Vertigo Management: A Comprehensive Approach

"Vertigo" gets used as a catch-all, but precision matters enormously here — because different dizziness has completely different fixes. A comprehensive approach starts by sorting the problem correctly.

First, define the sensation

• True vertigo — the world spins or you do; points to the vestibular system
• Lightheadedness — near-faint feeling; often circulatory or medication-related, needs medical review
• Disequilibrium — unsteady on your feet without spinning; balance-system or strength-related
• Brain fog / motion sensitivity — common after concussion or with visual-vestibular mismatch

One patient may have more than one. Each gets its own thread in the plan.

The big causes we assess for

BPPV — brief spinning triggered by position changes (rolling over, looking up). Diagnosed with positional testing, treated with repositioning maneuvers, often resolved in one to three visits. Always checked first because it's so common and so fixable.

Vestibular hypofunction — a weakened inner-ear signal after vestibular neuritis or with aging; causes imbalance and visual blur with head movement. Treated with gaze-stabilization and balance retraining that recalibrate the brain.

Cervicogenic dizziness — unsteadiness driven by upper-neck dysfunction, common after whiplash; responds to manual therapy plus neck retraining.

Vestibular migraine — dizziness episodes with or without headache; managed with trigger work, vestibular rehab, and physician partnership.

Post-concussion dizziness — usually a blend of the above; treated by addressing each contributing system.

We also screen every patient for red flags — sudden severe headache, double vision, slurred speech, limb weakness — that route to urgent medical care instead.

Why "comprehensive" beats "one maneuver"

Plenty of patients arrive having had a single Epley somewhere, with partial results. Comprehensive management means: correct canal diagnosis (the famous maneuver only treats one pattern), treatment of co-existing neck dysfunction, rebuilding the balance confidence lost during weeks of symptoms, and a recurrence plan — because knowing what to do next time removes most of the fear.

Dizziness is among the most treatable problems we see, and among the most life-limiting when ignored. Call 587-355-3555 — vestibular-trained team, 7 days a week, NW Calgary.