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Vertigo and Dizziness Cure

Vertigo makes you suddenly feel unsteady, or like your surroundings are spinning around. It can be frightening and unsettling--making you feel dizzy, sick to your stomach and off balance--and can even cause blurred vision. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo, and occurs when you experience brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness when you move the position of your head. Although it is unsettling, BPPV is rarely serious. But it is important that you visit your doctor for a complete diagnosis and proper treatment.

  1. Proper Diagnosis Is Important

    • The symptoms of vertigo can come and go--and vary--so it is important that you visit a doctor who is familiar with vertigo and how it is treated. In most instances, this will be an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT), audiologist or a specialist who deals with the nervous system, like a neurologist. They should be able to diagnose vertigo and BPPV from your symptoms, but there is usually no specific cause associated with this disorder.

    How to Get Relief From the Symptoms of Vertigo

    • To relieve the symptoms of vertigo, your doctor or audiologist may recommend a therapy that involves a series of movements called the canalith repositioning procedure, which will be performed in your doctor's office. The goal is to move tiny particles in the canals of your inner ear to be repositioned back into the vestibule, a tiny bag-like opening in your inner ear, where they are reabsorbed by your body. The theory is that these tiny particles get trapped in the canals of your inner ear causing your vertigo.

    The Canalith Repositioning Procedure

    • During this procedure, you will be asked to recline in a chair. The doctor will turn your head to one side, ask you to sit up and then lie back; while you do this, he will turn your head to the other side. Each position is held in place for about 30 seconds, or until any abnormal eye movements stop. This is usually helpful after one or two treatments and the vertigo is resolved.

    After the Procedure

    • After the canalith repositioning procedure, you must not lie flat or lower your ear below shoulder level. You should sleep that evening with your head elevated and propped up with a few pillows. This way the tiny particles can completely settle into the labyrinth and be reabsorbed by the fluid in your inner ear. Your doctor may teach you how to do this procedure at home a few times before coming back for a follow-up visit.

    Surgical Cure

    • If this procedure does not work, or your vertigo continues to occur, your doctor may recommend surgery. During this surgical procedure a bone plug is positioned in the portion of your inner ear that is creating your vertigo. The plug blocks the canal in your ear from being affected by particle movements. This success rate is relatively high--about 90 percent--and less than 5 percent of those having this surgery experience any long-term hearing loss.

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