Vertigo Treatment in Los Gatos
Feeling like the room is spinning even when you’re perfectly still can be scary, exhausting, and honestly, just super disruptive to your life.
At On Purpose Chiropractic in Los Gatos, Dr. Adam Kleinberg offers natural, non-invasive care designed to support your body’s own healing systems and help you feel steady again.
Here, you’ll learn what vertigo is, what might be causing it, and how chiropractic care and targeted techniques may help ease your symptoms so you can get back to normal life.
The first step is simple: Call (408) 354-8044 to schedule your consultation.
What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is more than “just feeling dizzy.” It’s the intense sensation that you or the room around you is spinning, tilting, or rocking, even though everything is still. Vertigo itself isn’t a disease; it’s a symptom that usually comes from issues in the inner ear (the body’s balance organ) or in the brain areas that process balance and eye movements.
People often mix up vertigo with lightheadedness. Lightheadedness feels more like you might faint. Vertigo is more like you’re on a spinning ride you never asked to be on. It can last just a few seconds when you change positions, or it can stick around for minutes or longer, sometimes coming in waves through the day.
In Dr. Kleinberg’s practice, a big focus is helping patients actually understand what’s going on. He often explains that when communication between your brain and body isn’t flowing the way it should, symptoms show up in different ways—pain, dizziness, vertigo, and more. By looking at how your spine, nervous system, and balance systems are working together, he builds a plan that aims to restore better function rather than just chasing symptoms.
Symptoms of Vertigo
Vertigo can hit everyone a little differently, but common symptoms include:
- Spinning sensation – feeling like you or the room is moving when it’s not
- Nausea and vomiting – your stomach reacting to the mixed balance signals
- Feeling off-balance or pulled to one side – especially when walking or standing
- Unsteady gait – difficulty walking in a straight line or feeling wobbly
- Blurry or double vision – eyes struggling to keep up with abnormal signals
- Nystagmus – rapid, uncontrollable eye movements
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) – buzzing, ringing, or humming sounds
- Hearing changes in one ear – muffled hearing or partial hearing loss
- Cold sweats – feeling clammy or sweaty with the spinning
- Headaches or pressure in the head – especially with migraine-related vertigo
- Difficulty focusing or thinking clearly – “brain fog” during episodes
- Severe symptoms (seek urgent medical care): weakness, slurred speech, facial drooping, trouble walking straight, or sudden severe headache
Common Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo usually traces back to either:
- Peripheral vertigo – problems in the inner ear or the vestibular nerve, which sends balance info from your ear to your brain.
- Central vertigo – problems in the brainstem or cerebellum, where balance and coordination are processed.
Some common conditions linked to vertigo include:
- BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) – tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear break loose and slip into the semicircular canals, confusing your balance system when you move your head.
- Meniere’s disease – inner ear fluid imbalance causing vertigo, hearing loss, and ear pressure or ringing.
- Labyrinthitis & vestibular neuritis – inflammation or infection affecting the inner ear or vestibular nerve.
- Vestibular migraine – migraine activity that messes with balance and can trigger vertigo even without a headache.
- Head or neck injuries – trauma can disturb the inner ear and the nerves in your cervical spine.
- Stroke, tumors, or neurological disorders – more serious central causes that must be ruled out when red-flag symptoms are present.
- Certain medications – some medication-free can damage inner ear structures or alter blood flow.
Remember: vertigo is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis. The real goal is to figure out why it’s happening and address that root cause.
Vertigo Treatment
A lot of mild vertigo episodes fade on their own as your brain and inner ear recalibrate. But when vertigo keeps coming back or hits hard, treatment becomes important for safety and quality of life.
Depending on the cause, your medical doctor might recommend:
- Medications – such as antihistamines, anti-nausea meds, or medications used for migraines
- Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) – specialized exercises that retrain your brain to handle balance signals better
- Repositioning maneuvers – like the Epley maneuver for BPPV, to help move misplaced calcium crystals out of the inner ear canals
- Lifestyle and diet changes – especially for Meniere’s disease or migraine-related vertigo
- Treatment of underlying conditions – like infections, cardiovascular issues, or neurological problems
At On Purpose Chiropractic, chiropractic care is meant to complement, not replace, appropriate medical care. If your symptoms or history suggest something more serious, you’ll be advised to follow up with your primary care physician or a specialist so your care team is all on the same page.
Chiropractic Treatment for Vertigo
Dr. Kleinberg’s whole approach centers around one big idea: when the brain can send its energy and instructions clearly through the nervous system, the body has a much better shot at healing from the inside out. Here’s how that can relate to vertigo:
- Your spine protects your nervous system. If spinal misalignments (subluxations) disturb how nerves carry information between your inner ear, neck, and brain, your balance system may get distorted signals.
- Through gentle chiropractic adjustments, especially to the cervical spine (neck), the goal is to reduce nerve interference so the brain and balance centers can communicate more clearly.
- Dr. Kleinberg is big on assessment, not guesswork—he typically uses detailed exams, posture checks, leg length checks, and, when appropriate, digital X-rays to understand how your spine is functioning before recommending a plan.
For vertigo, your care might include:
- Specific spinal adjustments aimed at improving motion and alignment in the neck and upper back
- Posture and lifestyle guidance (for example, improving workstation setup, changing sleep positions, or avoiding certain head positions that trigger vertigo)
- Referral or co-management for vestibular rehab or medical evaluation when needed
For patients with BPPV, many providers use the Epley maneuver—a guided series of head and body movements that help move those loose inner-ear crystals back to where they belong in the utricle. This maneuver has been reported in studies to have success rates around 78–95% for BPPV, especially when repeated as needed.
Chiropractic care for vertigo is:
- Non-invasive and medication-free-free
- Individualized – based on your exam findings and history
- Collaborative – designed to work alongside your medical care, not replace it
Results vary from person to person, but the focus is always the same: support the nervous system so your body has a better chance to stabilize your balance.
What Our Patients Say
These are sample reviews modeled after real patient experiences in the clinic.
- I came in barely able to walk straight without the room spinning. Dr. Kleinberg listened, explained what was going on in plain English, and started gentle adjustments. Within a few visits my balance was noticeably better, and my anxiety around the dizziness dropped a ton.
- Vertigo episodes were wrecking my workdays. The combo of neck adjustments, posture coaching, and home exercises made a huge difference. I really appreciate that Dr. Adam focused on education first so I understood what my body was trying to tell me.
- I’d been told to ‘just live with it.’ Here, I finally felt heard. The team was kind, flexible with scheduling, and over a few weeks my spinning attacks got shorter and less intense. I feel like I have my life back.
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FAQs
What does vertigo actually feel like?
Vertigo usually feels like you’re moving when you’re not, or like the room is spinning, tilting, or swaying. Some people feel like they’re on a boat or being pulled to one side. It’s common to also feel nauseous, sweaty, or off-balance during an episode.
Is vertigo the same thing as “just being dizzy”?
Not quite. Dizziness is a broad term and can mean feeling faint, lightheaded, or weak. Vertigo specifically means a false sense of movement—like spinning or rotating—even when you’re still. Vertigo usually points to an issue in the inner ear or brain’s balance centers, while other dizziness can come from things like low blood pressure, dehydration, or blood sugar changes.
How does the Epley maneuver work for vertigo?
In BPPV, tiny calcium crystals that belong in one part of the inner ear can slip into the semicircular canals and confuse your balance system. The Epley maneuver is a step-by-step series of head and body movements that use gravity to guide those crystals back to the utricle, where they don’t trigger vertigo. Studies show this technique can relieve BPPV in a high percentage of patients, often between about 78–95%, especially with repeat sessions when needed.
Is chiropractic care safe for vertigo?
For most people, chiropractic care is considered very safe when it’s done by a trained, licensed chiropractor and based on a proper exam. Dr. Kleinberg has been in practice for over 25 years and has delivered hundreds of thousands of adjustments. As with any health care, there are risks and benefits, and those will be discussed with you. Chiropractic is not a replacement for emergency medical care—if you have sudden severe symptoms (like trouble speaking, walking, or facial drooping), you should seek urgent medical attention.
How long until I start to feel better?
Everyone’s different. Some patients notice changes within the first few sessions, while others improve more gradually over several weeks. Factors like how long you’ve had vertigo, your age, posture, and lifestyle all play a role. Dr. Kleinberg’s plans are usually structured over a number of weeks so there’s enough repetition to create meaningful change, and he’ll reassess as you go. Results can’t be guaranteed, but the goal is always steady, sustainable improvement.
Do I need imaging like an MRI or CT scan before starting care?
Not always. Many vertigo cases can be evaluated through a detailed history, exam, and sometimes digital X-rays of the spine when appropriate. If your symptoms or exam suggest something more serious—or if you’re not responding as expected—Dr. Kleinberg may recommend imaging or a referral to another provider. He works from a “team” mindset: whatever gets you the safest and most effective care.
