![]() Research has shown that the most successful of these moves is called the Epley maneuver. ![]() Think of the exercise as one of those water-filled puzzles that you shake in order to move small beads from one place to another. Once BPPV has been diagnosed (abnormal eye movements are a giveaway), a clinician will lead you through an exercise to move the crystals into another ear chamber where they'll be absorbed by the body. "There seems to be an association in a percentage of patients with head trauma, but for the most part, we don't know." Vertigo treatment Felipe Santos, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and an assistant professor in otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School. What causes the crystals to dislodge in the first place? "We don't really know," says Dr. Simply looking up or rolling over in bed causes brief bouts of extreme dizziness. That doesn't sound too serious, but small head movements cause the loose crystals to move, triggering your inner-ear sensors to send mixed messages to your brain. Blame it on crystalsīPPV happens when tiny crystals of calcium carbonate in one part of your inner ear become dislodged and float into another part. If at first it doesn’t help, below are some tips to improve the odds of success. Some people are using Internet videos to self-treat the condition at home using a maneuver called the Epley maneuver. If your symptoms don’t improve after 4 weeks, please contact your doctor for a review.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) makes people intensely dizzy from time to time. This can be due to another crystal getting trapped in the balance organs. Others may need to repeat these daily for a few weeks.Īlthough the Epley manoeuvre is effective at treating vertigo from BPPV, there is still a chance the symptoms may return weeks or even years later. Half of people find their spinning sensation or vertigo improves after just one manoeuvre. This is to prevent the calcium crystals from going back into the balance organ. Sit upright for the rest of the day and avoid sleeping on the affected side for the next few days. Ask your doctor to confirm if the exercises are safe for you before doing them.ĪFTER THE PROCEDURE What should I expect after the Epley manoeuvre? You may need to avoid using the Epley manoeuvre if you have certain problems with their neck, joints, heart, and eyes. You should also avoid driving while you still feel dizzy. For this reason, you may find it reassuring to have someone with you in the room. Whilst the Epley manoeuvre itself is quite safe, you may feel your spinning sensation or vertigo getting worse during the exercise. This is to allow easier neck movements.ĪBOUT THE RISKS What are the risks of doing the Epley manoeuvre? Dress comfortably and have a pillow handy to place under your shoulders. They are best done on a bed as they can make you feel dizzy afterwards. Doing the Epley manoeuvre yourself at home regularly is a safe alternative for symptoms of BPPV. You may not get an appointment on the day. You can have a one-off Epley manoeuvre in the clinic. Why would I need to do the Epley manoeuvre? This improves your sensation of spinning. The Epley manoeuvre is a set of head movements which pushes these crystals out of the balance organs. But it can occur if you’ve suffered a blow to the head or if you’ve had surgery in the ear.ĪBOUT THE PROCEDURE What is the Epley manoeuvre? In most cases, the reason for developing BPPV is unknown. These interfere with signals sent to the brain which causes brief sensation of spinning or vertigo. ![]() Turning the head can cause movement of these crystals. In Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV, calcium crystals can be dislodged from elsewhere and enter the balance organs. It consists of 3 semi-circular canals on each side which act like a gyro to detect motion. The organ responsible for balance is located inside your ear.
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