Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo vs. Meniere’s Disease

As a vertigo chiropractor in Kissimmee, Dr. William Scott Pancake, has met countless patients struggling with spinning sensations. Notably, most of the cases he has handled attribute their symptoms to either Meniere’s disease or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Do you also suspect having BPPV or Meniere’s? Are you having trouble distinguishing the two vestibular conditions? If you are unsure which of disorder you might have, we suggest going through our comparative guide.

BPPV and Meniere’s: Two Usual Causes of Vertigo

A significant number of people who have vertigo get diagnosed with either BPPV or Meniere’s. Notably, both health complaints develop from a vestibular system defect. The only difference is one of them stems from dislodged calcium crystals while the other primarily develops due to excessive fluid buildup inside one of the inner ears. Let’s take a closer look at their similarities and differences. 

Differences of BPPV and Meniere’s

• Meniere’s often come hand in hand with hearing problems, while BPPV only affects balance and cause abnormal eye jerking (nystagmus). 
• BPPV symptoms worsen when you tilt your head or make sudden movements, while Meniere’s disease flareups usually manifest because of stress, barometric changes, and food or diet adjustments. 

Similarities of BPPV and Meniere’s 

• They cause spinning sensations that can disrupt your plans and prevent you from performing crucial tasks. 
• They can increase your risks for accidents like slipping, falling, and tripping. 
• Both can develop after a traumatic injury (whiplash, concussion, head trauma, etc.)
• You can potentially manage the symptoms of BPPV and Meniere’s with the help of a vertigo chiropractor in Kissimmee.

Diagnosis Process for Meniere’s and BPPV

Verifying whether your vertigo stems from BPPV or Meniere’s can sometimes come with challenges because of their striking resemblance. In most cases, suspecting patients undergo a series of tests to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Some examples of these procedures include: 

• Checking medical history
• Dix-Hallpike maneuver (a unique exercise designed to check for BPPV symptoms)
• Hearing tests
• MRI or CT scan (These tests are only necessary for cases that may indicate severe underlying health problems such as brain tumor and brainstem ischemia.)
• Electronystagmogram (a test to check for unusual eye movements)

The sooner you can undergo these tests, the faster you can pinpoint what may be triggering your spinning sensations. Timely diagnosis will also help you determine if you need to take medications, schedule an appointment with a doctor or vertigo chiropractor in Kissimmee, or consider undergoing ear surgery.

Other Potential Triggers Of Spinning Sensations

Besides Meniere’s and BPPV, spinning sensations and loss of balance can result from other vestibular or even neurological conditions. Knowing these can help you determine how you should move forward and what specific remedies or procedures to consider when seeking vertigo relief. Here’s a brief list of every possible cause of a spinning sensation: 

• Strokes
• Tumors
• Multiple sclerosis
• Vestibular migraines
• Medication abuse 
• Inner ear infection (labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis)
• Postural imbalances (cervical subluxation)

It would also help to check and monitor your blood pressure. Studies note that cardiovascular problems can contribute to the onset of balance problems because they can impede oxygen and nutrient circulation in the brain.

Postural Problems and Vertigo

As mentioned above, postural imbalances like cervical subluxation can sometimes pave the way for the onset of various vestibular disorders. Notably, such issues develop because the displaced neck bones can press or strain the brainstem and neck muscles. 

Studies explain that the brainstem regulates several physiological functions, including the sense of balance, muscle coordination, and natural reflexes. On the one hand, the neck muscles support the head and play a critical role in proprioception (the body’s ability to detect movements and location changes). 

Postural abnormalities in the cervical spine can also affect the blood supply to the head and cerebrospinal drainage – leaving you more and more susceptible to vertigo-causing problems like BPPV and Meniere’s. 

Luckily, upper cervical chiropractic shows immense potential in correcting postural imbalances. Through carefully calculated neck bone adjustments, a vertigo chiropractor in Kissimmee can ease the C1 and C2 vertebrae to go back in place. This helps cancel out the effects of cervical subluxation and allows affected tissues like the neck muscles, brainstem, and nerve roots to function normally once more.

Connect with the Leading Vertigo Chiropractor in Kissimmee

Indeed a visit to a vertigo chiropractor in Kissimmee like Dr. William Scott Pancake can provide a chance to be free from spinning sensations. Hence, if you think you have BPPV, Meniere’s disease, or other vertigo-causing problems, you might find it helpful to seek our chiropractor and determine if you have a comprised cervical spine curvature. 

The initial consultation with our upper cervical chiropractic doctor will also help you check for unlevelled shoulders, problematic gait, and even neck stiffness that doesn’t seem to go away. 

Several case studies have illuminated the mechanisms of upper cervical care, especially in providing vertigo relief. We suggest checking these references if you want to understand how the technique works. Alternatively, we recommend booking your first appointment with Dr. William Scott Pancake. 

He can walk you through the process so you know what to expect and what other alternative remedies you can use in conjunction with chiropractic neck bone adjustments. Dr. William Scott Pancake is a board-certified upper cervical doctor specializing in the Atlas Orthogonal technique. He is committed to making a difference and helping patients like you unlock lasting and sustainable vertigo relief. 

Kindly call us at 407-258-2860 to request your consultation session. You may also drop us a line through our web form or head straight to Pancake Wellness Center.

To schedule a complimentary consultation, call our Kissimmee office at 407-846-9355, or you can also click one of the buttons below.

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If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.