Technique to End Vertigo

Vertigo is a symptom commonly associated with disorders of the vestibular system. Essentially, the term vertigo refers to a sensation of spinning or loss of balance. It also sometimes refers to a feeling of dizziness, lightheadedness and unsteadiness. According to NeurologyChannel.com, vertigo is “one of the most common health problems in adults.” Fortunately, there are a variety of techniques that can be employed to stop vertigo from occurring.

Therapy

• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a specific type of physical therapy that is occasionally used to treat vertigo. By restoring the vestibular system to its normal level of functioning, the treatment's ultimate goal is to minimize dizziness, improve overall balance and prevent unnecessary falls. A vestibular rehabilitation therapy program will be designed by a physical therapist to match the patient’s needs. The therapist will likely design a set of exercises for the patient to perform at home, several times per day. These exercises force the brain to adapt to and counteract whatever is causing the vertigo. As the patient progresses through the treatment, the physical therapist will design more difficult exercises until the highest level of difficulty is reached. If treatment is successful, the patient will achieve a high level of balance while walking and moving the head and/or eyes. Unfortunately, success of vestibular rehabilitation therapy relies on a variety of factors, including the patient’s age, coordination, overall health, physical strength and cognitive function.

Medications

• Medications may be used to stop the occurrence of vertigo. These medications will either be taken orally, through the skin via a patch or through an intravenous line. The most common medications prescribed for vertigo include: Antivert (meclizine hydrochloride), Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Transderm-Scop (scopolamine transdermal patch), Phenergan (promethazine hydrochloride) and Valium (diazepam). However, if the vertigo is caused by specific conditions, other medications may also be necessary. For example, vertigo caused by a bacterial infection of the middle ear will also require treatment with antibiotics.

Canalith Repositioning Procedure

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a specific type of vertigo that features short bouts of severe vertigo. This type of vertigo is caused by small calcium carbonate crystals that become lodged in the posterior semicircular canal of the ears. According to NeurologyChannel.com, the most effective treatment for BPPV is the canalith repositioning procedure. For this treatment, a physician or physical therapist will help the patient perform a series of head and body movements. With these movements, the crystals will be moved into another ear canal, where they will be absorbed by the body. If this manual therapy is not successful, surgery may be necessary to stop the vertigo.