Who can Help with Upper Cervical Dizziness
Upper cervical care is a specialty area of clinical focus within both physical therapy and chiropractic care.
Many general physical therapists and general chiropractors cannot adequately adjust the C1 atlas bone or C2 axis bone, which are at the top of the neck.
The adjustment is really tricky due to the delicate structures of the head, neck, blood vessels, and brainstem that are so closely intertwined in the upper cervical area.
For example, I assess for upper cervical dizziness during my history taking phone calls and initial exams.
I provide analysis and educate my patients as to how a problem in their upper cervical area may be contributing to their dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance.
However, I would not attempt to treat this problem since it requires specialized orthopedic manual therapy skills for upper cervical care.
I refer to a highly skilled orthopedic manual physical therapist to help with upper cervical dizziness.
For my patients who prefer chiropractic care, I have a few favorite local chiropractors I trust as well to help with upper cervical dizziness.
Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapists with orthopedic manual therapy training in the head, neck, and jaw may be able to help.
You may need manual therapy adjustments to help with upper cervical dizziness.
The physical therapist may also teach you exercises for stretching and strengthening of your muscles to help with upper cervical dizziness.
You may need postural retraining if you have forward rounded posture or another posture problem.
The physical therapist may be able to determine if another orthopedic problem somewhere else in your body is causing the upper cervical issues.
For example, having one leg longer than the other or scoliosis can cause recurring upper cervical alignment problems.
For more on the potential root causes of upper cervical dizziness, click here.
Chiropractic Care Can Help with Upper Cervical Dizziness
Chiropractors who have upper cervical specialty training may be able to help with upper cervical dizziness.
For my patients who prefer chiropractors over physical therapists for spinal care, I refer to a select few local upper cervical chiropractors who are trained in one of the following methods:
- NUCCA
- Blair technique
Remember that the chiropractor must have special training in upper cervical care.
TMJ Specialist May be Needed Too
TMJ issues may also be related to upper cervical issues, so you may need to see a TMJ specialist if you have jaw problems too.
You might need orthodontic care or a night splint to help with jaw problems that are contributing to upper cervical dizziness.
How Do I Know When I Need Upper Cervical Care?
I know when my C1 bone goes out of alignment because I start getting lightheaded, with recurring headaches, neck tension, and jaw pain. I may also experience brief dizzy spells that are more intense and tinnitus.
After my C1 is treated by a manual physical therapist, the baseline lightheadedness is resolved, the headaches are fewer and less severe, and the tension in my neck and jaw pain is gone. The dizzy spells and tinnitus typically improve also.
Keep in mind that upper cervical dizziness may have a deeper root cause that needs to be addressed for the best recovery.
Upper cervical dizziness can also co-occur with BPPV and other root causes of dizziness and may be exacerbated with vestibular rehab.
For more information about neck and dizziness, click here and here.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
Do you know anyone in Austin Texas who could treat upper cervical vertigo. It sounds exactly what I have. Like exactly and I’ve had my eyes tested, brain Marie , seen multiple ents None has ever pinpointed the symptoms like this.
Hi Arlene,
I don’t know personally anyone in Austin that treats upper cervical vertigo.
You could look up the following training programs for professionals to find their lists of trained providers in your area:
Institute of Physical Art (IPA)
Blair chiropractic technique
NUCCA
Currently in bed with dizziness. I was dx with BPPV in 1995 and have had it on and off since then. I had full balance testing at ENT as well in late ‘90,s. When I say I’m having vertigo, I differentiate two types.
One is if I roll over in bed and the room spins – the other is like I’m on a ship on the high seas. In 2010 started having anxiety and panic attacks over dizziness. I haven’t slept on my left side in years. I live in a prevent defense, status quo world.
In October during a trip to WY I awoke off balance and stumbled like a drunk to the bathroom. Saw a doc at urgent care that said my ears were full.
Upon returning home , I already had an ENT appointment for help with constant drainage not related to any allergy. Dr Alexander wasn’t buying the ears full. He tested my hearing which hasn’t changed in 10 years. Slight loss at higher tones in one ear. He then checked for vertigo and bingo – positive for right ear he thinks high altitude and possibly horse back riding triggered it. He reviewed an MRI from 2019 and saw nothing of concern.
Two weeks later standing at the counter I had a huge dizzy spell and crawled to bed. Saw ENT again and he tested my hearing again (no change) and checked for vertigo which revealed it was now left ear. Explained he couldn’t then test right as it would reverse the treatment for the vertigo he had just done. Then referred me to PT for vestibular rehab. PT so kind and went slow. I get so anxious about eppleys.
Who signs up for that??
Anyways – he thinks I do have some cervical dizziness (as does my chiropractor) and gave me strengthening exercises to do. I was “off” for awhile. Couldn’t really lean over. PT also tested me one visit for positional vertigo and I was still positive in one ear.
In February it resolved (another story for another time) This morning I awoke with the “ship on high seas” again. Chin tilt made it worse.
I have had tinnitus in left ear for years. General sense of lightheadedness – always (worse with anxiety – but which causes which – who knows). Anyways. I was in San Diego in February for a conference and had I known about you I would have extended my stay just to get evaluated. Grasping here and need my life back.
Recently diagnosed with 3PD, after 6-11 years of other diagnoses.
30% vestibular damage seems to not matter except to me.
PT sure helped with range of motion, VOR has helped some after a year.
3pd says take a break from it.
The problem is I think it is and has been multiple things.
I started taking Theanine to try it and found my 6-year headache and Tylenol habit left.
It has been a week so far.
I do think the underlying anxiousness has been a factor.
Guided exposure, relaxation breathing, and self-compassion for a change are helping.
The clinical way they put this across at a hospital can worsen everything though.
So glad to have your involvement and experience.