If you’ve been dealing with dizziness that no one seems to be able to explain — your ears check out fine, your neurologist says everything looks normal, but you still feel off-balance and foggy — there’s a good chance your neck is the missing piece of the puzzle. Specifically, your upper cervical spine.
At Desoto Upper Cervical in Southaven, MS, Dr. David Hall and Dr. Troy Reistroffer work with patients every week who have been chasing answers for their dizziness for months or even years. Once a cervical misalignment is identified and corrected, many of them finally start feeling like themselves again.
This article is going to walk you through what cervicogenic dizziness actually is, how a misaligned atlas bone contributes to it, and what upper cervical chiropractic care can do to help.
Table of Contents
What Is Cervicogenic Dizziness?
Cervicogenic dizziness — sometimes called cervical vertigo — is a type of dizziness that originates from the neck rather than the inner ear or the brain. The word “cervicogenic” literally means “arising from the cervical spine.”
It’s one of the more commonly overlooked causes of dizziness because the symptoms can look a lot like inner ear problems (such as BPPV or labyrinthitis) or even vestibular migraines. Without understanding where to look, it’s easy for the real cause to get missed.
People with cervicogenic dizziness often describe their experience as:
- A feeling of unsteadiness or being “off” — not necessarily a spinning sensation
- Dizziness that gets worse when they turn their head or change positions
- Lightheadedness that flares up after sitting at a desk or looking at a screen for long periods
- A foggy or heavy feeling in the head, especially toward the base of the skull
- Neck stiffness or soreness that accompanies the dizziness episodes
If any of those sound familiar, keep reading.
Why the Upper Cervical Spine Is So Involved
The top two vertebrae of the spine — the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2) — sit at the very base of the skull. This region is unlike any other part of the spine. It houses and protects the brainstem, one of the most critical structures in your entire nervous system. It’s also packed with proprioceptive receptors — specialized nerve endings that send constant signals to your brain about where your head is in space.
These proprioceptive signals work in close coordination with your inner ear and your visual system to keep you balanced and oriented. When everything is working in harmony, you move through life without giving balance a second thought.
But here’s the problem: when the atlas vertebra shifts out of its proper alignment — even by a very small margin — it can disrupt those proprioceptive signals. The brain starts receiving conflicting information from the neck versus what the eyes and inner ear are saying, and the result is dizziness, disorientation, and a general sense of being unsteady.
On top of that, an atlas misalignment can place mechanical stress on the surrounding soft tissues, affect blood flow through the vertebral arteries that travel through the cervical spine, and create tension along the suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull — all of which can contribute to cervicogenic dizziness and related symptoms like headaches and brain fog.
Common Causes of Upper Cervical Misalignment
A misalignment (or subluxation) at the atlas or axis level doesn’t always happen from a dramatic injury. Some of the most common causes include:
- Auto accidents and whiplash — Even low-speed collisions can force the head to move in ways the neck wasn’t designed to handle, shifting the atlas out of position.
- Slip and fall accidents — Landing on your back, head, or shoulder can transmit enough force to displace the upper cervical vertebrae.
- Sports injuries — Contact sports, gymnastics, and even cycling falls are common culprits.
- Poor posture over time — Years of forward head posture from desk work, phone use, and driving gradually shift the load the atlas has to bear, eventually leading to a functional misalignment.
- Birth trauma — The forces involved in childbirth, especially with the use of forceps or vacuum extraction, can affect the upper cervical spine from very early in life.
In many cases, the misalignment happens and the person compensates for it without realizing it — until dizziness, neck pain, or other symptoms start to accumulate.
How Desoto Upper Cervical Addresses Cervicogenic Dizziness
Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer specialize exclusively in upper cervical chiropractic, which means their entire focus is on detecting and correcting misalignments in the atlas and axis region of the spine.
The process starts with a thorough evaluation, including a detailed patient history and precise diagnostic imaging. Upper cervical X-rays are taken at specific angles to measure exactly how the atlas has shifted — its degree of tilt, rotation, and lateral displacement. This is not guesswork. The images give the doctors the information they need to design a correction that is specific to your anatomy.
Atlas Orthogonal Technique
One of the primary techniques used at Desoto Upper Cervical is Atlas Orthogonal. This is an instrument-based approach that delivers a precise, gentle impulse to the atlas vertebra. There is no twisting, cracking, or forceful manipulation. The adjustment is so subtle that patients are often surprised by how little they feel during the correction — and then amazed by how much changes afterward.
Orthospinology Technique
Orthospinology is a closely related method that also uses precise measurement and a gentle, calculated adjustment to reposition the atlas. Like Atlas Orthogonal, it is based on a thorough analysis of X-ray data and is tailored to each individual patient’s specific misalignment pattern.
Both techniques work toward the same goal: restoring normal alignment at the top of the spine so the brainstem and nervous system can function without interference, proprioceptive signals can normalize, and the body can begin to rebalance itself.
Is This Different from Inner Ear Vertigo?
Yes — and the distinction matters a great deal when it comes to finding the right care.
Inner ear conditions like BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) involve displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear canals. They typically cause brief, intense spinning sensations triggered by specific head movements. BPPV is usually treated with a series of repositioning maneuvers performed by a physical therapist or doctor.
Cervicogenic dizziness, on the other hand, tends to be more constant or dull — a persistent feeling of being unsteady or foggy rather than a dramatic spinning episode. It is often tied to neck position, neck stiffness, and postural changes. It doesn’t respond to ear repositioning maneuvers because the source isn’t the inner ear — it’s the cervical spine.
In some patients, both conditions can be present at the same time, which is part of why diagnosis can be tricky. An upper cervical evaluation can help determine how much of the dizziness picture is being driven by the neck, and addressing the cervical component often leads to significant improvement even in complex cases.
Could Your Dizziness Be Coming from Your Neck? A Self-Qualifier Checklist
You may be a good candidate for an upper cervical evaluation if you answer yes to several of the following:
- Your dizziness is accompanied by neck pain or stiffness
- You notice your dizziness is worse after long periods of sitting, driving, or looking at screens
- Your symptoms started or worsened after an accident, fall, or injury
- You’ve been evaluated for inner ear problems and the results were normal
- You experience a heavy, foggy feeling at the base of the skull along with your dizziness
- You have frequent headaches, especially at the back of the head or behind the eyes
- Turning your head or looking up and down tends to trigger or worsen your symptoms
- You’ve been dealing with this for months without a clear diagnosis or effective treatment
If this list resonates with you, the upper cervical spine deserves a closer look.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cervicogenic Dizziness and Upper Cervical Care
What exactly causes the dizziness if the problem is in the neck?
The neck — especially the upper cervical region — is loaded with proprioceptive nerve receptors that constantly send positional signals to the brain. When the atlas is misaligned, those signals become distorted or inconsistent. The brain receives conflicting information from the neck, inner ear, and eyes, which it interprets as dizziness or imbalance. Restoring proper alignment helps normalize that signaling.
How is cervicogenic dizziness diagnosed?
There is no single definitive test, which is part of why it often goes unrecognized. Diagnosis is typically based on a combination of patient history, the pattern and timing of symptoms, physical examination of the cervical spine, and ruling out inner ear causes. Upper cervical X-rays help identify the structural misalignment that may be driving the symptoms.
Can cervicogenic dizziness cause nausea?
Yes. When the brain is receiving conflicting sensory signals, nausea is a very common secondary symptom — similar to what happens with motion sickness. Some patients also experience sensitivity to light and sound, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating alongside their dizziness.
How long does it take to see improvement after an upper cervical adjustment?
This varies from person to person. Some patients notice a significant reduction in dizziness within the first few adjustments. Others experience more gradual improvement over several weeks as the spine stabilizes in its corrected position. The length of time the misalignment has been present can influence how quickly the body responds.
Are the adjustments at Desoto Upper Cervical safe for people with dizziness?
Absolutely. Both Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology are exceptionally gentle techniques. There is no forceful manipulation, cracking, or aggressive movement of the head and neck. The adjustments are precise and low-force, making them appropriate even for patients who are highly sensitive or who have been nervous about seeking chiropractic care in the past.
Can cervicogenic dizziness come back after treatment?
If the underlying factors that contributed to the original misalignment — such as posture habits, workplace ergonomics, or repetitive activities — aren’t addressed, there is some possibility of the atlas shifting again over time. That’s why Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer also provide guidance on maintaining spinal health between visits and protecting the correction you’ve achieved.
Should I stop seeing my ear doctor or neurologist while pursuing upper cervical care?
Not necessarily. Upper cervical care works well alongside other healthcare providers. If you’re already being evaluated by a specialist, it’s worth letting them know you’re also pursuing a cervical spine evaluation. Many patients find that upper cervical care addresses what their other providers couldn’t find — not because those providers missed something, but because the neck connection simply wasn’t on their radar.
Stop Chasing Answers — Start at the Top of the Spine
Dizziness that doesn’t respond to standard treatment is frustrating and exhausting. But for many people in the Southaven area and across the Mid-South, the answer has been right there at the base of their skull all along — a misaligned atlas quietly disrupting the nervous system’s ability to keep them balanced.
Dr. David Hall and Dr. Troy Reistroffer at Desoto Upper Cervical have helped countless patients find relief from chronic dizziness by identifying and correcting precisely this type of problem. If you’re ready to find out whether your neck is the source of your symptoms, they’re ready to help.
Call us today at (662) 393-4848 to schedule your consultation. We’re located at 1134 Church Rd W, Southaven, MS 38671. You can also learn more about what to expect at your first visit by exploring our website at www.desotouppercervical.com.
Please note: Upper cervical chiropractic care is not a substitute for emergency medical evaluation. If you experience sudden, severe dizziness accompanied by vision changes, difficulty speaking, weakness, or numbness, seek emergency care immediately as these may indicate a serious neurological condition.
