Muscle tension or spasm (especially in the suboccipital muscles at the base of your skull)
  • Inammation
  • Degenerative changes (arthritis)
  • Trauma (like whiplash – dizziness is a common symptom after such injuries, sometimes appearing days or months later. The abnormal signals from these neck structures can conflict with the information your brain receives from your eyes and inner ears. This sensory conflict can "confuse" your brain, leading to a sensation of dizziness or unsteadiness. Patients with cervicogenic vertigo often exhibit muscle tightness, limited upper neck movement, and errors in judging their head position. More recent research into the "Trigeminal Cervical Complex" (TCC) also helps explain how interconnected nerve pathways between the upper neck, the trigeminal nerve (a major facial nerve), and other cranial nerves can lead to symptoms like dizziness, headache, and even jaw pain when neck issues are present.
• Common Associations: Besides dizziness, you might also experience neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion in your neck. Stress and anxiety can also be compounding factors, potentially by increasing muscle tension.

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The Forge Chiropractic Approach: Pinpointing the Cause of Your Dizziness

Because the symptoms of BPPV, cervicogenic dizziness, and other conditions can overlap, a thorough evaluation by a knowledgeable healthcare provider is essential. At
The Forge Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to diagnose and manage your dizziness:

1. Detailed History: We'll listen carefully to your story, asking about the nature of your dizziness (spinning, lightheadedness, unsteadiness), what triggers it, how long episodes last, any associated symptoms like neck pain or headaches, your medical history, lifestyle, and any past injuries.
2. Comprehensive Examination: This will include:
   • Specific tests for BPPV: Such as the Dix-Hallpike test to observe for nystagmus and reproduce vertigo with specic head movements.
   • Cervical Spine Evaluation: We'll assess your neck's range of motion, look for joint restrictions, examine muscle tone and tenderness, and evaluate posture.
     We may utilize objective measures, potentially including Jtech functional assessment tools for range of motion or muscle function, if indicated for your specific case.
     Neurological and Balance Assessments: To check coordination, reflexes, and overall balance control.
3. Whole-Person Healthcare: We embrace a whole-person approach, considering how your overall musculoskeletal health, lifestyle, and any underlying conditions might be contributing to your dizziness.
4. Targeted Management Plan:
   • If BPPV is diagnosed, we can often provide immediate relief through appropriate Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers performed in the office.
   • If Cervicogenic Dizziness is identified, our care will focus on restoring proper function to your cervical spine through gentle chiropractic adjustments, tissue therapies, and specific rehabilitative exercises designed to improve joint mobility, reduce muscle tension, and enhance proprioception.
   • If your symptoms suggest another underlying cause, we will guide you with an appropriate referral.

Our goal at The Forge Chiropractic is to accurately identify the source of your dizziness and provide eective, personalized care to help you regain your balance and quality of life. Don't let dizziness control you – we're here in our community to help.