An injury to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head, backward, forward, or sideways, is commonly referred to as "whiplash." While the term "whiplash" is most frequently used to describe auto accident injuries (in which a person is rear-ended, hit head-on, or hit from the side), whiplash can also frequently occur during ski accidents, bike accidents, falls, blows to the head, and other head/neck traumas.

Many people believe "If I don't have any symptoms right away, I'm O.K.", but that is rarely the case. 

After many auto and sport-related traumas, symptoms can be so slight at first, an individual may not realize he/she has been injured. Even if a person feels relatively normal after an accident, he/she should be thoroughly examined. Symptoms can be delayed for days, months, or even years.

COMMON SYMPTOMS:  The following are symptoms that can occur following a head/neck injury (days to years later):

• Neck pain and/or stiffness
• Blurred or double vision
• Irritability
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Dizziness / Vertigo
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Pain in the arms, legs, feet, hands
• Headaches, Migraines
• Low back pain and/or stiffness
• Shoulder pain
• Nausea
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), Hearing loss
• Numbness and tingling
• Jaw and/or face pain
• Post-concussion syndrome
• and many more!

In many cases, more severe immune-related, neurological, pain, and disease conditions (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Susceptibility to Infection, ADHD, Seizures, Multiple Sclerosis) can result from head/neck injuries, sometimes occurring many years after the accident.

If you are struggling with vertigo or dizziness following a whiplash injury download our e-book A Simple and Extremely Effective Way to Stop Dizziness without Drugs by clicking the image below.

Meniere's Disease, Cochlear Hydrops, Tinnitus, hearing loss, chronic ear infections and even vertigo can frequently be related to trauma to the nerves from the upper neck (lower brain stem area) that go into the ears. Upper neck trauma can lead to a variety of different ear problems due to the neurological connections.

Dr. Michael Burcon in Michigan has done excellent work in researching the connection between the upper neck and conditions like Meniere's Disease, tinnitus, vertigo and others.

Burcon has established a link to these conditions with whiplash injuries that misalign the base of the skull with the top of the neck creating a lesion affecting the Eustachian tube. About half of these traumas are caused by car crashes and the other half from injuries involving head trauma. Burcon believes that the correlation was not made because it takes an average of fifteen years from the time the patient was injured until the onset of symptoms.

Patients typically get diagnosed with these conditions in middle age. Their injuries most often happened during high school or college years from a car accident, sports injury or fall on their heads. Few patients list these old injuries on their doctor’s admission paper work. In fact, they have often forgotten about them, believing they were not hurt if they were not admitted to the hospital. It is possible to have fewer than the four classic symptoms of Meniere's Disease (hearing loss, fullness, tinnitus, and vertigo) yet be diagnosed with Meniere's Disease; this is sometimes said to be "atypical" Meniere's Disease. Some Meniere's Disease patients experience hearing loss, fullness, and tinnitus with no vertigo at all, a condition sometimes described as "cochlear hydrops."

When the cause is addressed amazing recovery can take place. But the cause has to be identified and addressed.

To find out more about the connection between head and neck injuries and Ménière's disease download are e-book below.

Vertigo is one of those conditions you can't ignore. It may only last for a few moments or it might be recurring condition. So, what is it? It is the sensation that a room is spinning even when there is no movement. This happens due to a dysfunction in the Vestibular system, which is part of the inner ear, and allows us to maintain our balance and recognize spatial orientation. Now that you know what it is, it is important to know what causes it.

​Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo – This is the most common cause of Vertigo and is a sudden spinning sensation. It can be triggered by sudden movements of the head and neck. It can be the result of a fall, car accident, other collision, or just standing up too quickly.

Meniere's Disease – This is a disorder of the inner ear that leads to hearing loss, Tinnitus, sometimes causes pressure in one of your ears, and can occur at any age but most often occurs in people in their 40's or 50's.

Vestibular Neuronitis – This is an inflammation of the inner ear, or the Vestibular Nerve, that causes this nerve to send incorrect signals to the brain that the body is moving. It may also lead to hearing loss or a ringing in your ear, and can be triggered by something as common as a cold or a flu.

Labrynthitis – This is an irritation and swelling of the inner ear and can lead to hearing loss. It is usually caused by a virus or bacteria that can be triggered by a cold, flu allergies, respiratory infection, and various other conditions. 

When people think of Vertigo, they may think of a chronic condition that only effects a small percentage of people. The truth is it can affect anyone at any age. Sometimes it only comes because of standing up to quickly or because of a collision and only lasts for a few minutes or hours. But for some people it can become a chronic condition caused by one of the above conditions due to an upper cervical injury. For those who suffer from recurring and often more intense episodes, it is important for them not to accept it as part of their lives but to seek proper upper cervical care.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo download our free e-book below.

Dr. Blom is an Upper Cervical Chiropractor specializing in the detection and correction of neck disorders commonly resulting in vertigo symptoms in Boise Idaho.

If you suspect you have a neck problem that may be causing your vertigo symptoms and would like to look into it further please give us a call to schedule an appointment.  

​Call (208) 559-0541 or, you can click the link below to request a consultation. ​

Tinnitus has been frequently associated with a variety of different conditions including vertigo, hearing loss, Ménière's disease, cochlear hydrops and other conditions.

What is Tinnitus? 

Well, have you ever heard a constant beeping in your ear, and you didn't know what caused it or what the source of it was? That was Tinnitus. One in five people experiences it, and it usually worsens with age. Most people associate it with ringing in the ear; but some people hear buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or various other sounds. 

What causes Tinnitus?

Well, first, it's important to know it's the sign of an underlying condition and is not a disease. Most of the causes will either go away on their own, or after taking some preventative measures, but it can also be a sign of a serious underlying condition.

Your ear consists of an outer, middle, and inner ear. Your outer ear acts to funnel sound waves, then they pass through the middle ear where they are mechanically transmitted, and then they are finally translated from sound waves into nerve messages that are sent to your brain. Below are some of the causes of Tinnitus you should know about.

Causes of Tinnitus

• Loud noises or Noise-induced
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Ear infection
• Oxidative Stress
• Emotional Stress
• Foreign object in the ear
• Aging
• Meniere's Disease
• Otosclerosis
• High blood pressure (Hypertension)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Circulatory problems
• Anemia
• Allergies
• Underactive Thyroid gland
• Diabetes
• Neck or jaw problems (TMJ for example)
• Head and neck injuries
• Nasal Allergies (that prevent or induce fluid drain)
• Wax build-up
• Hearing loss
• Withdrawal from certain psychoactive drugs
• side effects of certain medications

​To find an upper cervical chiropractor in your area go to www.uppercervicalcare.com  or if you are in the Boise Idaho area, just click the button to schedule an appointment. 

Kristin Chenoweth and Ménière’s Disease

Contact music is reporting that Glee star Kristin Chenoweth is suffering from the inner ear condition Meniere's disease, which can cause episodes of vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss, and she's struggling to deal with the condition.

Talking to Twitter.com, she writes, "Oh menieres disease. I'd like to eliminate you."

Chenoweth has yet to share any further details about her illness, and it is not clear whether her current condition is related to the accident she suffered on the set of Tv legal drama The Good Wife last July, when a lighting rig fell and hit her on the head. The incident left her with a fractured skull, concussion, three cracked teeth, and neck, rib and hip injuries.

But frequently head and neck trauma can initiate the onset of Ménière's disease and other conditions. Some of the most hopeful research for Ménière's sufferers has come out in the past 5 years.

Latest Research Points to the Upper Neck

Dr. Michael Burcon has investigated the effects of upper cervical specific chiropractic management of patients medically diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. Dr. Burcon has shared his findings with Ménière's research conferences around the world.

In one of his studies looking at upper cervical specific chiropractic care and Ménière's, one hundred and thirty-six out of the one hundred and thirty-nine patients presented with an absence or dramatic reduction of Ménière's symptoms, especially vertigo...that's 97%!

After two years, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing the absence of the symptom and 10 being the worst imaginable, vertigo was lowered from an average of 8.5 to 1.4. Prior to the onset of symptoms, all one hundred and thirty nine cases suffered cervical traumas; most from automobile accidents, resulting in previously undiagnosed whiplash injuries.

Kristin Chenoweth's recent head trauma is consistent with these findings. It's Important that she gets evaluated by an upper cervical specialist to determine the underlying damage to the upper neck that is likely leading to these problems.

If you have had a history of head or neck trauma and are suffering from similar symptoms take the first step today!

To find out more about the connection between head and neck injuries and Ménière's disease download are e-book below.

Vertigo, Dizziness and Disequilibrium

What Causes the Room to Spin?

Vertigo, dizziness, disequilibrium can be directly related to old head and neck injuries that have never been properly addressed and the underlying damage to the upper neck has led to dysfunction in the ears, the balancing system of the body or both.

When the head or neck is injured the upper neck (Atlas & Axis) frequently become twisted and misaligned leading to a slight displacement of the head...sometimes by as little as 3/4 of a degree.  Once the heavy head (10-14 lbs) is tilting to the side, the brain has to compensate for that change through the righting reflex to keep the eyes and ears level with the horizon at all times.

The entire structure of the body will twist and tilt in order to compensate for those upper neck misalignments and head tilt.  Eventually leading to pressure building up into the nerve system.  The area that is first impacted by these problems is the brain stem area, which is just basically a part of the brain that extends down into the spine and connects to the spinal cord.

The Key to the Balance of Our Bodies

The brain stem area is a key to the balance of our bodies.  This upper neck area has more pressure sensors the anywhere else in the body that feed information into the brain stem and the brain.  Also the brain stem sends messages via the cranial nerves to the ears for balance as well.  Blood flow is also effected when the brain stem function is altered.

When someone is suffering from vertigo, dizziness, or disequilibrium, the brain stem is frequently involved. Upper neck misalignments alter the brain stem function and can lead to problems such as vertigo. When these old injuries are dealt with by the correction of the head position by a precise upper cervical corrective procedure such as Upper Cervical, the healing process can begin.

Holding the corrections is the key to healing, not having your spine manipulated 1000's of times by a general chiropractor!

Now not all dizziness, vertigo and disequilibrium is related to head and neck traumas.  But if you have a history of those types of accidents then an evaluation with a qualified upper cervical specialist is very important.  If the underlying cause can be identified, what a difference it can make for your life!

To find out more about the connection between head and neck injuries and Ménière's disease download are e-book below.

Natural Vertigo Treatment in Boise Idaho

Is Your Vertigo All in Your Neck? Medical doctors will use over 50 different medications in an attempt to control dizziness or vertigo. But many people are unaware of a common cause of dizziness or vertigo that can be addressed naturally without drugs.

Dr. Michael Burcon in Michigan has done excellent work in researching the connection between the upper neck and conditions like vertigo, Meniere's Disease, tinnitus and others.

Burcon has established a link to these conditions with whiplash injuries that misalign the base of the skull with the top of the neck creating a lesion affecting the Eustachian tube. About half of these traumas are caused by car crashes and the other half from injuries involving head trauma. Burcon believes that the correlation was not made because it takes an average of fifteen years from the time the patient was injured until the onset of symptoms.

Patients typically get diagnosed with these conditions in middle age. Their injuries most often happened during high school or college years from a car accident, sports injury or fall on their heads. Few patients list these old injuries on their doctor’s admission paper work. In fact, they have often forgotten about them, believing they were not hurt if they were not admitted to the hospital.

In Dr. Burcon’s he saw over 90% improvement in patients diagnosed with vertigo following upper cervical chiropractic.

Whiplash and Vertigo

Following a whiplash injury, such as those common during a motor vehicle accident, as much as 25 to 50% of people will experience dizziness or vertigo. Many times this dizziness will subside after a few days, but other times it will linger for weeks, months or even years.

Whiplash clinically is similar to post concussion syndrome, but with the addition of neck complaints. Long term studies show that aches and pains may persist in 20 to 45% of patients with significant whiplash.

When the cause is addressed with an upper cervical chiropractic technique such as Upper Cervical, will, amazing recovery can take place. But the cause has to be identified and addressed.

Have you been diagnosed with vertigo or other related conditions?

Are you looking for a drug free vertigo treatment?

Have you ever had your upper neck thoroughly evaluated to see if the underlying cause could be there?

Today could be your day.

To find out more about the connection between head and neck injuries and Ménière's disease download are e-book below.

Effects of Multiple Sclerosis on the Nervous System

So, you've seen people wearing the t-shirts, running in the middle of the street, as crowds cheer them on. Or maybe you've heard it mentioned on television or somewhere on the Web. You know Multiple Sclerosis effects a person's body, but you're not sure how it effects them. Well, MS effects different people in different ways.

Defining Multiple Sclerosis

Before we tell you how MS can effect a person, it is important to understand what it is. It's an autoimmune disorder that effects the central nervous system. It occurs when the Myelin Sheath, which is an insulation in the brain's and spinal cord's nerves, is damaged (Demyelination). This leads to a disruption in communication between the brain and the body, which can result in either mental, physical, or sometimes psychiatric problems.

How Multiple Sclerosis manifests itself in a person's body depends on the locations of the lesions within the nervous system. Less than half (45%) of all people with Multiple Sclerosis experience motor or sensory problems. Below are some of the other symptoms a person with MS might experience.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

• Loss of sensation
• Change in sensation (tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, etc)
• Very pronounced reflexes
• Muscle Spasms
• Difficulty moving
• Difficulty with coordination and balance (ataxia)
• Problems with speech
• Difficulty swallowing
• Visual problems such as double vision
• Fatigue
• Acute or chronic pain
• Bladder or bowel difficulty
• Depression
• Unstable moods

Progression of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

​A person with MS will most likely experience a progression in symptoms over a period of days or months followed by improvements or a gradual worsening over time without recovery. Those who experience periods of improvements are likely to relapse due to certain triggers that often occur more in the spring and summer.

Multiple Sclerosis Triggers

• Common cold
• Influenza
• Gastroenteritis
• Stress
• The first three months after a woman gives birth
• Alcohol
• Heat or cold
• Poor sleeping position

Reducing the Effects of Multiple Sclerosis in Boise Idaho

So, how do you reverse the effects of Multiple Sclerosis? Well, since something as common as a cold or flu can trigger your MS symptoms, you can start by staying in good health. You will also want to focus on staying out of circumstances that might cause those above conditions to trigger your MS. The best way to reduce the effects of MS is to repair the damage done to the Myelin Sheath by reversing the effects of Demyelination.

A research study, which showed drastic improvement for MS sufferers under upper cervical care, also showed a link between Multiple Sclerosis and the upper cervical spine. Upper cervical chiropractic can reverse the process of Demyelination by correcting misalignments in the upper neck vertebrae, and restoring communication between the brain and the body via the brainstem, which may be the underlying cause of MS.

To find out more about the connection between head and neck injuries and multiple sclerosis download our e-book below.