By Neil Bauman, Ph.D. More than 7 million people in the USA suffer from vertigo, a condition where they feel the room is spinning around them. One of the most common forms of vertigo goes by the tongue-twisting name of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
It is also one of the easiest forms of vertigo to treat. In the past you would go to an ear specialist (ENT doctor) and he would typically perform the Epley maneuver on you to reposition the otoconia (tiny rocks in your head made of calcium carbonate crystals). These tiny crystalline rocks help you keep your balance by sensing gravity. They normally reside in the utricle in the vestibular (balance) part of your inner ear. However, sometimes these “rocks” get jarred out of their normal location and “fall” into one of the three semi-circular canals. (The semi-circular canals sense turning motions in each of three different planes.) When the “rocks” touch the tiny cilia in the semi-circular canals, they generate false balance signals. Carol Foster explains, “The semicircular canals are only capable of sensing turning motions, so the presence of particles moved by gravity causes tilting motions of the head to be incorrectly sensed as violent spinning” (1) or vertigo.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is caused by abnormal deposits of crystals collecting in one of the fluid-filled balance. PDF File Size: 20.59 Mb: ePub File Size: 9.98 Mb: ISBN. Biomechanically, this is another way to get a series of positions similar to the Epley maneuver. Carol Foster reported another self-treatment maneuver for.
Often the vertigo first strikes you when you are in bed and not when you are standing. This is because when you are upright the entrance to the semicircular canals lies just above the gravity sensors (utricle)—and “rocks” don’t fall upward!
However, when you are lying flat on your back, the entrance to the semi-circular canals is located just below the utricle. This means that gravity coupled with side-to-side rolling movements as you roll over in bed can accidentally “knock” the otoconia into the opening of the semi-circular canals.(1) As Dr. Foster explains, “Rolling over in bed to one side can cause a very sudden, strong sensation of head-over-heels whirling that lasts for several seconds and then dies away. If the eyes are open the room can appear to spin violently. Attempting to sit up from lying down, to lie down from sitting, or to roll over while lying down can cause the symptoms to recur. After getting out of bed, symptoms can be brought on by tipping the head upward (while shampooing or reaching up toward a high shelf, for example), looking back over one shoulder, or by bending over forward and then lifting the head quickly.” (1) The good news is that recently Dr. Foster discovered a do-it-yourself method to reposition these “rocks” and thus alleviate the vertigo.
She calls it the Half Somersault maneuver. If you have BPPV and want to try it for yourself, here is the link to the instructions for the. Just be prepared for some vertigo in the process, but it should go away as you progress through these maneuvers. (1) Carol Foster. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Marion Downs Hearing Center. I have used the epley repeatedly without the success I usually have with it.
I have just used the half somersault for the first time yesterday. It took 5 repetitions for me to work the particles into the spot where I did not have any spinning at any of the positions. I experienced inductions much stronger than any I have had with the epley. My question is thisdo I need to keep my head level for 48 hours afterward as I do with the epley? I usually sleep for 2 nights at a 30 degree or more slant. I went to a chiropractor who used an activator tool on my neck behind my right ear.
The next day I woke up with vertigo on that side. He told me to google the Epley Manuever and do it which I was afraid to do on my own. I found the half somersault which looked much easier.
I did it and nearly got sick, broke out in a drenching sweat, and couldn’t walk or drive. My medical doctor put me on Hydroxyzine 25 mg. I did the maneuver exactly 14 days ago and my vertigo is just starting to subside. I never experienced vertigo before and I hope I never do again. That is if this ever goes away. I’m glad the maneuver works for some people, but people should be cautious and so should Drs./chiropractors telling their patients to do these maneuvers alone. Hi, My general doctor referred me to a PT because of my vertigo symptoms.
The PT told me I had BPPV and she did the epley maneuver. During the treatment I experienced extreme dizziness and vomited, afterwards I had chills and fever for 2 days.
She said I would need several treatments since she only got a few back in place. I really don’t want to go again since it was worse than my vertigo experience. I have never been so miserable. Should I go to an ENT for other solutions or try the half somersault? Thanks, Annette.
Hi John: It is possible. I’m not an expert on this so can’t really give you a definitive answer. Do you know that your vertigo is the result of the otoconia being out of place–or could it be from some other cause. The half somersault and Epley maneuver are only for if your otoconia are out of place and have fallen into the semicircular canals. Medication may help you, but my fear is that if you take the medication before you do the maneuvers, you may not be able to tell whether the otoconia are falling into proper position or not. Cordially, Neil. Hi Dianna: When you lost your hearing suddenly, did you also start having balance problems of any kind?
If yes, then you have a damaged vestibular system. Your balance problems would not be because the otoconia are out of place–so doing the half somersault won’t help.
From what you say about the sense of imbalance only lasting about 30 minutes, I don’t think it is the otoconia out of place, but problems with your vestibular system. Typically, tinnitus accompanies hearing losses. Since you had a sudden severe hearing loss, you could expect the tinnitus to accompany it. If your hearing would come back, likely your tinnitus would go away. What can you do?
A lot of people find that wearing a hearing aid gets rid of their tinnitus during the day when they wear it. But the tinnitus comes back at night when it is quiet and you take your hearing aid off. If your tinnitus isn’t really annoying you, the best strategy is to just ignore it, focus on the loves of your life and let it fade into the background. This can take a number of months. The worst thing you can do is focus on your tinnitus and get upset with it.
Carol Foster Md Vertigo Exercises
That will only make it get worse and never go away. Cordially, Neil. I woke up this morning to a spinning room, I have never experienced vertigo until today. If I move my head to the left or to the right the room starts spinning and I get extremely nauseous. I watched the training video on the 1/2 summersault and I was fine to look up on my knees, but when I try to do the half somersault I started throwing up uncontrollably from all the spinning.
Should I try again? I really can’t handle this feeling of nausea and spinning. It is normal to feel way worse doing this before it gets better? Hi Amy: What makes you think that your vertigo is from the otoconia in your inner ears being out of place?
The vertigo could be from other causes such as taking an ototoxic medication or a virus, etc. If this is the case, then the half-somersault maneuver won’t help.
I’m no expert on the half-somersault maneuver and don’t know whether trying again is a good idea or not. I’ve just reported on it. If your vertigo is due to the otoconia being out of place, and doing the half-somersault makes it worse, I’d suggest you go to an ENT and have him perform the Epley Maneuver. Maybe you need professional help at this stage. Cordially, Neil.