Long Term Dizziness after BPPV

[cpyles]

I have experienced chronic dizziness for 2 years after having BPPV. The severity varies from day-to-day, but on bad days I feel lightheaded, easily get dizzy, will have mild visual disturbances [e.g. when staring a striped object I will see the stripes vibrate], and am very senstive to rapid head movements particularly in the dark. I am posting in hopes that someone else may have had a similar experiences and can share their diagnoses or successes.

History
37yoM.  Two yrs ago I had sudden attack of BPPV. After 6 weeks untreated it was diagnosed as both posterior and horizontal canal bppv and sucessfully treated at UCSF. Post treatment I have not had any nystagmus or "spinning attacks"

Post treament I was given vestibular rehab exercises which i did religiously for 45 min/ day for 6 mos. This helped but did not stop the symptoms.  I added daily Yoga and got significant relief but still no resolution

In the past yr I've seen two oto-neurologists.  Who were both stumped. MRI and MRA were normal.  One suspected some residual loose otoliths and prescribed epleys for two weeks. This didn't help. The second suspected migraine associated vertigo, since I usually have headaches that come w/dizzy attacks [though I think these are CAUSED by the dizziness].He put me on nortryptiline 25mg/day. After about 1month I did seem to improve, but after few weeks the same symptoms returned.  I am now upping the dose to see if that helps but I feel that I am barking up the wrong tree and the migraine assocation might be a red herring

Appreciate hearing from others

[Qlacanau]

I am 19 and have been experiencing on and off dizziness for about 3 years. Originally it started with just lack of balance which rendered me bed ridden for a few months. I had numerous tests carried out such as CT scans, eye tests and heart testing. All came back negative. The doctor do ally came to the conclusion that I was vitamin d deficient which I then got a second opinion on. The second doctor told me that vitamin d deficiency does not cause dizziness. A few months back I rolled over in bed and experienced everything spinning to which I then was diagnosed with bbpv. My GP reccommend some excercises that only seemed to make me worse and to then prescribed medication that did nothing.

After trial and error they passed me on to a physiotherapist that specialised in dizziness. They performed the Epley moneuver and it actually helped significantly. I am now able to do things like shower and walk around. However, I still experience cases of random off balance whether it be while looking at my laptop screen, sitting or walking.

My physiotherapist is now diagnosising me with anxiety and saying I have to talk to a councillor. Although I admit to having anxiety about going anywhere alone, it is only because of the dizziness that I feel this.

[daughterofChrist]

Hi I have the same exact story as you except they never told me if I was lacking vitamins they just assumed it was anxiety and they didn't bother to check deeper within besides the scans, x rays, blood tests, and checking the ears. They weren't very helpful I am 19 years old as well and I have been experiencing the same as you and now I only experience the symptoms when I lay flat down so I cannot sleep laying my neck or head down I sleep elevated and when I turn my head to the right/left while laying down, when Im putting my head to low or high up and other occasions etc. Don't waste your time going to the psychologist for anxiety the vertigo is what causes anxiety I know because they tried to make it seem like if it was anxiety causing it but its not its the vertigo that causes you to panic or be scared which is completely normal Im sure anyone who would be spinning around would get scared. Have you gotten better? Its been 3 years for me as well.

[Sarahadavis]

I should add I'm still fitting prism and adjusting. It's only been three months and I am feeling more like myself every single day!

[Sarahadavis]

Look into vertical heterophoria. I live near Dublin and went to ucsf also. Go see dr Penza at city optometry ASAP. I bet you have vertical heterophoria and pppd, if the nort helped. I would not walk I would RUN to him. He has gotten rid of my dizziness by 60% I would say. Still not driving but hoping to be able to after I start nort.

[Pontenegra]

I have experienced lack of balance and floating sensation virtually every day, some days better than others. At times, I feel that it goes away than comes back. All after my first sudden BPPV. Epley helped with virtigo, but the lingering sense of imbalance is debilitating. Going for an MRI. ENT said it could be the Eustachian tube not equalizing. If I find relief in any way, I will let you know. Cmg

[Brady12345678]

I have exact same constant spinning and dizziness. Right now. I think its a middle or imner ear draining priblem. Any help is appreciated.

[sweet_KGB]

Hey dear I had same problem and now I have cured if your job is computer job.


http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Neurology/Feeling-Nausea-vomiting--Vertigo-with-off-balance-body-/show/2800062#post_13520067

The main cause was my sitting position at my Office. I am software developer and daily sitting on laptop for 9 hours a day job.

here I tried and my vertigo is gone.

1. 1st I replaced my macbook with big iMac, which kept my head position Straight.
2. Do neck exercises after every 2-3 hours, you will hear pop sound on back of neck which will relax your neck.
3. Also stand up and go out side stretch your body arms up and stretch your whole body like infants or baby do after every sleep.
4. Do eyes exercises, Also avoid for 6 working days job. Do for 5 days only.. computer puts lots of pressure and stress on eyes and brain. Where anti glare glasses always.
5. Don't use your phone much..

I have resolved with my neck exercise. none medicines worked for me. But all these helped me since 1 year.

we live in environment like wifi hotspots, phone, computer... every thing is bad for our health.

[hanabppv]

Hi dear,
Thank you very much for your hints. If you help one person to relieve the symptoms, you have done a great job.  I also is behind my laptop even more than you and I will try your solutions. But I think my symptoms seem to be different than yours. As my dizziness started after  a sever vertigo as BPPV. After Epley treatment, I have not had such a vertigo but I always feel dizzy and off balanced nearly during every day which lasts long. Also I got confused when walking and looking at squared pattern on the ground. There is delay in continuous progression of pictures. I also experience that my eye pupils are not of the same size at times and look larger than normal size sometimes. I think you have not  mentioned these symptoms.

[hanabppv]

Hi,
I have been experiencing the dizziness after BPPV and found some visual disturbances e.g when looking at stripped and structured patterns and difference in size of eye pupils in dim light. has anybody experienced this difference? Please share with us if you have found any solutions?

[Stacy0624]

Has anyone experienced issues with sleeping from having BVVP for a while? I sleep on my back at 45 degrees but when I try to sleep it feels like my brain is fighting dizziness... I get worken up by this several times during the night.

[MomtoBlake]

I too have been struggling with dizziness and vertigo. I have read through every post and have seen head injuries or neck pain as a common theme. I'm currently seeing a NUCCA Specialist who had found a C1 & C2 (top 2 Vertebrae in our spines) subluxation/misalignment. When this occurs, it brings on a laundry list of symptoms and illnesses as thr nerve pathways to and from the brain are interfered with. The C1 & C2 are donut shaped in that they have a hole in the center where our spinal cord travels. If these bones are displaced or out of alignment, it can cause issues anywhere in our body. Think of it like a kinked hose. I am 2 months in to treatment and am a lot better in a lot of ways. He thinks my subluxation has existed since I was a child. Possibly since birth. I was a large baby of the late 70s where forceps were used. I've also had some head bumps and whiplash injuries over the years. After my xrays, my doctor said that my misalignment was in the top 3 worst he's ever seen. Often times they review the xrays and measure for thr slightest of misalignment. Mine was severe enough, he could see it just at quick Glace of the xray. And when he showed me mine next to a healthy spine, I couldn't believe the difference. FINALLY....someone knows what's wrong with me! Read up on NUCCA or Upper Cervical Subluxation and see if you have any of the many symptoms that this could cause. If you do, find a NUCCA Dr (regular chiropractors aren't trained in this...it must be a NUCCA Specialist) I had symptoms that I never would have related to being connected. Jaw clicking, deviated septum, chronic sinus issues, pain in left hip, digestive issues, lower back pain, the list goes on.

[jolynn56]

I can sympathize with you all. I have been suffering from BPPV since 1991 after diving for pennies in the pool with my son at a BBQ. The next morning I jumped out of bed to go to the bathroom and was thrown violently to the floor. I tried to get up several times with the same result. I couldn't lift my head and had to crawl to the bathroom. I really thought I had a brain tumor or something equally as frightening. We were on vacation and I spent the rest of it curled in a fetal position. It was the only way to stop the spinning. The symptoms subsided but hadn't gone away after a month so I went to my doctor back home and he told me that it was an inner ear infection that would come and go for the rest of my life but that each new episode should be less severe. It seemed he was right and for years it went away completely. In 1998 I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and underwent chemo and radiation and so I had all but forgotten the vertigo because of this new disease. That was until the vertigo came back with a vengeance. I had finally had enough when after 6 months the symptoms had not subsided. My PC doctor referred me to an ENT doctor. I swear to you this doctor came into the room, introduced himself, looked in both ears. Told me I had fluid in both ears and with no further tests told me I had developed a salt sensitivity. Wrote a prescription for a harsh heart medicine told me to take it for three days and if the symptoms got better stop taking it. If not better go five days but try not to take it any longer since I didn't have the heart condition that the drug was usually used for. I tried to ask him how he could be sure that it was a salt sensitivity without further testing and why I developed it and he turned at the door and said "just dumb luck" and out the door he went. That office visit took about three minutes. Needless to say the meds didn't work and I never went back to that idiot. Fortunately for me my doctor at the cancer clinic was able to help. I was over 5 years out with no signs of cancer and she said you must be so happy and I burst into tears and told her I would be if vertigo was ruining my life. She immediately got on the phone and spoke to the specialists at LSU and got me an appointment at their ENT clinic. She also prescribed valium because they said it helps calm the inner ear and help with the anxiety that goes along with the BPPV. At my appointment they did the Epley maneuver and put me in a neck brace. They told me to stay in an upright position for 72 hours and no bending over during that time and miracle of miracles it worked. I was totally symptom free for at least 2 years but sadly the vertigo has come back and the Epley hasn't worked on the latest bout. I guess all I can say to you is never let a doctor tell you it's all in your head or put you on some medication that isn't used specifically for vertigo. Keep trying to find a specialist who deals with vertigo, because it is apparent that most family doctors are clueless when it comes to BPPV.  Also if you have the Epley, wear the neck brace (it just reminds you not to tilt your head) and don't lay down past a 45 degree angle for the whole 72 hours. Some doctors and pt's don't tell you to do it but when I did it, it worked. I went to a pt and not LSU hospital clinic this last time and they said 48 hours and like I said it hasn't worked yet.  It's hard to but when you think of the alternative of having symptoms for months it is well  worth the effort if it works. There is a new chair called the Epley Omniax that I saw on The Doctors. It is on YouTube so you can look it up. There are only six in use in the U.S. maybe more since that episode. Cities I know of are St. Louis, Chicago, L.A. Las Vegas and in the Tampa Bay area. If any of you live in any of those cities I would start there and forgo all the misery of repeat visits and endless referrals. I wish you all the best.  

[lll4242]

I have suffered with vertigo for over 15 years.   First brought on by an ear infection.  First ENT doctor did very little for me except prescribe prednisone, which did not help and my first attack lasted almost 6 months.  Then about 10 months after taking the prednisone, I suddenly went blind in my left eye.  Doctor said it was caused by the prednisone and I had to have both of the lenses in my eyes replaced with interocular implants.  The first place that finally helped me was a balance center about 6 years after my first attack and I was finally diagnosed with BPPV and treated for that.  The problem is the vertigo always comes back and I have resigned myself to the fact that this is how I'm always going to be.  After the repositioning techniques stop the violent spinning, I'm always faced with the residual after effects that are also bad.  Have trouble reading or looking at a computer screen because of flickering effect with my eyes.  I can also sometimes tell when an attack is coming because the base of my head at my neck starts to feel woozy.  It always comes on after laying down to sleep.  Sometimes I have trouble in a store because it is like there is too much visual stimulation and my brain feels like it has to lock onto every item and process it instead of just walking by things.  I always have to leave the store within 5 minutes cannot tolerate any longer.  When it's really bad, I can read words but can't tell you what it means.  I feel the need to touch things to keep my balance and also look downward at my feet to keep from walking like a drunk person.  These two habits are not good and do hurt recovery.  The worst part is trying to retrain my brain to listen to my inner ears again after violent spinning has been stopped.  It feels like one side of my brain is fighting the other side and is very uncomfortable.  It is also and extremely exhausting illness.  I have to do so many things to compensate for the balance problems.  It is extremely depressing especially because I live alone and there is no one to help me with daily tasks when I'm bad.  I fall a lot and a couple of years ago during a vertigo attack, I was trying to walk through a doorway and hit the frame which propelled me backwards and I hit the short post of my bedframe knocking me out.  I had a concussion and had to have stapled put in my head.  These vertigo episodes have so dramatically effected my life it's horrible.  A lot of people question and think that I am faking an illness to get out of work, which is so not true.  People think your just dizzy and that is so not what it is.  I've had so many people call me because they got vertigo from something and say, "Im so sorry I didn't understand how bad this is for you and don't know how you've done this for so long"  Just wanted to share my experiences so it may help someone else

[LaceyK61]

You're just like me and I sympathize.  It's miserable and depressing. I fear leaving my bed, let alone the house. If I do leave the house, I sedate myself as much as possible with Diazepam, which reduces the anxiety of being so off balance. Forget walking in the dark or in open spaces. I have had vestibular therapy about a year ago and it seemed to help some but I was only able to do 3 treatments before leaving the state.  I am now waiting on my referral here in CA to see another therapist.  The thought of having to go through those horrible induced vertigo spells makes me cry just thinking about it.  You literally feel like you are going to die from the panic associated with it. I have been going through this since the 80's, although it didn't become chronic until 2006. Up until then I was functional...I could drive and work and then boom, I found myself not being able to leave the house because of the fear of getting dizzy and going into panic. Anyway, I didn't know what was going on until I saw a doctor in 2010 who diagnosed me right away with BPPV. It was on my first visit to him for a physical and he asked me to tilt my head back so he could look up my nose and I said, "no way".  That led to questions which then led to him doing a test in his office (which terrified me) and sure enough he determined it was my right ear.   Last year I saw a very good Neurologist who ruled out everything but BPPV. I did the MRI thing, with and without contrast.  That was a relief but this horrible imbalance is really getting me down.  I'm afraid to shower because I can't stand up straight and often end up sitting on the shower floor.  I have so many symptoms  Walking off to the right, constantly.  Looking down with my eyes (like doing dishes or cooking), is miserable and I have to hang on to the wall or counter.  The energy I expend just trying to be "straight" is exhausting.  Any kind of exercise is out and all I do is sit on my bed, afraid to move.  Most of the time it's ME that's moving in my head and not so much my surroundings, although that does happen if I'm not careful what position my head is in.  I feel there is no hope.  I pray A LOT and am now in a place of just trusting the Lord to help me through this.  I'm sorry for going on and on but it's been pretty bad for me the past couple of days.  I sure hope you feel better soon.

[Schneckle]

I've had vertigo for over 21 years, I was officially diagnosed with BPPV in 2000. A lot of times I have an intense itch on the inside of my ear, slight facial numbness, stiffness in my neck, blurry vision, on the right side off my face only. I've tried Antivert which just made me sleepy, what works best for me is a simple antihistamine like Sudafed. and if I get  a headache, which I often times do, I use Sudafed Sinus pressure and pain and do the Epley maneuver. My doc also suggested an over the counter allergy medication to prevent an increase in fluids due to allergies, which I am now taking seasonally. My vertigo comes only from my right ear, so I try to lay on my left side when I sleep or lay on the couch, maybe that's where I get the stiff neck from, but it does prevent the attacks a bit! I still get an attack about 5 times per year but they won't last as long anymore since I've been doing the Epley in conjunction with the antihistamin. So instead of being sick for weeks it might take 2 to 5 days.

[neidlinger]

Try the Epley chair available at Mayo and a few other places. It's helped dx and treat me more than the manual moves. PT doesn't work if ear crystals aren't stable. Some of the most serious persistent cases are because BPPV is in both ears or in the difficult to diagnose anterior canal.

It's not all in your head, but in your ears. Don't let doctors diagnose you as anxious when you know the vertigo came first!

[Kathyg100]

I have had BPPV symptoms for the past 3 months and was doing the Epley exercise on my own. Today I saw a PT who did an evaluation to rule out other, more severe, conditions. As bad as I feel, it is amazing to think there are worse conditions, but BPPV doesn't result in permanent inner ear damage thankfully. The PT explained to me that there are three canals in the inner ear where the otoliths can travel. The exercises are different for the three canals. So, if you have otoliths in the horizontal canal, the Epley won't work. The PT used a mask (like a diving mask) to look at my eyes under different conditions. All I could see was black. The ENT I went to sent me to the PT for the evaluation. It appears I have posterior canal issues on the left and horizontal canal issues on the right. I was treated for the left side today with the Epley and next week, if the right side still shows horizontal canal issues, I'll get treated for that. I really feel for all of us and anyone dealing with this issue. It has definitely made my life more difficult and my symptoms are considered "mild."

[nikkodawg]

44 yr old male. Had BPPV set in over a couple of days a month ago. I did the research and did the Hallpike-dix test on myself several times at home with consistent results positive for the right side. I did the Eply maneuver at home using a one minute pause between steps. It did not help. 24 hours later I did it again waiting two minute pauses between steps. This time the vertigo followed as I turned to the left and continued for about thirty seconds when I rose to a sitting position with chin down. It worked. A few hours later the symptoms were way better. I repeated the Hallpike-dix test the next morning with negative results for both sides. Yay!! it worked. But, here's the part which led me to this post. Since and now I feel light headed, not dizzy or vertigo but constantly lightheaded, feel a little "off" and sometimes head rushes when standing up. It doesn't seem to be getting better. Just thought I would share.  

[JenSann]

I am a Kaiser patient in NorCal and have been diagnosed with BPPV by ENT(head and neck surgery). I have had this for 11 years and historically my episodes eventually go away, but come back in full force about every 1.5-3 years. The current episode I am in has lasted 7 weeks with what I call residual dizziness, lightheaded, foggy headed feelings. My physical therapist and ENT state 3 mos is a normal course to rid of the residual, and I am counting the days for sure.

My question to you, was have you had any luck getting your Kaiser DR to refer you outside of Kaiser for additional opinions...the House Clinic that you mentioned for example?

Thanks Jen

[sonny49842]

Hey be strong! I think many of us are going though similar issues... I think Dr's hesitate to diagnos BPPV. I really don't know why honestly, I also have Kaiser and am awaiting a second opinion. I may even seek an outside referral. Have any of you heard (pardon the unintended pun) of the House Clinic? If you haven't, Google  them, they are renound.

[dalu554]

Please what can be done to terminate this dizziness once and for all, apparently no one has an answer. Please answer and help others. I had this condition shortly after head injury in dec.2011. I am suffering because it affects my work. I am just 18

[dalu554]

Please what can be done to terminate this dizziness once and for all, apparently no one has an answer. Please answer and help others. I had this condition shortly after head injury in dec.2011. I am suffering because it affects my work. I am just 18

[Harpasig]

Hi I am sitting here in Iceland with constand dizziness,lightheadness,blurred vision . I fell on my head in February when I slippen on ice. I had the spinning and my ENT doc did the Epley and the wild spinning got away when laying and turning in bed. Since then I have felt like I am all the time on the children merry go round . Like a slow spinning and unsteadyness all the time. Often bad when I am in the gym looking up or down. It is worse when I am surrounded by a lot of moving people or cars. Hard to focus on things.I have tried to not think about it but it is hard. I is good to read your stories to see that I am not alone.
:)

[Harpasig]

Hi

[sukh73]

I am 39 yrs M. In dec 2011 I started getting initial symptoms of BPPV where I felt slight spinning while looking up towards right side. After two weeks  while siiting at home I had a sudden intense attack when I felt like passing out and nauseated. I went to a nearby walk in clinic and he told its called Vertigo and he gave me 10 days medicine and said it would go away. He didnt specified it being BPPV. Since that day my actual BPPV started where I felt spinning while going to bed, or rolling over and getting up in morning. I didnt have any other symptoms for another two weeks. It was on internet that i found that the kind of vertigo I have is called BPPV and through internet i learned about epley. I performed it and the spinnig symtoms went away next day. I was happy that I am fine now. But after few days the symptoms of nausea came back. I had difficulty driving, ringing in ears, difficullty focussing specially moving objects, some kind of fullness in ears. My family doctor had not much knowledge about it and gave prescribed the same antidizzines medicine (beta histine) with higher dose. This didn't help at all. Then I went to ENT specialist. He checked and found no nystagmus and hearing test was normal. He said the symptoms may come and go and didnt provide any permanent solution. Now after 7-8 my symptoms are still there. There are some days when I feel like I am getting better and the symptoms will go away completely, but so far this has not happened as the same symptoms come and go in circular manner.My job involves lot of driving plus bending down. Few weeks back I felt little spinning while going to bed. With Epley it went away again. I am trying to getting used to these symptoms. I am still hoping  that I may totally get to normal one day.

[annaone]

I feel the same way,Some days you are fine ,other days I am dizzy from the time I get up till bed,I am tired, fell like I can't bend over or make sudden turns, just feel bad all over .Doctor does not know what it is, I would like to know what started it.