Vestibular Neuritis Doctor Sarasota: If your world has been spinning, swaying, or tilting since a sudden “inner ear” event, you are not alone—and you are not stuck this way. Vestibular neuritis can arrive like a storm: one day you’re steady on your feet, the next you’re clutching walls, battling nausea, and wondering why your brain and body no longer agree about which way is up.
Weeks or months later, even after the acute phase fades, many people still feel dizzy, off-balance, foggy, visually overwhelmed, and afraid to move fast or drive. Some are told to “wait it out.” Others try medications that blunt sensations but don’t restore stability. Many are shuffled between ENT, neurology, and physical therapy, only to end up with lingering symptoms and more questions.
At Lavender Family Chiropractic in Sarasota, we care deeply about helping people with vestibular neuritis, vertigo, BPPV, MdDS, vestibular migraine, cervicogenic dizziness, and other vestibular dysfunction find their footing again—naturally. We take a precision-focused, gentle, and holistic approach called upper cervical chiropractic, supported by 3D CBCT imaging and Tytron functional nervous system scans.
This is care designed around how your brain, brainstem, and inner ear actually work together—and what goes wrong when the top of the neck (the atlas and axis) becomes misaligned. Our mission is simple: find the root cause, restore clear communication in the nervous system, and help your body recalibrate so balance feels natural again.
Vestibular Neuritis Doctor Sarasota: What Is Vestibular Neuritis—and Why Does It Linger?
Vestibular neuritis is commonly explained as inflammation of the vestibular nerve—the inner ear pathway that ferries balance and motion information to the brain. People often recall a sudden onset: severe vertigo, vomiting, inability to stand, intense motion sensitivity, and sometimes visual blurring or oscillopsia (feeling like your eyes are bouncing). The classic story is a viral trigger followed by days of acute symptoms and a gradual improvement over weeks. Yet for many, “gradual” stretches into months of disequilibrium, especially with quick head turns, scrolling, busy visual environments (grocery store aisles, driving), or physical exertion.
Here’s a crucial insight: your vestibular system does not operate in isolation. Your brain integrates signals from the inner ear with your vision and proprioception (body position sense), and it performs this integration through neurological hubs in and around the brainstem—precisely where the upper cervical spine (C1 atlas and C2 axis) interfaces. If an upper cervical misalignment alters the way neck sensors report head orientation—or if it irritates neural pathways and blood/CSF flow near the brainstem—then your brain’s “integration center” can remain noisy and confused. That noise often prevents full compensation after vestibular neuritis, leaving you with chronic dizziness, motion sensitivity, and “boat-feet” sensations long after the initial inflammation has cleared.
Symptoms We See with Vestibular Neuritis and Overlapping Vestibular Conditions
Vestibular neuritis may present in many ways—especially when it overlaps or is mistaken for other vestibular issues. Patients who seek help at Lavender Family Chiropractic report combinations of:
- Vertigo (spinning or tumbling sensation)
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Imbalance, drifting, or veering while walking
- Rocking/bobbing sensations (MdDS-like)
- Visual motion sensitivity (stores, scrolling, driving)
- Nausea and avoidance of movement
- Eye strain, difficulty focusing, or “laggy” vision
- Ear fullness, tinnitus, or intermittent pressure
- Head pressure, neck pain, headaches, or migraines
- Fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety about symptoms
Because these symptoms cluster and overlap, many people are told they have BPPV, vestibular migraine, MdDS, Meniere’s, or cervicogenic dizziness—sometimes all at once. Our job is not to play “label roulette,” but to ask a better question: what is the upstream dysfunction keeping your brain from feeling stable? Frequently, we find it in the upper cervical spine.
The Upper Cervical Connection: Why Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2) Matter So Much
The atlas and axis are exquisitely engineered to move your head freely while protecting your brainstem. Micromillimeters matter here. Even a small misalignment can alter:
- Proprioceptive signaling from muscles and joints of the upper neck that tell your brain how your head is oriented.
- Brainstem signaling where vestibular, visual, and spinal inputs converge and are processed.
- Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, which can influence pressure, drainage, and neural function in sensitive inner ear and brainstem areas.
When these systems are distorted, your brain’s “balance integrator” gets conflicting messages. The result can be persistent dizziness, visual motion sensitivity, rocking sensations, nausea, and postural instability, even after the original vestibular neuritis is no longer acute. This is why some people plateau with vestibular rehab alone, why medications feel like a band-aid, and why day-to-day function still feels precarious. If the neck is the signal problem, the solution must include the neck.
Where Vestibular Neuritis Overlaps—BPPV, MdDS, Vestibular Migraine, and More
- BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo): Displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear cause positional vertigo. The Epley maneuver may help, but when the upper cervical spine is misaligned, abnormal neck input can perpetuate positional sensitivity, making BPPV recur or feel only partially improved.
- MdDS (Mal de Débarquement Syndrome): The “rocking on a boat” sensation, often after travel or a motion event, is a brain adaptation issue. If atlas alignment is off, the brainstem’s integration of motion and head/neck input can remain biased toward a rocking percept, slowing or preventing recalibration.
- Vestibular Migraine: Not always a “headache problem”—often a sensory integration problem. Neck misalignment can irritate trigeminal pathways, blood flow dynamics, and vestibular processing, priming the system for vestibular migraine flares triggered by visual or motion stimuli.
- Meniere’s Disease: Fluctuating hearing, tinnitus, ear fullness, and vertigo. While mechanisms vary, many patients show upper cervical misalignments that appear to influence inner ear fluid dynamics and neural processing. Addressing atlas balance can help the system stabilize.
- Cervicogenic Dizziness: Dizziness arising from neck dysfunction. This is often overlooked and may mimic neuritis or vestibular migraine. When upper cervical alignment is restored, these cases frequently resolve.
Our Sarasota Approach: Precise, Gentle, and Measurable
At Lavender Family Chiropractic, we don’t guess. We measure. We map. We correct with intention. Our upper cervical process centers on three pillars:
- 3D CBCT Imaging
We take Cone Beam Computed Tomography scans to visualize your upper cervical spine in three dimensions. CBCT reveals minute rotations, tilts, and displacements that 2D X-rays can miss. If the atlas is subtly rotated, pitched, or laterally shifted, your nervous system knows it—even if you can’t see it without advanced imaging. - Tytron Paraspinal Infrared Thermography
The Tytron is a non-invasive scan that detects temperature differentials along the spine—an indirect measure of autonomic nervous system imbalance. It helps us identify patterns of nerve irritation and tells us, visit to visit, whether your system is calming and stabilizing after correction. - Gentle, Targeted Adjustments (No Twisting, Popping, or Cracking)
Upper cervical adjustments at our office are precise and light. We correct only what your imaging indicates, at the exact vector and depth your body needs. Patients are often surprised by how minimal the input feels—and how significant the changes in balance, clarity, and calm can be.
We then re-scan and re-assess, because true progress should be visible in both your nervous system metrics and your daily function. Our care plans are individualized; the goal is to correct, stabilize, and maintain—not to “adjust forever,” but to help your body hold alignment so healing continues between visits.
What Your First Visits Look Like
- Comprehensive Consultation: We listen. We map your symptom timeline, triggers, prior diagnoses, wins and setbacks. We ask about injuries, falls, car accidents, sports, jaw clenching, desk strain—anything that could influence atlas alignment.
- Neurological Testing & Imaging: Alongside the Tytron scan, we perform tests that evaluate eye movements, balance, and head/neck mechanics. CBCT reveals the precise state of C1/C2.
- Personalized Care Plan: Based on your findings, we outline a step-by-step plan. This includes the initial correction strategy, the expected stabilization phase, reassessment intervals, and how we’ll track objective improvements.
- Correction & Re-Check: Your first adjustment is gentle and tailored. We re-scan to confirm positive changes in nervous system balance. Many people describe an immediate sense of calm or clear-headedness; others notice more gradual changes over several visits as the system unwinds.
- Stabilization & Retention: We coach you through posture, sleep, activity progressions, and visual-motion dosing so your brain can reintegrate signals and hold gains.
Who We Help (And What Progress Looks Like)
We see adults, seniors, and teens from Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Ellenton, Venice, Osprey, Punta Gorda, St. Petersburg, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Myakka City. Many arrive after months or years of searching. Typical progress markers include:
- Less rocking/spinning and fewer “bad spells”
- Improved tolerance to head turns, scrolling, and stores
- Clearer vision, reduced eye strain, calmer gaze stability
- Better balance when walking or changing surfaces
- Lower neck tension, fewer headaches or vestibular migraines
- More confidence driving and resuming normal life
Our favorite feedback is not “the room doesn’t spin” (though we love that). It’s: “I went to the beach with my family and forgot to think about my balance.” That’s real freedom.
At-Home Support to Complement Care (Not a Substitute for Correction)
While the upper cervical correction is the linchpin, thoughtful habits accelerate recalibration:
- Gentle, graded head-motion exposure: Slow head turns with eyes on a stable target; progress to tracking a moving target only as tolerated.
- Visual hygiene: Reduce screen motion when symptomatic; gradually reintroduce scrolling with breaks.
- Posture and sleep: Use a pillow that supports neutral neck alignment; avoid stomach sleeping.
- Breath and calm: Box breathing (4-4-4-4) to quiet the autonomic system during flares.
- Hydration and minerals: Adequate water and whole-food electrolytes to support neural function.
- Pacing: Increase intensity in small steps; celebrate consistency over heroic bursts.
These are adjuncts; they work best once the upper cervical “wiring” is cleaned up.
Why Lavender Family Chiropractic?
- Upper Cervical Expertise: We specialize in the upper neck for complex cases like vestibular neuritis, vertigo, MdDS, BPPV, and vestibular migraine.
- Advanced Technology: 3D CBCT and Tytron scans guide every decision.
- Gentle, Precise Care: No twisting, popping, or cracking—ever.
- Measurable Progress: Objective scans, functional markers, symptom trends.
- Compassionate Team: Dr. Rusty Lavender, Dr. Jacob Temple, and Dr. Will Guzinski are dedicated to helping you feel safe, heard, and steadily better.
Top 15 FAQs About Vestibular Neuritis and Upper Cervical Chiropractic
1) Does vestibular neuritis always come from a virus?
Often, but not always. What matters clinically is how well the brain reintegrates signals after the acute episode. If upper cervical misalignment interferes with integration, symptoms can persist long after any inflammation is gone.
2) How can my neck affect my balance if the problem started in my ear?
Your brain integrates ear signals with neck proprioception in and around the brainstem. A misaligned atlas can distort that neck input and confuse the very circuits that should restore balance.
3) I’ve tried Epley for BPPV and it keeps coming back. Can you help?
Epley can reposition crystals, but if upper cervical input is abnormal, positional sensitivity and recurrence can persist. Correcting atlas alignment often makes positional maneuvers more durable.
4) What about MdDS? I feel like I’m still on a boat.
MdDS reflects a stuck adaptation. We frequently find atlas misalignment that biases brainstem integration toward rocking. Aligning C1/C2 helps many patients recalibrate away from that boat-feel.
5) My ENT said “give it time.” It’s been a year. Is it too late?
No. We routinely help chronic cases. The nervous system remains plastic—especially when you remove interference and provide graded, steady inputs.
6) Are your adjustments safe and will they hurt?
They’re gentle and precise—no twisting or cracking. Most patients feel no pain during correction and many feel immediate calm or clarity afterward.
7) How soon should I expect results?
Some notice changes within a few visits; others progress over weeks as their system stabilizes. We’ll track objective and functional markers so you can see the trend.
8) Will I need lifelong adjustments?
Our goal is for you to hold your alignment longer and longer. We correct, stabilize, then maintain. Frequency decreases as your body retains balance.
9) Can upper cervical care help vestibular migraine?
Yes—by improving sensory integration, reducing brainstem irritation, and calming neck-driven triggers that can set off vestibular migraine symptoms.
10) Do you treat Meniere’s disease?
We do not claim to cure Meniere’s, but we often help patients reduce frequency or intensity of episodes by optimizing upper cervical alignment and related neurovascular function.
11) What is CBCT and why is it necessary?
3D CBCT shows the atlas/axis intricacies that 2D images can’t—tiny rotations, pitches, and shifts that matter tremendously for neural clarity and balance.
12) What is the Tytron scan measuring?
It measures bilateral skin temperature differentials as a window into autonomic nervous system balance. Improving patterns often correlates with symptom relief and better regulation.
13) Can I continue vestibular rehab while under care?
Yes. With alignment corrected, rehab inputs often take hold better. We’ll help you pace and progress safely.
14) What if I’ve been told it’s anxiety?
It’s common to feel anxious when your balance system is unstable. We focus on the physiology first—correct the input, stabilize the circuits—so your nervous system naturally calms.
15) How do I get started?
Call (941) 243-3729 or visit www.chiropractorsarasotaflorida.com. We’ll schedule your consultation, perform CBCT and Tytron scans, and outline a plan tailored to your nervous system.
A Simple Model for Why You Still Feel Dizzy (Even After “Recovery”)
Think of your balance system as a three-legged stool: inner ear, vision, and neck proprioception. Vestibular neuritis temporarily knocks one leg (inner ear) out. Your brain can compensate by leaning more on the other two—if the other legs are stable and accurate. If your atlas is misaligned, the neck leg is wobbly. That means compensation never fully “locks in.” By stabilizing the neck leg through precise upper cervical correction, the stool stands again—and your brain can finally trust what it senses.
Realistic Expectations and Signs of Progress
Recovery is not always linear. You might notice:
- Shorter, softer flares and faster recovery after triggers
- Increased activity tolerance (driving, shopping, screens)
- Better gaze stability and reduced motion sickness
- Less head/neck tension, fewer headaches or migraines
- Improved posture and steadier gait
- Greater confidence returning to exercise, travel, and social life
We measure, celebrate, and safeguard gains. And we help you adopt the habits that keep your system resilient.
Why “Gentle” Matters
When your vestibular system is sensitized, it craves specificity without overwhelm. Big, forceful inputs can spike symptoms. That’s why our corrections are low-force and highly targeted. We aim precisely at the misalignment revealed by CBCT, apply the minimal input needed, and then re-verify with Tytron and functional checks. Think of it as giving your nervous system the exact cue it needs to reorganize—no more, no less.
Who We Are
Lavender Family Chiropractic is the trusted upper cervical chiropractor near me for families across Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch—and a destination for people traveling from Parrish, Ellenton, Venice, Osprey, Punta Gorda, St. Petersburg, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Myakka City. Our doctors—Dr. Rusty Lavender, Dr. Jacob Temple, and Dr. Will Guzinski—blend advanced technology with compassionate care. We believe in clear explanations, measurable progress, and partnering with you to rebuild confidence one steady step at a time.
Insurance and Payment Options
Our office is out of network with insurance. Many of our patients receive a superbill to submit to their insurance for reimbursement based on their coverage. We offer many different payment options as well as finance options so you can focus on healing rather than paperwork.
Your Next Step: A Steady Path Forward
If you’re still feeling dizzy, off-balance, or stuck in a loop of symptoms after vestibular neuritis—or if you’ve been labeled with BPPV, MdDS, vestibular migraine, or “it’s just anxiety”—please know: there is real physiology behind what you’re experiencing, and there is a logical path to improvement. The top of your neck is a powerful lever. When it’s precisely corrected and allowed to hold, your brain can finally recalibrate. Stability stops being a mental battle and becomes your default again.
Ready to start? Call (941) 243-3729 or visit www.chiropractorsarasotaflorida.com to schedule your consultation at Lavender Family Chiropractic, 5899 Whitfield Ave Ste 107, Sarasota, FL 34243. We’ll perform 3D CBCT imaging and Tytron functional nervous system scans, explain your findings clearly, and design a plan that respects your sensitivity while moving you forward.
You deserve to walk, drive, shop, and live without worrying about the floor moving under your feet. Let’s help your world feel steady again—naturally.
Lavender Family Chiropractic in Sarasota Florida offers complimentary consultations to learn more about you. Click the link below!
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To learn more about us go to http://www.chiropractorsarasotaflorida.com
We also service Bradenton, Parrish, Ellenton, Ruskin, Venice, Tampa, St. Pete, Osprey, Longboat, Lakewood Ranch, Myakka City.
If you are in Tampa, Fort Myers, or Salt Lake City, you can visit my other locations! NeckWise Upper Cervical. Visit, www.neckwise.com
If you are not local, visit www.uccnearme.com to find a doctor in your area
SEO Notes & How We Serve the Community
Searching for “Vestibular Neuritis Doctor Sarasota,” “chiropractor Sarasota Florida,” “upper cervical chiropractor near me,” “vertigo doctor near me,” “Migraine doctor near me,” or “chiropractor near me”? Our Sarasota-based upper cervical practice is here for you. We’re proud to be considered among the best upper cervical chiropractic offices in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Bradenton, known for gentle, precise care that addresses the root cause rather than masking symptoms.
Areas We Serve: Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Ellenton, Venice, Osprey, Punta Gorda, St. Petersburg, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Myakka City.
Contact: (941) 243-3729 | www.chiropractorsarasotaflorida.com
Social: Instagram @lavenderfamilysrq | TikTok @drrustylavender
At Lavender Family Chiropractic, we help people with vestibular neuritis, vertigo, dizziness, BPPV, MdDS, vestibular migraine, Meniere’s symptoms, head pressure, TMJ-related dizziness, POTS-related intolerance, and other complex conditions find clarity, stability, and hope—one precise upper cervical correction at a time.
