Most people think vertigo is always an “inner ear” problem. While that’s true for some cases (like BPPV), a huge number of patients we see at Kissimmee Family Wellness Center are actually suffering from cervicogenic vertigo — dizziness caused by problems in the neck.
What is Cervicogenic Vertigo?
Your upper neck (C1-C3) is packed with tiny sensors that tell your brain where your head is in space. When those joints get stuck or the surrounding muscles (especially the sternocleidomastoid — SCM — in the front of the neck) become tight and inflamed, the brain gets confusing signals. The result? Dizziness, spinning, light-headedness, imbalance — even nausea — that can last seconds to hours.
Common triggers:
- Whiplash or old car-accident injuries
- Forward-head posture from phones and computers
- Stress-related muscle tension
- Arthritis or disc problems in the upper neck
How We Fix It (and Why It Works So Well)
We don’t guess. We test. A quick 5-minute exam in our office tells us if your vertigo is coming from your neck. If it is, treatment is gentle, fast, and incredibly effective:
- Precise cervical adjustments — restoring motion to the stuck joints so the brain gets accurate signals again.
- Targeted myotherapy on the SCM and suboccipital muscles — releasing the tight “trigger bands” that pull on the dizziness sensors.
- Home exercises — simple stretches and posture fixes to keep it from coming back.
Real Patient Results (Just the Last Couple of Weeks)
- 34-year-old female — vertigo for 2 years after a roller coaster ride. Episodes were frequent, intense, and long-lasting. She also had constant neck and upper back pain. After just 3 treatments she reports far fewer episodes, much milder intensity, and they resolve quickly. Her neck and upper back pain has significantly reduced as well.
- 73-year-old female — sudden vertigo episodes for the past 3 weeks (with intermittent episodes over several years). Symptoms hit upon waking and often triggered headaches and migraines. After 4 visits over 2 weeks → completely symptom-free. No more dizziness, no more headaches.
These aren’t rare cases — we see this every week.
Think Your Dizziness Could Be Coming from Your Neck?
If you get dizzy when:
- Turning your head quickly
- Looking up or down
- First getting out of bed
- After an old injury or roller coaster ride
…it might not be your ears at all.
We offer same-week and emergency same-day appointments for vertigo sufferers because we know how miserable it is.
Text “APPT” to (407) 847-4101 and we’ll get you in fast.
You don’t have to live with the room spinning. Most of the time, the fix is right under your chin.
— Dr. Bryon Moore, D.C. Kissimmee Family Wellness Center
