vertigo

[sherrie31274]

hi, i am a 33 year old female. i am told i have vertigo. ok, but what do i do about it. i am a school bus driver and now i am scared to drive. it happens a few times a day, and last night i was sleeping and i started feeling very dizzy in my sleep and it woke me up. i am not sure what else to do, the doctor gave me a antihistamine which does not help and it makes my head feel floaty.please tell me if you know if this will go away and if its not just vertigo. thank you.... sincerely, sherrie

[Quixotic1]

Hi, it's hard to tell from what little you posted, but it sounds like you might have what is called BPPV or Beingn Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo. It's a type of dizziness that is positional and causes extreme bouts of spinning/whirling/falling sensations.  The attacks themselves last less than a minute, but can make you feel raunchy for many hours.  It's very common and easily treated, by those who know how, via the "Epley Maneuvers."  And antihistamines don't do ANYTHING for it except make you feel drowsy.  It's not uncommon to have an attack while asleep, likely triggered by rolling over or turning your head.  You awaken in the middle of the whirling.  Does this sound familiar?

Because vertigo is such a common thing  I'm going to post some info on it with some resources for helping people find knowledgable treatment.

I'm a retired physician and I've had BPPV.  It's miserable.  Even if that isn't what you have, there are many type and causes of vertigo and you might be interested in the info.  You can answer me here or over on the new post.  I'm hoping to start a dialogue on the topic.

Quix

[sherrie31274]

hi, thank you for your input on what it might be that i have.  i went to the ent yesterday and you are right he said it is bppv. but there is no cure from what im told it just comes and goes when it wants to.  today i have been having a constant headache in the back of my head and my neck feels so stiff.  does this have to do with bppv too!  thank you,  sherrie

[Quixotic1]

Your ENT is, at best, WAY behind in his medical knowledge, or, at worst, a total ignoramus.  BPPV was solved and the cure described by John Epley, MD in the mid 1980's.  However, when he reported his near 100% cure rate to his fellow ENT's they laughed at him and ridiculed his solution.  It took more than 10 years of his persevering, and finally enough other ENTs  trying his "maneuvers" to convince the world.  Everyone who learned the maneuvers and tried them also reported a near 100% cure rate.  The ENT establishment has since issued formal apologies, and he is celebrated world-wide.  He is also my personal vertigo physician.

The "Epley Maneuvers" are now considered the standard treatment for BPPV by the established medical field.  It is not alternative, holistic, or fringe medicine.  Dr.s are taught the manuevers in med school, all ER doctors are expected to know about them, many Family Practice and Internal Medicine docs do them, and thousands of chiropractors also have been trained in them.  The Neurologists here on MedHelp (from the Cleveland Clinic), when they recognize BPPV in a person's post, tell them about the Epley Maneuvers.  

BPPV is caused by a loosening of little, crystals in the inner ear.  They break loose and when they float free with certain head positions they cause the dizziness attacks like you describe.  The most common cause is mild head trauma, or mild head-snapping (like a whiplash), but it can happen spontaneously and is common in older people.  The quote below from a Cleveland Clinic Neurologist is in response to some asking about BPPV from trauma:

Here is a quote from MedHelp:
****************************************************
""kalmatt
8/11/2001
. I have recently read an article about dizziness after a fall and it's relationship to the crystals in the inner ear being disturbed. If I remember correctly there was an easy treatment for re-aligning the crystals in order to decrease the dizziness. Can you provide specific information. Thanks, Kalmatt, OTR/L
CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT
8/26/2001
kalmatt
Trauma is well known to cause displacement of the crystals in the ear which causes the fluid (endolymph)in there to be heavier and thus more sensitive to changes in gravity. The Epley maneuver is a "repositioning maneuver that's well described in an emergency medcine website:www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic57.htm.

In addition, there is a great website that lists numerous exercises with detailed graphics and instructions that you can follow:
www.earaces.com/vestexercises.htm
Good luck.


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adrianxw
8/13/2001
C1  . Try a web search for "BPPV", (Benign Paroxymal Positional Vertigo), and "Epley". The "Epley manoeuvre" could well be what you are thinking about.

Good Luck.

kalmatt
8/14/2001
C4  . Thanks that is what I needed! Kalmatt ""
***********************************

You need to find someone to test you for it.  I wonder if your ENT even knows how to diagnosis it!  You can contact VEDA (VEstibular Disorders of America)  their website is  vestibular.org

VEDA keeps a state by state list of Dr.s and clinics specializing in in treating dizziness.  Or call around to different ENT's offices and see if they do the Epely Maneuvers.  You DO NOT have to just live with it, if you have BPPV!

About the headaches and neck stiffness.  No BPPV does not itself cause those, but many people do get headaches when they are very dizzy.  My best thought is that you have what happened to me when I had BPPV.  When I had these horrible attacks just from moving my head wrong  I tried to keep my head as still as I possibly could.  This eventually resulted in a spasmed and stiff neck which causes a "pull" on the back of the head and can cause headache there.

Last New Year's Day the Sunday Oregonian ran a huge expose on Dr. Epley and his malicious treatment by the medical establishment when he tried to tell the world that he had discovered a simple and NON-invasive cure to the commonest form of vertigo.  It is a wonderful, but long article.  It's worth reading.  He is a saint among doctors and deserved far better (At least he's getting it now).  Here is a reference to that article:

http://www.aliveandwell.org/html/the_bigger_picture/cursing_the_cure.html

Sherrie, I hope you find this helpful.  Quix

[popbernie]

Do you have any medical referrals specializing in the treatment of vertigo in the NYC, NJ area?.Thank you Bernie

[Lilylelani]

I have BPPV.  Mine is from head trauma. I also have migraine, which has probably been aggrivated by keeping my head still for many years. I turn my shoulders to look at the world.  I've done this for so long, it's hard to quit. I also have had a broken neck and fusion from C2-6, and that causes neck stiffness. I see a chiropractor and it does wonders for me.

Back to BPPV.  I went through vestibular rehabilitation after getting a test called an ENG.  This is the rotational chair, caloric test (water in ears), etc... That can be done at a local facility that specializes in balance disorders or through your primary physician or ear, nose, and throat doctor.  I have other problems, such as acquired nystagmus, oscillopsia, etc..., so your case will likely be different than mine.  Having said that, doing vestibular exercises daily (which only take about 10 minutes) might help you.

[AMS08]

Thank you for the BPV and Epley maneuver info.  Is there anything else, non-drowsy, that I can do while at work and on bus to deal with the vertigo.  

The doctors I've seen (ND, MD, Endorcin, OB/GYN, etc) don't know how to do the Epley and Semont maneuver so I was given a handout and told to watch YouTube.  Luckily the Endocrin doc diagnosed BPV but didn't know which ear effected.  The OB/GYN suggested PT, but I had to go through primary doc for referral. Used ND's referally but the clinic scheduled me with PT who doesn't treat vertigo.  Guess I'll have to bus to the MD's referral if they can squeeze me in sooner.  Soo much running around

[CubsFan55]

Thank you for bringing this up - I'm into my 9th month of vertigo right now - comes & goes but mainly at night. I drive at my job as well and am always fearful if I get an episode while driving.
Still in the infancy stages with my Doc - one said BPPV but ears are fine, they gave me Meclizine to relieve the nausea & vomiting & it works but knocks me out…again, driving concerns

I look forward to following this post - hoping for some answers as well

GOOD LUCK

[Ball123]

Don't forget the possibility go migraine associated vertigo as well. Quite common and can be treated like ordinary migraine.