What the Heck is BPPV Anyways?
Did you know that in addition to pelvic health and TMJ, Dr. Jane also specializes in vestibular rehabilitation? Her favorite vestibular condition to treat is BPPV. Let’s dive into what it is and how we can manage it!
If you’ve ever told someone you’ve experienced dizziness, they will probably say you had BPPV or some variation of those letters. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a very specific type of vertigo that is pretty easy to diagnose and one of the few diagnoses which can respond very quickly to treatment.
If we break down the words of BPPV it makes it a lot less intimidating. Benign simply means it’s not harmful; paroxysmal indicates symptoms which are sudden, brief, and recurrent; positional describes symptoms occurring relative to specific head or body position; lastly, vertigo specifically refers to the sensation of spinning. Put that all together and it perfectly describes what happens when people experience BPPV.
Patients with BPPV say when they move into certain positions, they feel the room spin for 5-10 seconds then it fully resolves. Positions that are most common include: rolling over in bed, tipping their head back at the beauty salon, having the chair go back at the dentist, or lying flat on their back.
In your inner ear there are little crystals that sit on sensory organs called the utricle and saccule. Okay, so they’re actually called otoliths but crystals just sound nicer. These help to weigh down the sensory organs to sense linear acceleration. Sometimes, a few of these crystals can fall off and end up in another portion of the inner ear called the semicircular canals. These canals are filled with fluid. Movement of the fluid tells our brain that our head is moving. This is how we know if we’re nodding or rotating our head even if our eyes are closed. When otoliths end up in the semicircular canals it’s like skipping rocks on a quiet pond. It causes movement in the fluid when it should be still so the brain thinks our head is moving creating a spinning sensation. It also creates motion of the eyes which tells us which canal is affected.
Though there is no physical harm, it’s not the most enjoyable experience to have your world spin every time you get into a certain position. Physical therapists with experience in treating vestibular conditions are an amazing resource. We can perform an evaluation to determine if you have BPPV or if there is another diagnosis which may require a different approach.
Treatment of BPPV is very simple with a series of movements to help get the otoliths out of the semicircular canals and back to their happy home. For most patients it only takes one or two treatments to get you feeling better. It’s tempting, but please avoid using Dr. Google and Dr. YouTube to perform your own self maneuvers. In total, there are 6 semicircular canals and each canal has their own treatment technique. If repositioning is performed for the incorrect side or canal it will be ineffective. Additionally, if not performed correctly there is a possibility that those otoliths can move into another canal creating more problems. Lastly, it’s important that you are assessed by a qualified clinician to ensure you have the proper diagnosis and management.
If you or someone you know is experiencing dizziness you don’t have to live with it! Call us to schedule your evaluation. If we determine your symptoms are due to BPPV we can get you feeling better quickly. If we conclude the dizziness is related to a different condition, we can help with that too! We can’t wait to help you get back on steadier ground!
