Vertigo: Symptoms and Treatment
This month, we’re focusing on the head — specifically, a condition that causes dizziness. Welcome to the world of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Simply put, it’s a sudden, non-serious attack of dizziness triggered by changes in head position.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a type of dizziness where you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning, swaying, or whirling. It often feels like movement is happening when it isn’t. The most common cause of vertigo is BPPV. Other causes include Ménière’s disease (which also involves hearing loss and ringing ears) and labyrinthitis (inflammation of the inner ear).
Your ear has three parts: outer, middle, and inner. The outer ear is what you see on your head. It leads to the middle ear, which houses tiny ear bones and connects to the inner ear. The inner ear contains the cochlea (for hearing) and the vestibular system (for balance). BPPV involves this inner ear section.
What Causes BPPV?
The inner ear is complex. It’s a maze of fluid-filled chambers and canals. There are three semi-circular canals positioned to detect head movement in three directions: nodding, tilting, and turning. Tiny crystals inside these chambers help send movement signals to your brain.
Sometimes, these crystals detach and move into the canals. When this happens, they disrupt signals to the brain. The brain then thinks you are moving even when you are still. This mismatch between what your eyes see and what your ears feel causes vertigo. It’s like a confusing mix-up your brain can’t ignore — and it feels pretty unpleasant!
BPPV attacks often happen with quick head movements, like rolling over in bed, sitting up, or looking up. A recent head injury or age-related changes in the inner ear may also trigger BPPV.
Signs and Symptoms
The main symptom is a spinning or swaying sensation. You might also feel light-headed, off-balance, or nauseous. Attacks usually last a few minutes and come and go. Some people have symptom-free periods that last months.
If your vertigo lasts longer than a few minutes or you have additional symptoms like headache, hearing loss, numbness, tingling, speech trouble, or difficulty coordinating movements, seek medical help immediately. These may be signs of a more serious condition.
Can Vertigo Be Treated?
Good news: BPPV is very treatable. Most people first see their GP, who may refer them to us at Infinity for assessment and treatment. We start with a detailed consultation and physical exam. To confirm BPPV, we might perform a Dix-Hallpike test. This test may temporarily trigger symptoms, but we explain everything clearly and get your consent before proceeding.
Treatment involves specific head and body movements to move the crystals back to their proper place. The most common treatment is called the Epley Manoeuvre. It starts with you seated, then moving to lying down, and back to sitting upright. Sometimes, other manoeuvres are needed depending on which canal is affected.
After treatment, we give you advice on what to do (and avoid). You may need to keep your head still for the rest of the day and avoid heavy exercise. We usually see you again within a few days to check progress and continue treatment if needed.
Final Thoughts
Many patients come thinking they have vertigo, but it’s often other structural issues causing dizziness. That’s why a thorough consultation is key to getting the right diagnosis and treatment plan. If you suspect you have vertigo, come see us. Osteopaths are highly trained to treat dizziness and much more.
Helpful Links:
Jayden’s Explanation: https://youtu.be/4dFY8N9jsmw
More on Vertigo: https://infinityhealthandosteo.com.au/healthclippings/vertigo/
