Vertigo and Dizziness Care in Steele Creek, Charlotte, NC
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is the sensation that you or the room around you is spinning or moving when it is not. It is a symptom rather than a condition of its own, and it has many possible causes, most of them involving the inner ear or the brain. Dizziness can also start in the neck. When neck joints and muscles are injured or not moving well, the signals they send about head position can conflict with what your eyes and inner ear report. This is known as cervicogenic, or neck-related, dizziness.
At Urgent Chiropractic of Steele Creek, we first look for signs that your dizziness needs medical attention elsewhere. When the evidence points to the neck, we assess how your neck moves and which positions bring your symptoms on, so we can build a personalized plan focused on comfort, mobility, and function.
Common Symptoms of Vertigo and Dizziness
Symptoms vary with the cause. When dizziness is linked to the neck, common symptoms may include:
- A spinning, swaying, or off-balance feeling
- Lightheadedness or unsteadiness when turning your head
- Dizziness that comes with neck pain or stiffness
- Symptoms that follow a whiplash injury or neck strain
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Reduced range of motion in the neck
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally foggy
- Nausea during episodes
Sudden dizziness with a severe headache, chest pain, double vision, slurred speech, facial drooping, or weakness or numbness on one side of the body needs emergency care. Call 911.
What Causes Vertigo and Dizziness?
Dizziness has many possible sources, and several of them are outside the scope of chiropractic care. Common causes may include:
- Inner ear conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Inner ear inflammation, often after a viral infection
- Ménière’s disease
- Neck injuries such as whiplash
- Neck joint stiffness, muscle tension, or poor posture
- Migraine
- Blood pressure changes, dehydration, or medication side effects
- Less commonly, conditions affecting the brain or circulation
Because the causes range from minor to serious, finding the source comes first.
How Is Vertigo Evaluated?
Evaluation typically begins with a detailed history: what the dizziness feels like, when it started, how long episodes last, what triggers them, and whether you have had a recent neck injury, illness, or medication change. Your provider may assess neck motion, posture, muscle tension, balance, and eye movements, and screen for warning signs that point away from the neck.
Neck-related dizziness is identified by ruling out other causes. If your history or examination suggests an inner ear, neurological, or circulatory cause, we will refer you to your primary care physician or an appropriate specialist before any neck-focused care.
Non-Surgical Care for Neck-Related Dizziness
When your evaluation points to the neck, our approach focuses on restoring comfortable neck movement, easing muscle tension, and improving the balance and position sense that the neck contributes to. Care is built around your examination findings and your recovery goals, and we monitor how your dizziness responds.
For many of these patients that includes gentle chiropractic care and soft tissue work for the neck and upper back. If your symptoms change or new warning signs appear, we will refer you for medical evaluation.
- Gentle chiropractic care when appropriate
- Soft tissue therapies for the neck and shoulders
- Neck mobility and stabilization exercises
- Balance and head-eye coordination exercises
- Posture and ergonomic guidance
- Coordination with your physician when needed
- Non-surgical treatment based on your evaluation
