Are you literally sick of the spinning?
Having read the previous article you now know a little bit about Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and how it occurs.
It’s important to read this because the spinning sensation that causes dizziness, loss of balance, nausea and vomiting is extremely debilitating and could lead to falls. Falls are to be avoided at all costs due to the serious implications of injuries such as neck of femur (hip fractures) and wrist fractures. The purpose of this blog is to give you some treatment options that you may have been unaware of.
So, what can an Osteopath do to manage your BPPV?
Firstly it is imperative that we take a thorough medical history in order to help us establish whether it is actually BPPV causing your symptoms or if there is something else going on. This will include questioning about the symptoms you are experiencing, what activities bring on the symptoms, if you have had any recent trauma or illnesses, as well as your general health and any medications you use.
A physical examination of the relevant areas will then be performed including a thorough examination of your head, neck, ears and the nerves of the head and face. Following this, an examination technique that involves a very specific set of movements will be performed. This will assist diagnosis of BPPV and tell us which of your ears is affected.
What to expect from an Osteopathic treatment of your vertigo
Once the diagnosis of BPPV has been made, treatment can commence. There are several different manoeuvres that can be performed to treat BPPV; all of them involving a specific set of head/neck movements with the goal of manoeuvring the crystals through and out of the inner ear canals, thus relieving the vertigo symptoms.
These techniques are quick and painless, although they often bring on vertigo symptoms for a short duration while being performed. After performing the technique there may be some residual unsteadiness for a short period, but the spinning sensation resolves immediately in most cases. Often one application of the technique combined with some home exercises and advice is enough to achieve a lasting resolution of symptoms, but in some cases multiple applications are needed. Cases that are not responsive to treatment may require referral to a specialist such as a vestibular rehabilitation therapist or ears, nose and throat specialist.
If you or someone you know are suffering from vertigo, keep in mind that there are effective, simple and non-invasive treatment options available that may help stop your world spinning!
Want to get some help with your Vertigo? Click here and it will take you to my diary 🙂
We are a multi-disciplinary clinic located conveniently in Main Street, Mordialloc.
