If you have been dealing with vertigo in Jacksonville or Mandarin, you know how much it can disrupt your life. The spinning sensation, the sudden dizziness, the nausea, the fear of moving your head too quickly — vertigo is not just uncomfortable. For many people it becomes limiting, affecting work, driving, sleep, and the ability to do simple daily tasks without fear.
At San Jose Chiropractic in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, Dr. Thuraia Owais (Dr. O) has helped a significant number of vertigo patients — including patients who had been dealing with dizziness for years and had tried multiple treatments without lasting relief. Her approach targets an area of the spine that is directly connected to balance and vestibular function, and that is frequently overlooked in conventional vertigo care.
This page explains what vertigo is, why the upper cervical spine is so often involved, and what patients in Jacksonville can expect from chiropractic care for vertigo at San Jose Chiropractic.
More Than Just Dizziness
Vertigo is the sensation that you or the world around you is spinning or moving when neither actually is. It is a symptom rather than a condition itself, meaning it is the result of an underlying problem rather than a standalone diagnosis.
Common descriptions from patients include:
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A spinning or tilting sensation, especially when changing head position
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Feeling off-balance or unsteady on their feet
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Nausea or vomiting associated with movement
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Difficulty walking in a straight line
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A sense that the floor is moving or shifting
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Sudden episodes that last seconds, minutes, or hours
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Sensitivity to light or sound during an episode
Vertigo is broadly categorized into two types. Peripheral vertigo originates in the inner ear or the vestibular nerve. Central vertigo originates in the brain or brainstem. Upper cervical misalignment can contribute to both types by affecting the structures and pathways that regulate balance and spatial orientation.
The Brainstem, Inner Ear, and Atlas Are Not Separate Systems
The vestibular system — the system responsible for balance and spatial orientation — relies on constant communication between the inner ear, the brainstem, the eyes, and the proprioceptors throughout the body. The brainstem sits at the base of the skull, surrounded by the Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2), the top two vertebrae in the neck.
When the Atlas is misaligned, even slightly, several things can happen that directly influence vestibular function:
Brainstem compression or irritation. The Atlas surrounds the brainstem. Misalignment in this area can place mechanical stress on the brainstem tissue, disrupting the processing of balance signals between the inner ear and the brain.
Disrupted cerebrospinal fluid flow. The Atlas and Axis play a role in the normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, which protects and nourishes the brain and spinal cord. Misalignment in this region may affect fluid dynamics in ways that influence vestibular processing.
Eustachian tube dysfunction. The upper cervical spine and surrounding musculature can influence the drainage of the Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the throat. When drainage is impaired, fluid can accumulate in the inner ear and contribute to pressure, imbalance, and vertigo symptoms.
Vertebral artery compression. The vertebral arteries pass through the transverse foramina of the upper cervical vertebrae on their way to the brainstem and cerebellum. Misalignment can affect blood flow through this pathway, influencing the vestibular and balance centers of the brain.
Cervicogenic vertigo. Proprioceptors in the joints and muscles of the upper cervical spine send position information directly to the brainstem. When the upper neck is misaligned, these signals can become inaccurate, creating a mismatch between what the neck is reporting and what the inner ear and eyes are sensing — which the brain experiences as vertigo.
BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
BPPV is the most common form of vertigo. It occurs when calcium crystals in the inner ear (called otoliths) become displaced and move into the semicircular canals, sending incorrect movement signals to the brain. While BPPV is primarily an inner ear condition, upper cervical misalignment can predispose patients to recurring BPPV episodes by affecting the drainage and structural integrity of the inner ear environment. Many patients who experience repeated BPPV find that upper cervical correction reduces the frequency of recurrence.
Meniere's Disease
Meniere's disease involves episodes of vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and hearing changes caused by fluid pressure fluctuations in the inner ear. Because upper cervical misalignment can affect Eustachian tube drainage and cerebrospinal fluid flow, it is considered a contributing factor in some Meniere's cases. Research has shown that upper cervical chiropractic care can be associated with significant improvement in Meniere's disease symptoms.
Post-Concussion Vertigo
Head injuries — including concussions from car accidents, sports impacts, or falls — frequently involve upper cervical trauma even when the neck appears uninjured externally. The Atlas and Axis are highly vulnerable to whiplash-type forces. Post-concussion vertigo that persists weeks or months after the initial injury is often related to unresolved upper cervical misalignment. Dr. O sees a number of patients in Jacksonville whose persistent post-concussion symptoms respond well to upper cervical correction after conventional treatment has plateaued.
Cervicogenic Vertigo
Cervicogenic vertigo refers specifically to vertigo that originates in the cervical spine rather than the inner ear. It is often associated with neck stiffness, headaches, and dizziness that worsens with neck movement or prolonged positions. This type of vertigo is frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked because it does not appear on standard vestibular tests. Upper cervical evaluation is essential for this patient population.
Car Accident and Trauma-Related Vertigo
Even low-speed rear-end collisions can produce Atlas misalignment that leads to recurring vertigo. Patients often describe the onset of dizziness beginning days or weeks after an accident once the initial adrenaline and inflammation have settled. If you have developed vertigo after a car accident in the Jacksonville area, upper cervical evaluation should be one of your first steps. You can learn more about how we approach car accident injuries at San Jose Chiropractic.
A Thorough Evaluation Before Any Adjustment
Dr. O does not adjust patients before she understands what is happening. Every new patient with vertigo receives a detailed health history covering the onset and pattern of symptoms, a neurological assessment including balance and coordination testing, postural analysis, and specialized upper cervical X-rays when indicated.
The X-ray analysis allows Dr. O to see the exact position of the Atlas and Axis and calculate the precise vector of correction needed for that patient's individual anatomy. This is not a one-size-fits-all adjustment. The correction is specific to you.
The Upper Cervical Orthospinology Adjustment
Dr. O uses the Orthospinology technique, a precision-based form of upper cervical care that uses an instrument rather than manual force to deliver the correction. There is no twisting of the neck and no cracking. The adjustment is gentle enough that most patients feel little to nothing during the correction itself.
After the adjustment, post-X-rays confirm that the Atlas moved to the corrected position. You do not have to guess whether anything changed. The imaging shows it objectively.
Monitoring Progress Over Time
Dr. O checks alignment at every visit but only adjusts when the spine has shifted out of position. One of the goals of upper cervical care is to help the body hold the correction for longer periods of time. As the body stabilizes, vertigo episodes typically decrease in frequency and intensity. Some patients notice changes quickly. Others, particularly those who have been dealing with vertigo for years, experience gradual and progressive improvement as the nervous system recalibrates.
Dr. O is honest about what to expect. Not every vertigo case has the same cause, and not every case responds at the same rate. Her job is to evaluate your situation specifically and give you an accurate picture of what upper cervical care may be able to do for you.
"Come Away Feeling Better"
Always a great visit I always come away feeling better. I have dealt with dizziness for many years until i came here and I have not any problems in almost 2 years.
Even went off medication that i have been in for at least 12 years. I shared it with my ENT doc he was amazed and happy for me. Thank you for helping me get my life back.
- Laurie H.
Verified Review Google Review
Most patients with vertigo in Jacksonville will first see their primary care physician or an ENT specialist. Common treatments include the Epley maneuver for BPPV, vestibular rehabilitation therapy, and medications to suppress dizziness. These approaches have their place and are appropriate for certain types of vertigo.
Where they often fall short is in addressing the structural component — specifically, whether the upper cervical spine is contributing to the problem. Vestibular rehabilitation does not evaluate the Atlas. ENT specialists do not examine the craniocervical junction. Medication can suppress the symptom without resolving the cause.
Upper cervical chiropractic care is not a replacement for these approaches — it is an evaluation of a dimension of the problem that most conventional vertigo care simply does not include. Many of Dr. O's vertigo patients are currently under the care of other providers and simply adding upper cervical evaluation as another piece of the puzzle.
You can read more about the different types of vertigo and their causes in our blog posts on vertigo, including a detailed explanation of the difference between peripheral and central vertigo.
Patients who come to San Jose Chiropractic for vertigo often discover that other symptoms they had been managing separately are also connected to upper cervical misalignment. Conditions that frequently accompany vertigo and respond well to upper cervical care include:
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Neck pain and stiffness
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Ear infections and Eustachian tube dysfunction
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Sinus congestion and pressure
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Tinnitus and Meniere's disease
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Neuropathies and nerve symptoms
See the full list on our conditions page.
Dr. Thuraia Owais is the only chiropractor in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville certified in upper cervical Orthospinology. She is a Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate, a member of the International Chiropractors Association and the Florida Chiropractic Society, and is currently completing her Diplomate of Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP) — one of the most advanced post-graduate credentials available in upper cervical chiropractic.
Her personal experience recovering from chronic ear infections, migraines, and elevated blood pressure through a single upper cervical adjustment gives her a firsthand understanding of how profoundly this area of the spine influences the way the body functions. For vertigo patients who have been told their tests look normal and their only options are medication or learning to manage symptoms, Dr. O's approach often represents something genuinely new.
If you have been living with vertigo in Jacksonville, Mandarin, or the surrounding area and are looking for an approach that goes beyond symptom management, we would like to meet you. Dr. O will perform a thorough evaluation, review your history and imaging, and give you an honest answer about whether upper cervical chiropractic care is appropriate for your situation.
New patients are welcome. No referral needed.
