Question
My husband, 37 has just had motorcycle accident (forest riding) 18 April 09 where he landed on his head and has a compressed fracture to his T7 vertebra.  3 nights in hospital on fluids only and sent home with a thoracic brace which helps. Bit of whiplash when landing and tight neck.  He is now experiencing dizziness when rolling over and sitting up also a bit of nausea if he lets vertigo continue.  It is helped by laying down flat and closing his eyes.  What can we do about the dizziness?  Husband was hoping for a pill.  Only medication is ibuprofen sometimes in the evening for the bone pain.

Answer
Heather;

Whew! Sounds like your husband was in a serious accident.  There are a lot of balance control receptors in the head and neck, eyes and ears.  So we need to address each in turn.

The head and neck fall under the expertise of a chiropractor.  I would find one that specializes in whiplash injury for your hubby.  The hinges in your (his) neck relay information as to location, direction, and loading... they can be injured in a bad wreck quite easily.

As for the eyes, this is something that should be checked by a doc that evaluated him after the accident.

It may be his ears.. a bad jarring can affect little "stones" in his ears called otoliths.  There is a gentle fix for this... Google the "Epley Maneuver"... it a means to realign or reset those little guys.  I'vehad great success with it, and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to do it.

A pill may in fact help, but that sounds a lot like cutting the alarm wires instead of putting out the fire... treat the CAUSE, not the symptom.  After all, your hubby wouldn't tape over the oil light on his bike because it was bothering him, right?  (These are the analogies I use, too.)

Seriously, though, he needs care.  He's obviously sprained his neck, and that needs to be addressed.  Get your man to a doc who can help.

Wish you were here in Seattle... I know a chiropractor here who specializes in this type of injury!  I always look for a Palmer graduate for chiropractors first.

Hope this answer helps!

Dr. Peter Carr