Vertigo Can Be Caused By Ear Inflammation

If you've ever experienced vertigo, you know how terrible it can be. It's not life-threatening, but few experiences will leave you so exhausted, confused, and feeling sick. 

The truth is, vertigo is a fairly common problem. There are a few different conditions that may cause bouts of vertigo, the most common one being inflammation-induced vertigo. 

Signs and Symptoms of Vertigo

Vertigo will make you feel extremely dizzy and disoriented. Unlike a dizzy spell, where you feel like you're spinning, vertigo will make you feel like the whole room you're in is spinning. It makes you feel as though the ground beneath your feet isn't stable, as though the world is spinning out of control. 

During a vertigo experience, you can easily lose your balance. It's best to sit or lie down so you don't fall. The spinning and feeling of out-of-control motion may make you nauseous or you may throw up. You may experience a headache, a ringing in the ear, and extreme fatigue from a vertigo episode. 

How Inner Ear Inflammation Leads to Vertigo

The inner ear is comprised of many fine tubes. It's where your body's natural motion sensor is located. It controls your balance and helps you understand how you are oriented in relation to your environment. 

When there is inflammation around the tubes or a build-up of fluid in the tubes of the inner ear, it can throw off the body's ability to keep balanced and oriented. Inflammation can come from an ear infection, sinus problems, or a misalignment of the spine. 

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

The neck area is a vulnerable part of the body prone to injury. The uppermost part of the spine sits below the base of the skull and runs through the neck, close to the tubes in the inner ear. If the vertebrae in the upper cervical spine are misaligned it can cause inflammation, swelling, and blockages in the tubes. 

Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas can help with misalignments that may be leading to chronic vertigo. Adjusting the spine will help reduce inflammation, relieve swelling, and unblock passages. 

Dr. Elder practices the Blair Chiropractic technique, a safe, non-invasive, drug-free treatment for vertigo and inner ear blockages. And, Dr. Elder's treatments begin with advanced diagnostic 3D screening tools to pinpoint the source of the trouble. The next phase of his treatment involves realignment of the spine using specialized, gentle methods. Since the diagnostic tools allow Dr. Elder to approach the spine with more precision, he is able to use a gentle touch to make adjustments. Beyond that, Dr. Elder recommends ongoing preventative treatment. 

Vertigo can be debilitating and really interfere with your life. Contact Dr. Elder today to see how he can help you. His areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.

Can Neck Issues Cause Ear Problems?

What are Ear Problems?

As a general term, an ear problem refers to any condition affecting the ear or the inner ear. Some common ear problems include earaches, tinnitus, or outright hearing loss. Ear problems are often painful and difficult to treat given the number of potential causes. One such cause of ear problems is a vertebral misalignment in the upper cervical spine.

Signs and Symptoms of Ear Problems

The signs and symptoms of an ear problem will ultimately depend on the cause of the condition. That being said, there are some symptoms that are commonly experienced across many different types of ear problems. Some of these symptoms include vertigo, a feeling of fullness in the ear, coordination issues, frequent headaches, nausea, and feeling off-balance. 

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Ear Problems

While it’s not immediately obvious, the ear and the upper cervical spine are closely linked, with misalignments in the upper cervical spine often having a direct impact on inner ear function.

The upper cervical spine encompasses a vast network of musculature and nerves. When the vertebrae in the upper cervical spine are out of alignment, the vertebrae can compress the nerves and muscles in the immediate area. If the musculature around the eustachian tube remains compressed, it can begin to flex irregularly, causing inflammation and irritation within the inner ear, upper throat, and nose. Over time, the local inflammation can cause a build-up or blockage of fluid in the eustachian tubes of the inner ear, often resulting in painful swelling, infections, and other ear problems. 

How Our Treatment Works for Ear Problems 

Dr. Gordon Elder, our resident ear problems expert, is a specialist in using the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique. The Blair technique focuses on re-engaging the body’s natural healing mechanisms and restoring the upper cervical spine to its natural alignment.  

Dr. Elder takes a multi-step approach when investigating a patient’s ear problem.

Firstly, patients will attend a 25–30-minute consultation to give Dr. Elder the chance to gather information about the patient’s medical history. Dr. Elder will also determine whether a misalignment is present in the upper cervical spine and whether it could be contributing to a patient’s ear problems. The diagnostic process will typically include the use of advanced 3-D imaging techniques to narrow down the exact location of any misalignments.

Following your first consultation, Dr. Elder will propose a comprehensive treatment plan and will give you time to ask any questions you may have about your treatment. During your first treatment, Dr. Elder will use a range of gentle and precise corrections to push the vertebrae back into alignment, employing low-force, Blair-approved manipulation techniques. By restoring the upper cervical spine, the impacted muscles and nerves will begin to relax, easing flexion and inflammation in the inner ear and eustachian tubes. 

To ensure that your adjustment is holding, most of Dr. Elder’s patients return for regular check-ups (for at least 3-5 months). To achieve long-lasting/permanent results, we recommend between 10 and 15 appointments with Dr. Elder.  

If you’re suffering from ongoing ear problems, get in touch today to speak with Dr. Gordon Elder about the health of your upper cervical spine. Located in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Elder also services Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.