What is vertigo or dizziness?
The feeling of “spinning” experienced is vertigo. It may have various causes, the commonest is the one coming from your inner ear (BPPV= Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), also commonly referred to as ‘Crystals’ in the ear causing spinning. However, not everyone experiencing vertigo would have BPPV that is causing their symptoms.
The other causes could be:
- Vestibular neuritis:
Inflammation of the vestibular nerve (a nerve in the ear as a part of the balance and hearing apparatus) causing a feeling of spinning.
- Meniere’s disease:
A chronic condition affecting the ear apparatus causing a false sense of motion.
… and many others that could be causing your symptoms that may or may not be getting helped with medications!
- Central Causes
Sometimes vertigo could be due something wrong with our brain or cranial nerves coming out of the brain. Like Migraines, Stroke (CVA), Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebellar Pathology, CANVAS Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease, Guillain Barre, Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion. Any pathology that affects the part of the brain responsible for the interpretation of the information from the vestibular apparatus.
- Cervicogenic Dizziness
Pain occurring in the neck with associated sensory integration issues leading to the sense of dizziness, imbalance and difficulty with vision.
- Other Causes of Vertigo
Acoustic Neuroma – Vestibular Schwannoma, Neuritis / Neuronitis /
Labyrinthitis / Third Window Syndrome
What is BPPV?
Usually, people complain of a sudden head turn (e.g., in bed turning to switch the bed lamp on/off) giving them their symptoms.
How do we know if you have a vertigo because of a BPPV?
So, I do have BPPV. What’s next?
Will I feel a 100% straight away after the manoeuvre?
It is very normal to feel a bit nauseated after the procedure. Thus, your physio will help you with strategies and precautions around managing your own self for you to feel better, as soon as possible.
Is it just the Epley’s manoeuvre that will help me?
However, in many of our vertigo clients, especially those who have had a long-standing issue, we have noted a decline in their balance ability, sometimes making them more vulnerable to falls.
So, can that be helped?
Sometimes, a further assessment is needed with the help of infra-red goggles to better assist us in understanding the issue and specifically tailoring needs.