Dizziness and vertigo are common symptoms after
whiplash injuries. There are many possible causes of dizziness and vertigo.
Mild brain damage or Post-Concussion Syndrome can be
caused by damage to the inner ear or brain. Post-Concussion Syndrome is fairly common.
Vascular dysfunction caused by damage to the arteries
of the neck can cause dizziness or vertigo.
Direct neurological damage in the form of damaged
nerve roots and sympathetic nerve chain in the neck may cause dizziness or vertigo.
Myofascial damage including muscular hypertonicity has been
implicated as a cause of abnormal equilibrium.
Treatment
Although rare, it is important to rule out the
presence of serious neurological or vascular damage with symptoms of dizziness.
Refer immediately to a qualified physician.
If the problem is nerve root damage in the cervical
spine, chiropractic manipulation may be beneficial.
Surgery may be needed in severe cases of disc injury,
although the success rate of cervical spine surgery for whiplash injuries is very low.
Myofascial damage may be the biggest source of
dizziness, and as such, a qualified chiropractor, physical therapist or massage therapist,
might offer a treatment solution.