Vertigo

Medically reviewed by Dr. Malik Prihar, DC  |  Last updated April 27, 2026

Vertigo Treatment in Marysville & Monroe

Vertigo is the sensation that you or the room is spinning, tilting, or moving when nothing actually is. It's different from lightheadedness or feeling faint — vertigo has a directional, motion-based quality that's unmistakable once you've felt it. There are several different causes, and getting the right care depends on identifying which one is driving your symptoms. Some cases are best treated with positional maneuvers, others with neck-focused chiropractic care, and a small number need urgent medical workup.

At Living Well Clinics in Marysville and our Monroe office, our role is to evaluate vertigo from a musculoskeletal and benign-positional standpoint, treat the cases that fit, and refer out promptly when the picture suggests something we shouldn't manage.

What Vertigo Actually Feels Like

Patients describe vertigo in several distinct patterns:

• A spinning sensation triggered by rolling over in bed, looking up, or bending over (classic BPPV pattern)
• Brief episodes lasting seconds to a minute, then easing once the head is still
• Dizziness or imbalance that comes on with neck movement or after sustained neck postures (cervicogenic pattern)
• A floating, off-balance feeling that's hard to describe — like walking on a boat
• Nausea or vomiting accompanying the spinning
• Visual disturbances — the room jumping or eyes "catching"
• Symptoms that are worse with certain head positions and better with others
• Vertigo that follows a recent neck injury, whiplash, or auto accident

The trigger pattern matters. True positional vertigo (BPPV) fires with specific head positions and resolves quickly when still. Cervicogenic dizziness is more diffuse, links to neck stiffness, and often improves when neck mechanics improve. Constant spinning without any positional component, severe vertigo with hearing changes, or vertigo with neurological symptoms is a different category that needs medical workup.

Common Causes

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) — small calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and trigger spinning with specific head movements; the most common cause of true vertigo
• Cervicogenic dizziness — dizziness or imbalance driven by the upper cervical spine, especially after whiplash, prolonged forward-head posture, or chronic neck tension
• Post-concussion vertigo — vestibular dysfunction following a head injury, often layered with cervical involvement
• Vestibular migraine — vertigo as a migraine symptom, with or without headache
• Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis — inner ear inflammation, usually viral, causing prolonged spinning and imbalance
• Meniere's disease — episodic vertigo with hearing loss, ringing, and ear fullness
• Medication side effects, dehydration, or low blood pressure (often presenting as lightheadedness rather than true vertigo)

When Chiropractic Is the Right Fit — and When to Go Elsewhere

Chiropractic care is appropriate for two main vertigo patterns: BPPV (treated with positional repositioning maneuvers like the Epley) and cervicogenic dizziness (addressed with cervical spine mobility, soft tissue work, and rehabilitation). It's also helpful as part of multi-disciplinary care for post-concussion vertigo and post-whiplash dizziness.

Some vertigo presentations are medical emergencies or require ENT/neurology workup. Get evaluated promptly — and seek emergency care immediately — if you have:

• Sudden severe vertigo with new headache, slurred speech, facial weakness, or difficulty walking (possible stroke — call 911)
• New double vision, numbness, or weakness on one side of the body
• Vertigo with new hearing loss or ringing in one ear (possible vestibular neuritis or Meniere's)
• Constant severe spinning lasting more than a day without positional pattern
• Vertigo following a significant head injury
• Recurrent fainting or loss of consciousness

If your exam suggests any of these, we'll refer you out — sometimes urgently. Honest scope of care is the most important part of treating vertigo.

How We Evaluate and Treat Vertigo at Living Well Clinics

The exam starts with a careful history because the trigger pattern often tells us what we're dealing with before we touch a thing. From there we typically perform Dix-Hallpike testing to identify BPPV (and which canal), a head impulse test, gaze stabilization screens, and a thorough cervical exam looking at upper cervical mobility, joint tenderness, and muscle tension patterns. We also check for postural and shoulder-girdle factors that frequently feed cervicogenic dizziness.

If the picture suggests an old neck injury or significant cervical degeneration is contributing, in-house digital X-ray at our Marysville office is available the same day.

Treatment is built around what we find. That usually means a combination of:

• Canalith repositioning maneuvers (Epley, Semont) for confirmed BPPV — often dramatically effective, sometimes in a single visit
• Chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine and upper thoracic spine for cervicogenic patterns
• Soft tissue work for the suboccipitals, upper trap, and SCM muscles that often hold tension in dizzy patients
• Targeted rehabilitation for deep neck flexor strength and postural endurance
• Mobility work for the upper back and shoulder girdle
• Vestibular and gaze stabilization exercises when indicated
• Coordination with your primary care provider, ENT, or neurologist when the picture calls for it

If you're new to chiropractic care, our how chiropractic works page walks through what adjustments do and don't address.

What Recovery Typically Looks Like

BPPV often responds dramatically to a properly performed Epley or Semont maneuver — many patients have significant relief within 1–3 visits. Cervicogenic dizziness is more variable, typically improving over 4–8 weeks with combined chiropractic care and rehabilitation. Post-concussion and post-whiplash vertigo are longer arcs and often require coordinated care with vestibular therapy and medical providers. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends canalith repositioning as a first-line treatment for BPPV, and current evidence supports manual therapy and exercise for cervicogenic dizziness.

Self-Care Between Visits

• If you've had BPPV repositioning, follow your post-maneuver instructions exactly — most patients do best avoiding tipping the head far back or sleeping flat for 24 hours
• Get up slowly from bed or chairs; sudden position changes commonly trigger lingering symptoms
• Hydrate well — dehydration makes nearly every kind of dizziness worse
• Limit caffeine, alcohol, and high-salt foods if you have Meniere's or vestibular migraine
• Watch your screen and desk setup — sustained forward-head posture is a classic cervicogenic dizziness driver
• Don't avoid all motion — gentle, gradual exposure to head movement helps the vestibular system recalibrate

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a chiropractor really treat vertigo?

For BPPV and cervicogenic dizziness — yes, often very effectively. For inner ear infections, Meniere's, or central neurological causes — no, those need medical workup. Part of our job is identifying which category you're in before treating.

What's the difference between vertigo and dizziness?

Vertigo is the false sensation of motion — spinning, tilting, or rocking. Dizziness is broader and includes lightheadedness, feeling faint, or a vague sense of imbalance. They have different causes and often different treatments. The exam helps clarify which you're experiencing.

Is the Epley maneuver safe?

For uncomplicated BPPV, yes, and it's one of the most effective treatments in clinical care. We screen for the contraindications (significant cervical instability, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, recent neck surgery) before performing it.

Can whiplash cause vertigo?

Yes. Vertigo and dizziness are common after whiplash and motor vehicle collisions. Both the upper cervical spine and the vestibular system can be affected, and the two often need to be addressed together. See our whiplash and auto accident pages for more.

Will an X-ray help diagnose vertigo?

Not directly — vertigo is diagnosed clinically, not on imaging. X-ray can rule out cervical degeneration or instability that might be contributing to a cervicogenic component, but it doesn't show inner ear or vestibular causes. MRI or specialized vestibular testing is sometimes needed for those.

How quickly will I feel better?

BPPV often improves dramatically after one repositioning maneuver. Cervicogenic dizziness usually shows meaningful improvement in 2–4 visits. We'll set realistic expectations at your first visit based on what we find, not generic promises.

Vertigo Treatment in Monroe & Marysville

Living Well Clinics treats vertigo and cervicogenic dizziness at both our Marysville and Monroe offices. Same-day digital X-ray is available in Marysville when imaging of the cervical spine is indicated.

Related Conditions

Vertigo often shows up alongside neck pain, headaches and migraines, whiplash, auto accident injuries, postural strain, and cervical pinched nerves. Treating the whole picture often resolves the dizziness more reliably than focusing on one piece.

Schedule a Vertigo Evaluation

Both clinics are open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Call (360) 805-8252 to schedule, or learn more on our new patients page. Visit our Marysville or Monroe location page for directions and clinic details.

This page is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Seek emergency care immediately for sudden severe vertigo with new headache, slurred speech, facial weakness, vision changes, numbness or weakness on one side, or difficulty walking — these can be signs of stroke. Vertigo with new hearing loss, vertigo following a head injury, or constant severe spinning lasting more than a day requires prompt medical evaluation. See our full healthcare disclaimer.