Have you ever been caught off guard by a sudden wave of dizziness, making it feel like the room is spinning around you? Are you wondering how long these disorienting episodes will last and if there’s a way to stop them? For many in San Antonio, vertigo can make daily life unpredictable and challenging. Whether you’re struggling to keep your balance at work or avoid certain activities for fear of triggering a dizzy spell, finding answers and relief is essential.

Dr. Greg Dutson at Thrive Head and Spinal Care in San Antonio offers a solution that goes beyond managing symptoms. Using gentle and precise Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care, he addresses the root cause of vertigo, helping patients regain control of their balance and reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.

Let’s explore what determines how long vertigo lasts, the common causes behind it, and how seeking help from a chiropractor for vertigo in Escondido could make a difference in your journey to stability.

Key Insights: Duration of Vertigo and How a Vertigo Chiropractor in San Antonio Can Help

• Why Does Vertigo Last So Long? Uncover the hidden factors, like BPPV or Meniere’s disease, that influence how long vertigo episodes stick around and what could be keeping you dizzy.
• Your Neck Could Be the Missing Link: Did you know misalignments in your upper cervical spine might be at the root of your vertigo? Discover how these subtle shifts impact your balance and extend vertigo episodes.
• Find Real, Lasting Relief: Stop masking symptoms and start addressing the root cause. Dr. Greg Dutson at Thrive Head and Spinal Care in San Antonio offers a natural, drug-free solution with Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care that can help you break free from recurring vertigo.

What Determines How Long Vertigo Lasts?

The duration of vertigo can feel unpredictable and often varies depending on the underlying cause. For some, vertigo might appear as brief, passing spells that last only a few seconds, while others may struggle with ongoing dizziness for hours, days, or even longer. Understanding the source of your vertigo is key to knowing how long it might linger and how to best address it.

Let’s take a closer look at the most common causes of vertigo, how they affect its duration, and what you might expect if you’re dealing with them:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV):
BPPV arises when tiny crystals in your inner ear become dislodged and disrupt your balance. It’s a leading cause of vertigo and is usually triggered by specific head movements, like turning over in bed or tilting your head. Episodes of BPPV are typically short, lasting less than a minute, but they can be persistent, recurring over weeks or months until treated. BPPV can make everyday activities feel uncertain, as a sudden wave of dizziness can strike without warning.

Meniere’s Disease:
Meniere’s disease is characterized by intense, prolonged vertigo episodes lasting from 20 minutes to several hours. These dizzy spells are often accompanied by hearing loss, ear ringing, and a feeling of fullness in one ear. What makes Meniere’s particularly challenging is its unpredictable nature—symptoms can go into remission for weeks or months, only to return unexpectedly. Managing Meniere’s often involves addressing how fluid is regulated within the inner ear and finding ways to support overall balance.

Vestibular Neuritis
Typically caused by a viral infection, vestibular neuritis leads to inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain. This inflammation can trigger severe vertigo, making it difficult to walk or even sit up straight. The most intense phase of vestibular neuritis usually lasts a few days, but residual dizziness and imbalance may linger as the inflammation subsides and the body gradually compensates. Recovery can take a few weeks, depending on how well the nervous system rebounds from the initial damage.

Cervicogenic Vertigo
This type of vertigo is rooted in issues with the neck. It can be triggered by muscle tension, injury, or upper cervical spine misalignment. The duration of these dizzy spells can vary, often lasting a few minutes to a few hours, but the symptoms can persist until the underlying neck problem is resolved. If you notice that your vertigo worsens with neck movement or is accompanied by neck pain, it could be cervicogenic.

Chronic Stress, Migraines, and Head Trauma:
Conditions like chronic migraines, stress, and past injuries such as whiplash can also play a role in the onset of vertigo. Stress and tension can tighten muscles in the neck and shoulders, affecting blood flow and nerve function, which may lead to episodes of dizziness. Similarly, migraines can disrupt blood flow and nerve signals to the balance centers in the brain, causing vertigo that lasts from a few minutes to several hours. The duration can be as unpredictable as the migraines, making it all the more important to address underlying tension and alignment.

Take note that each possible trigger or cause of vertigo can lead to different experiences. By understanding the root cause of your problem, you can better manage the episode’s duration and severity. Our chiropractor for vertigo in San Antonio focuses on identifying these root causes and offers targeted care to help you find relief, no matter how long vertigo has disrupted your life.

Why Consider Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care for Natural Relief For Vertigo in San Antonio?

If you’re tired of feeling unsteady and anxious about when the next vertigo episode might strike, it may be time to explore Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. Dr. Greg Dutson can help you pinpoint, gauge, and understand why these misalignments occur. This way, you can have a better chance of finding lasting and natural relief for vertigo in San Antonio.

A Quick Overview Of What Causes Neck Misalignments
Many patients seeking San Antonio Chiropractic Care for the first time are surprised to know that neck misalignment or atlas subluxation can stem from several things. These include:

• Injury or Trauma: Falls, car accidents, sports injuries, or even a sudden jolt can shift the delicate alignment of the atlas (the top bone in your spine). Whiplash from a car accident, even a minor one, can cause subtle misalignments that disrupt the nervous system and contribute to dizziness and balance issues.
• Poor Posture: Everyday habits like looking down at your phone, hunching over a computer, or sleeping in awkward positions can strain the upper cervical spine over time. This strain can gradually shift the position of the atlas, interfering with normal nerve function and leading to symptoms like vertigo.
• Chronic Stress: Stress isn’t just mental—it can cause physical tension that tightens the muscles in your neck and shoulders. This tension can pull on the vertebrae and cause misalignments, affecting the flow of signals between your brain and body, which are crucial for maintaining balance.
• Wear and Tear: Aging and natural wear on the spine can also play a role in misalignment. Degenerative changes in the cervical spine, such as arthritis, can alter the position of the vertebrae, impacting balance and coordination over time.

How Can San Antonio Vertigo Chiropractic Care Help?
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care addresses these misalignments through gentle, precise adjustments. Dr. Dutson’s care is designed to restore the proper alignment of the atlas vertebra, which can help relieve pressure on the nerves and improve the communication pathways between the brain and the body. Addressing the misalignment at its source can help reduce or eliminate the dizziness and imbalance associated with vertigo.

Is Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Right for You?
If you’re considering this approach, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do your vertigo episodes often coincide with neck pain or stiffness? Misalignment could contribute to your symptoms if you frequently experience neck discomfort alongside dizziness.
• Does your dizziness get worse with specific head movements? If turning your head or bending your neck triggers or worsens your vertigo, it might be directly related to upper cervical alignment.
• Are you keen on exploring a natural and whole-body approach to relieving your symptoms? Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care offers a gentle alternative that focuses on correcting atlas misalignment.
• Have other treatments provided only temporary relief? If you’ve tried various treatments without long-term success, addressing potential misalignments could hold the key.

Consult With A Chiropractor For Vertigo in San Antonio 

Imagine waking up each morning without worrying about when the next dizzy spell might strike. Living with vertigo doesn’t mean avoiding walks along the San Antonio Riverwalk, skipping out on weekend outings with family, or feeling like you have to say no to the activities you love. Dr. Greg Dutson at Thrive Head and Spinal Care offers a different way to regain the freedom and confidence that vertigo has taken away.

Through Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care, you can address the underlying causes of your symptoms rather than just masking them. For many in San Antonio, this has meant fewer dizzy spells, better balance, and the ability to enjoy life without feeling like vertigo is always lurking around the corner. With gentle, targeted adjustments, you can take steps toward lasting relief, allowing you to focus on your family, your hobbies, and the vibrant life that San Antonio offers.

Don’t let vertigo hold you back any longer. Reach out today to our vertigo chiropractor in San Antonio and see how Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care could help you find the stability you’ve been searching for. Rediscover what it means to live fully without fearing the spin.