An Easy Fix for Positional Vertigo
An Easy Fix for Positional Vertigo
I experienced this about 10 years ago. I fell asleep after a normal day with my eyes closed. But when I opened my eyes, my head spun violently. I experienced uncontrollable rolling of my eyes when the room spun around. This sensation caused me to vomit and became intensified whenever I lay on my right side or rapidly moved my head. Over time, these episodes continued as long as I was on my right side or if my head moved suddenly.
Often caused by benign positional vertigo, a condition that I regularly treat in my practice, this condition feels familiar if you've ever been diagnosed with it. Not serious, the condition is easy to treat and doesn't induce significant distress for sufferers.
- BPV's main distinction is made up of two aspects.
- Bewiggedness from BPV is linked to head or body changes.
- BPV-related vertigo has a fatiguing effect on the afflicted person. After they move, their dizziness lessens significantly.
The human ear contains three semicircular canals that play a significant role in determining one's sense of gravity. These canals function side-by-side at a 90-degree angle with one another. We sense three dimensions with fluid-lined canals that contain sensitive hair cells. This allows us to perceive the movement of particles in the fluid. Movement is detected through the hair cells as particles flow past them. Through this process, we become aware of the direction our head is moving in when our eyes are shut.
When the particles in BPV come together, it causes vertigo. This occurs because the hair cells passing through the canals get overstimulated. There's currently no concrete answer as to why clumps form in the virus. However, it is believed that recent colds or allergic reactions cause this to occur.
I recommend a move by Epley to my patients. Called the "maneuver," it's easy to perform and often quickly removes their dizziness. They don't need any medication to fix it.
When assessing the severity of a patient's symptom, note the direction in which the room spins when they experience vertigo and involuntary eye closure. I recommend that my patients take this into consideration when determining which ear is affected. When the ear is perceived to spin, the left or right ear is suspected. If it appears to rotate clockwise, then the suspected side is the right one. Conversely, if the ear spins counterclockwise, then it's assumed that the suspected ear has earwax buildup. After determining which side needs treatment, only a few simple movements are typically necessary in the proper order.
The steps listed below are for people with vertigo on the right side:
- (Head Extended - Rotate to the right) Lie on your back with your head hanging over the edge of the bed so that it is tilted back and your head is rotated to the right so that your right ear is pointing towards the floor.
(Head Extended - Rotate Left) From position one, rotate the head to the left until the left ear is pointing towards the floor. Remember that the head should also be extended slightly back.
- (Left Body Rotation) Rotate your entire body to the left until you lie on your left side with your nose pointing toward the floor.
- (Sit up) In one continuous motion, rise from the third position to sit on the edge of the bed.
Do this series of movements one to two times a day for a week.
Everything here is its own.
Helpful information is available in multiple forms:
Taking even the slightest of steps can cause dizziness. Avoid rushing through the steps or else they may induce more dizziness. Taking the time to fully recover from dizziness before moving on is recommended. It's best to avoid lying down immediately after completing this maneuver. Instead, I typically recommend performing this procedure early in the morning, then again in the middle of the day, and then not again until the next day.
.webp)
