BPPV diagnosis and the Epley Maneuver Is Not Helping? | It’s Likely Your Neck the Root Cause | Sarasota Vertigo Doctor
If you’ve been diagnosed with BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), you were probably told that tiny crystals in your inner ear are out of place — and that the Epley maneuver should fix it.
And for some people, it does.
But what if it doesn’t?
What if you’ve had repeated Epley maneuvers… temporary relief… or no relief at all?
If that’s you, it may be time to look beyond the inner ear — and start looking at the neck.
👉 Schedule a FREE vertigo consultation today — call 941-259-1891 or click here.
Listen to our patients vertigo recovery story here to schedule online.
When It’s “Not Just the Ear”
BPPV is classically described as a mechanical problem inside the inner ear. However, balance is not controlled by the inner ear alone.
Your balance system depends on three major inputs:
The inner ear (vestibular system)
The eyes (visual system)
The neck joints and muscles (proprioceptive system)
If any one of these systems sends distorted or mismatched information to the brain, vertigo can occur.
Many patients diagnosed with BPPV actually have a deeper issue: abnormal input coming from the upper neck.
If your symptoms keep returning, it’s time to investigate the cervical spine.
📞 Call 941-259-1891 to book your free consultation or click here.
How the Neck Connects to the Balance Centers
At the top of your neck sits the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) — two highly specialized vertebrae that support the skull and surround the brainstem.
Inside the brainstem is an important processing center called the vestibular nucleus. This structure integrates information from:
The inner ear
The eyes
The upper cervical joints
The small joints in the upper neck are packed with proprioceptors — tiny sensors that constantly send information to the brain about head position and movement.
When the upper cervical spine is properly aligned, this information is accurate and balanced.
But when the top of the neck is misaligned — often from past injuries, whiplash, sports trauma, or chronic posture stress — those joints can send faulty signals to the vestibular nucleus.
That confusion can feel exactly like vertigo.
If this sounds like you, don’t keep guessing.
👉 Call 941-259-1891 to schedule your free vertigo consult.
Why the Epley Maneuver May Not Be Working
The Epley maneuver is designed to reposition inner ear crystals.
But if your vertigo is being driven by abnormal signals from the neck — not loose crystals — then moving the crystals won’t solve the problem.
Many patients who:
Feel worse after head movements
Notice vertigo triggered by neck rotation
Have chronic neck stiffness
Have a history of whiplash or head injury
Are actually dealing with cervical-driven vertigo rather than true BPPV.
When the neck is the root cause, treating only the inner ear won’t resolve the imbalance.
📞 Call 941-259-1891 to see if your neck could be contributing to your dizziness.
How 3D Imaging Identifies the True Cause
At our Sarasota vertigo office, we don’t guess.
We use advanced 3D CBCT (Cone Beam CT) imaging to precisely analyze the position of the upper cervical spine.
This technology allows us to:
Measure exact rotational misalignment
Evaluate tilt and lateral displacement
Assess joint integrity
Identify asymmetries invisible on standard X-rays
Instead of using generalized adjustments, we calculate the exact direction and degree of correction needed for your unique anatomy.
Precision matters — especially in an area as neurologically important as the upper neck.
👉 Book your FREE consultation today — call 941-259-1891.
The Correction: No Cracking, No Twisting
One of the biggest concerns patients have is:
“Are you going to twist or crack my neck?”
The answer is no.
Upper cervical correction is extremely gentle and specific.
There is:
No forceful twisting
No aggressive manipulation
No rapid rotation
The correction is delivered with a precise vector based on your 3D imaging findings.
Most patients are surprised at how light it feels.
The goal is not to force the spine — but to allow it to realign and stabilize naturally.
Why This Matters for Your Recovery
When alignment at the top of the neck improves, abnormal proprioceptive input to the vestibular nucleus can decrease.
This allows the brain to:
Process balance signals more accurately
Reduce vertigo episodes
Improve stability
Calm nervous system hypersensitivity
Many patients who were told they “just have chronic BPPV” discover that addressing the neck is what finally breaks the cycle.
If you’re in Sarasota and still struggling with vertigo, there may be a missing piece.
Ready to Stop the Spinning?
If you’ve tried the Epley maneuver and it’s not working…
If your vertigo keeps coming back…
If your dizziness feels triggered by head or neck movement…
It may be time to evaluate whether the upper cervical spine is contributing to your symptoms.
📞 Call 941-259-1891 now to schedule your FREE vertigo consultation.
You don’t have to keep living in fear of the next episode.
Your dizziness may not just be an ear issue.
It may be a neck issue.
And addressing the root cause could be the breakthrough you’ve been looking for.
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