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Vertigo Maneuver Treatment

Vertigo is a form of dizziness in which the patient experiences the illusion of motion, usually rotational in nature. The most common cause of this condition is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), and the conventional mode of treatment is some form of head positioning maneuver.

  1. Cause

    • Although its symptoms can be bothersome, BPPV is rarely serious, according to MayoClinic.com. Its cause is attributed to calcium crystals that become dislodged from the ear's otolith organs and migrate into the semicircular canals of the ear's vestibular labyrinth. These displaced crystals cause abnormal reactions to motion.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of BPPV, other than dizziness, may include loss of balance, unsteadiness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision.

    Treatment

    • Drugs are ineffective in the treatment of BPPV. Instead, your doctor is likely to try one or more head positioning maneuvers designed to get the displaced crystals back into the area from which they came.

    Epley and Semont Maneuvers

    • The two most common head positioning exercises are the Semont and modified Epley maneuvers, according to the PeaceHealth website. These are performed in the doctor's office and are usually successful after one or two treatments.

    Surgical Alternative

    • In rare cases when the maneuvers have been unsuccessful, your doctor may recommend surgery to block the portion of your inner ear that's causing the vertigo, according to MayoClinic.com.

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