What Causes Vertigo?
Have you ever rolled over in bed and suddenly felt like the entire room was spinning?
Maybe you looked up at a shelf, bent over to tie your shoes, or got out of bed—and everything seemed to whirl around you.
If so, you may be experiencing vertigo.
One of the most common causes of vertigo is a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Although the name sounds intimidating, BPPV is often treatable once it’s properly diagnosed.
At Life Source Chiropractic in Omaha, we frequently help patients understand the cause of their dizziness and determine whether BPPV may be contributing to their symptoms.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is not simply feeling dizzy.
Vertigo is the false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving, even though you’re standing still.
Many people describe it as:
- The room spinning
- Feeling pulled to one side
- Loss of balance
- Nausea when changing positions
- Symptoms that occur when rolling over in bed, lying down, looking up, or bending over
These symptoms often point toward a problem involving the inner ear, where your body’s balance system is located.
What Causes BPPV?
Inside your inner ear are tiny calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia.
Normally, these crystals sit inside a structure called the utricle, where they help detect head position and movement.
Sometimes those crystals become dislodged.
When they move into one of the semicircular canals—most commonly the posterior canal—they interfere with the normal movement of the fluid inside the canal.
When you change positions, the loose crystals continue moving even after your head stops.
Your brain receives inaccurate information about your movement, while your eyes and joints tell a different story.
That mismatch creates the spinning sensation we call vertigo.
Why Does Vertigo Happen When You Roll Over in Bed?
One of the most common questions patients ask is:
“Why does the room spin when I roll over?”
The answer is gravity.
When you roll over, lie down, sit up, or look upward, gravity causes the loose crystals to move through the affected semicircular canal.
As those crystals move, they push the fluid inside the canal and stimulate the balance sensors.
Your brain interprets this as movement—even though you’ve already stopped moving.
The result is a brief but intense episode of vertigo.
How Does the Epley Maneuver Work?
The Epley Maneuver is a series of carefully guided head and body positions designed to use gravity to move the loose crystals out of the semicircular canal and back into the utricle where they belong.
Once the crystals return to their normal location, they no longer trigger abnormal balance signals.
For many patients with posterior canal BPPV, the Epley Maneuver can significantly reduce or eliminate vertigo symptoms.
However, the maneuver should only be performed after determining which ear is affected and which semicircular canal contains the displaced crystals, because the treatment differs depending on the diagnosis.
Can a Chiropractor Help Vertigo?
Not every case of vertigo is caused by BPPV.
Vertigo may also result from:
- Vestibular neuritis
- Ménière’s disease
- Migraine-associated vertigo
- Head injuries
- Neurological conditions
- Certain medications
That’s why obtaining the correct diagnosis is essential.
At Life Source Chiropractic, our evaluation helps determine whether your symptoms are consistent with BPPV or whether another cause should be considered. If BPPV is identified, we can determine the affected side and perform the appropriate repositioning maneuver. To determine which side is involved with BPPV, we perform an orthopedic test called the Dix-Hallpike Test.
BPPV is one of the most successfully treated causes of vertigo, and when the diagnosis is correct, many patients experience significant improvement after a properly performed repositioning procedure, such as the Epley Maneuver. In our clinical experience, many patients respond well when an upper cervical adjustment is performed before the Epley Maneuver when clinically appropriate. We have successfully helped many patients with BPPV return to their normal activities without the spinning sensations that brought them into our office.
When Should You Seek Care?
You should seek an evaluation if you experience:
- Recurrent episodes of vertigo
- Vertigo when rolling over in bed
- Dizziness when looking up
- Balance problems
- Falls
- Persistent nausea
- Symptoms that continue returning
Prompt diagnosis can often shorten recovery and help prevent recurring episodes.
Vertigo Treatment in Omaha
If you’re experiencing recurring vertigo or dizziness, don’t assume you simply have to live with it.
At Life Source Chiropractic in Omaha, we evaluate patients to identify the underlying cause of their symptoms. If your vertigo is caused by Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), we can determine the affected ear and perform the appropriate Epley Maneuver to help reposition the crystals and restore normal balance.
If your symptoms appear to be caused by another condition, we’ll help guide you toward the most appropriate next step.
If you’ve been searching for answers about vertigo in Omaha, we’d be happy to help.
Schedule online here: www.lifesourcechiropractic.com/appointment/
Frequently Asked Vertigo Questions
What causes vertigo?
One of the most common causes is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), in which loose calcium crystals move into the inner ear’s semicircular canals and disrupt normal balance signals.
What is BPPV?
BPPV stands for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, a common inner ear disorder that causes brief episodes of spinning dizziness with certain head movements.
Why does the room spin when I roll over in bed or move suddenly?
Rolling over changes the position of loose inner ear crystals, which can stimulate the balance organs and create the sensation that the room is spinning.
Does the Epley Maneuver work?
For many patients with posterior canal BPPV, the Epley Maneuver is highly effective because it repositions displaced crystals back into the utricle where they no longer trigger vertigo.
Should I do the Epley Maneuver at home?
Some people can perform the maneuver safely at home after receiving the correct diagnosis and instructions. However, because treatment depends on identifying the affected ear and canal, an evaluation is recommended before attempting it yourself.
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