Posted on18 August 2025,in

Best Vertigo Treatment: Vertigo is one of the most disorienting and frustrating conditions a person can experience. Imagine feeling as though the world around you is spinning or tilting—even when you’re standing still. Simple activities like walking across a room, driving, or even getting out of bed become overwhelming challenges. For many, vertigo leads to missed work, restricted independence, and an overall decline in quality of life.

At Lavender Family Chiropractic in Sarasota, Florida, we specialize in helping people who suffer from vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders. Our approach is unique because we focus on the upper cervical spine—the top of the neck where the brain and body communicate. Using advanced technology like 3D CBCT imaging and functional nervous system scans, our doctors—Dr. Rusty Lavender, Dr. Jacob Temple, and Dr. Will Guzinski—identify misalignments that often underlie chronic vertigo. Through precise, gentle adjustments, we correct these misalignments without twisting, cracking, or popping, helping patients find lasting relief.

In this article, we’ll cover:

What vertigo is and its most common causes
Traditional vertigo treatments and their limitations
Why the upper cervical spine plays such a critical role in balance
How upper cervical chiropractic care provides a natural, root-cause solution
Patient-focused care at Lavender Family Chiropractic in Sarasota
A Top 15 FAQ section on vertigo and upper cervical chiropractic

Understanding Vertigo

Vertigo is not a condition itself but rather a symptom of an underlying problem. It is often described as:

A sensation of spinning, tilting, or swaying
Feeling pulled in one direction
Loss of balance or difficulty standing/walking
Nausea or vomiting
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Head pressure or headaches
Visual disturbances

Common Causes of Vertigo

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – caused by displaced calcium crystals (otoconia) in the inner ear canals.
Ménière’s Disease – a disorder involving fluid buildup in the inner ear.
Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis – inflammation of the vestibular nerve often linked to viral infections.
Post-Concussion Syndrome – dizziness and vertigo following head trauma or whiplash.
Cervicogenic Vertigo – dizziness originating from the cervical spine, particularly the upper cervical region.

While many medical treatments focus only on the inner ear, research increasingly shows that the upper neck (C1 and C2 vertebrae) plays a pivotal role in how the brain processes balance signals.

Traditional Vertigo Treatments and Their Limitations

Conventional medical care for vertigo may include:

Medications such as meclizine, diazepam, or anti-nausea drugs. These may reduce symptoms but do not address the root cause.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) – exercises designed to retrain the brain and improve balance. Helpful for some, but not all.
Epley maneuver for BPPV – repositioning exercises to move ear crystals back into place. Sometimes effective, but vertigo often returns.
Surgery in severe cases (rarely performed).

While these treatments may provide temporary relief, they do not fix the underlying neurological or structural problems contributing to vertigo. This is where upper cervical chiropractic care offers a different, root-cause–focused solution.

The Role of the Upper Cervical Spine in Vertigo

The upper cervical spine consists of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2)—the top two vertebrae that protect the brainstem. This region is responsible for:

Balancing signals from the vestibular (inner ear) system, eyes, and body.
Protecting the brainstem, where vital balance and coordination centers are located.
Maintaining proper blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow between the brain and body.

When the atlas or axis shifts out of alignment—often from whiplash, head trauma, poor posture, or stress—it can interfere with nerve communication and blood flow. This misalignment can confuse the brain about your body’s position in space, leading to dizziness, imbalance, and vertigo.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: A Natural, Gentle Solution

What Is Upper Cervical Care?
Upper cervical care is a highly specialized form of chiropractic that focuses exclusively on the top two bones in the neck—the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). These vertebrae play a critical role in protecting the brainstem, supporting the head, and allowing proper communication between the brain and body. When even the slightest misalignment occurs in this area, it can disrupt nervous system function and cause a wide range of health issues.

Unlike general chiropractic approaches that often involve manual adjustments across the entire spine, upper cervical care is gentle, precise, and specific. Adjustments are carefully calculated using advanced imaging and neurological scans to correct misalignments without twisting, popping, or cracking.

The Importance of the Upper Cervical Spine

The atlas and axis vertebrae are unique because:

They Protect the Brainstem – The brainstem is the body’s communication hub, sending vital messages from the brain to every organ and tissue. Misalignments here can interfere with signals that regulate balance, circulation, digestion, and immune function.
They Allow Head Movement – The C1 and C2 vertebrae enable over 50% of all neck mobility. When these bones shift out of alignment, it can strain muscles, ligaments, and nerves.
They Affect Whole-Body Health – Misalignments can create neurological interference, leading to conditions like headaches, migraines, dizziness, vertigo, neck pain, low back pain, fibromyalgia, and even autonomic dysfunction such as POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).

How Upper Cervical Misalignments Happen

Many patients are surprised to learn that everyday activities can contribute to upper cervical misalignments. These include:

Trauma or Accidents – Car accidents, sports injuries, or falls often create whiplash-like injuries in the upper neck.
Poor Posture – Long hours on phones, laptops, or poor sleeping positions place chronic stress on the cervical spine.
Birth Trauma – Difficult deliveries and C-sections can cause stress on an infant’s upper neck, leading to long-term imbalances.
Repetitive Strain – Workplace ergonomics or repetitive motions may lead to gradual misalignments over time.

Because the upper cervical spine is so delicate, even small misalignments (measured in millimeters) can create significant health consequences.

The Difference Between Upper Cervical Care and Traditional Chiropractic

Patients often wonder how upper cervical care differs from traditional chiropractic. Here are the main distinctions:

Precision – Doctors of upper cervical chiropractic use advanced imaging such as CBCT scans and thermography to analyze exact misalignment patterns.
Gentleness – Adjustments do not involve twisting, cracking, or popping. Instead, they use gentle corrections to guide the vertebra back into alignment.
Specificity – The focus is exclusively on the top of the neck, where even the slightest imbalance can affect the rest of the spine and nervous system.
Lasting Results – Because adjustments are so precise, the correction tends to hold longer, allowing the body to stabilize and heal more effectively.

What Conditions Can Upper Cervical Care Help With?

Patients seek upper cervical chiropractic for a wide variety of conditions, many of which are related to nervous system dysfunction. These include:

Migraines and Chronic Headaches
Vertigo, Dizziness, and Balance Disorders
Neck Pain and Stiffness
TMJ and Jaw Pain
Trigeminal Neuralgia and Facial Pain
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue
Whiplash Injuries
Concussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome
POTS and Dysautonomia
Low Back Pain and Sciatica

Because the nervous system controls every function of the body, restoring alignment in the upper cervical spine can improve both localized pain and systemic health conditions.

What to Expect During an Upper Cervical Appointment

The process of upper cervical care is highly detailed and personalized. Here’s what patients can expect:

Consultation & History – The doctor reviews symptoms, medical history, and possible causes of misalignment.
Advanced Imaging – State-of-the-art technology such as 3D CBCT scans provides precise measurements of the atlas and axis vertebrae.
Nervous System Scans – Thermal imaging or infrared thermography assesses how misalignments affect neurological function.
Personalized Analysis – Each patient’s alignment pattern is unique, so the doctor develops a tailored adjustment plan.
Gentle Adjustment – The correction is delivered with a precise and light touch, without forceful manipulation.
Follow-Up Care – Functional scans and checkups track progress and ensure the body is healing properly.

Benefits of Upper Cervical Care

Patients often report life-changing results after receiving upper cervical chiropractic. Benefits may include:

Reduced frequency and severity of headaches and migraines
Improved balance and less dizziness
Greater energy and mental clarity
Relief from chronic pain and tension
Better sleep quality
Enhanced nervous system function
Long-lasting structural stability

Because the care is natural and non-invasive, patients appreciate the holistic approach that supports healing from the inside out.

The Healing Process: What Patients Should Know

Healing with upper cervical care is a journey. Some patients feel immediate relief, while others notice gradual improvements as their body stabilizes. The process often includes:

Initial Relief – Symptoms may decrease soon after the adjustment.
Correction Holding – The goal is not to adjust over and over but to help the correction hold, giving the body time to heal.
Nervous System Reset – Over weeks and months, improved communication between the brain and body allows deeper healing.
Long-Term Wellness – Many patients continue with wellness care to maintain alignment, prevent future problems, and optimize health.

Why Choose Upper Cervical Care?

Upper cervical chiropractic offers a unique approach for people who have “tried everything else” without results. Because it addresses the root cause—neurological interference at the brainstem—it provides a level of correction that traditional methods often miss.

People suffering from migraines, vertigo, chronic fatigue, or unexplained health conditions often discover that their symptoms improve significantly once the upper cervical spine is restored.

Patient-Focused Care at Lavender Family Chiropractic

Our mission is simple: to help people in Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and surrounding communities live life free from vertigo, dizziness, and chronic health challenges.

We combine the latest technology (CBCT scans, Tytron functional nervous system testing) with gentle, specific upper cervical adjustments.
Our care is non-invasive, drug-free, and focused on the root cause, not just symptom relief.
Our patients consistently report improvements not only in vertigo but also in headaches, migraines, TMJ, POTS, brain fog, and overall energy.

Top 15 FAQs About Vertigo and Upper Cervical Chiropractic

1. What makes vertigo different from dizziness?
Vertigo is a spinning or tilting sensation, while dizziness may simply mean feeling lightheaded.

2. Can upper cervical misalignment cause vertigo?
Yes. Misalignments in the atlas or axis interfere with brainstem balance centers, often leading to vertigo.

3. What’s the difference between ENT treatment and chiropractic care for vertigo?
ENTs focus on the inner ear, while upper cervical chiropractors focus on the neurological connections between the spine and brain.

4. Is upper cervical chiropractic safe?
Yes. Our adjustments are gentle, precise, and do not involve twisting, cracking, or popping.

5. How soon will I feel relief?
Many patients report improvement after just a few adjustments, though full correction may take longer.

6. Do I need a referral to see an upper cervical chiropractor?
No referral is necessary. Patients can schedule directly with us.

7. Can vertigo return after treatment?
If the underlying misalignment is corrected and maintained, relapses are much less likely.

8. Do you take insurance?
Our office is out of network with insurance. Many patients receive a superbill to submit for reimbursement. We also offer multiple payment and financing options.

9. What if my vertigo is caused by ear crystals (BPPV)?
Even in BPPV cases, correcting upper cervical misalignments often reduces recurrence.

10. Can children experience vertigo?
Yes. Children can develop vertigo from concussions, ear infections, or spinal misalignments.

11. What technology do you use to diagnose misalignments?
We use 3D CBCT scans and paraspinal thermography to precisely locate the problem.

12. Is this care only for vertigo?
No. Patients also find relief from migraines, TMJ, neck pain, POTS, fibromyalgia, and more.

13. How long does each adjustment take?
Adjustments are quick—often under 5 minutes—but extremely precise.

14. Where are you located?
We’re located at 5899 Whitfield Ave Ste 107, Sarasota, FL 34243.

15. How do I schedule?
Call us at (941) 243-3729 or visit www.chiropractorsarasotaflorida.com to schedule online.

Areas We Serve

We are proud to serve not just Sarasota but also Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Ellenton, Venice, Osprey, Punta Gorda, St. Petersburg, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Myakka City.

Conclusion: Finding the Best Vertigo Treatment in Sarasota

Vertigo can feel hopeless, but it doesn’t have to define your life. While traditional treatments often focus on masking symptoms, upper cervical chiropractic care at Lavender Family Chiropractic addresses the root cause—the nervous system connection between the brain and body.

Through precise imaging, functional scans, and gentle atlas corrections, our team has helped countless people in Sarasota and surrounding areas find freedom from dizziness and regain their quality of life.