Chronic positional vertigo: Causes, Risks, Treatment

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By Medicover Hospitals / 22 March 2022

By Dr Sumedha Maturu
Consultant Neurologist & Sleep Speciality
Published on 22/05/2022

Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or a feeling of the movement of surroundings. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is caused by an inner ear problem. It usually causes brief bouts of vertigo that come and go. BPPV goes away on its own in a few weeks for some people. However, it can appear after some time again.

BPPV does not indicate a serious health problem. It can be treated easily.

Vertigo Causes

A problem in the inner ear causes BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). Tiny calcium "stones" inside your inner ear canals assist you in maintaining your balance. These stones normally move around when you move in a certain way, such as when you stand up or turn your head. These stones can sometimes move into the semicircular canal of your inner ear. The stones in the semicircular canal move when you move your head in certain ways. The stones cause dizziness because they activate sensors in the semicircular canal.

Symptoms of chronic vertigo

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of chronic positional vertigo (BPPV):

Dizziness
Feeling as if you or your surroundings are spinning or moving
Unsteadiness or a loss of balance
Nausea
Vomiting
A different or severe headache
Fever
Double vision
Hearing loss
Trouble speaking
Leg or arm weakness
Loss of consciousness
Falling or difficulty walking
Numbness or tingling sensation

Diagnosis

A doctor will perform some physical tests and basic investigations for diagnosing it. You may be subjected to a test in which your doctor observes your eyes while turning your head and assisting you in lying back.
There are other conditions that can cause chronic positional vertigo, so if your doctor does not believe you have BPPV, you may be asked to go for additional tests.

Looking for diagnosis and tests for your symptoms? Consult our top Neurologists

Chronic bppv treatment

In most cases of BPPV, your doctor can perform one of two procedures. These procedures are known as the Epley and Semont maneuvers. Your brain will most likely become accustomed to the perplexing signals it receives from your inner ear over time. In either case, you can do some simple exercises to train your brain to become accustomed to the perplexing vertigo signals.
Surgical substitute - In rare cases, where the physical therapies and medicinal treatment fail, your doctor may recommend surgery. A bone plug is used in this procedure to block the portion of your inner ear that is causing dizziness. The plug prevents your ear's semicircular canal from responding to particle movements or head movements in general. Canal plugging surgery has a success rate of about 90%.
Severe nausea and vomiting may benefit from medication. If you experience a sudden attack of vertigo, take extra precautions to avoid injuring yourself or others.

Treatment at home

There are steps you can take to alleviate the dizziness caused by positional vertigo. Keep an eye on your surroundings and avoid putting yourself in danger. It is always possible that you can lose control of your balance. Falls can result in serious injuries.
Whenever you feel dizzy, sitting down can help you avoid falling. Learn what causes your episodes as well. Preventing vertigo symptoms from worsening during BPV episodes can be as simple as avoiding the positions that cause them.

Conclusion

Some types of vertigo are completely curable. For example, if you have vertigo as a result of an ear infection, your doctor may be able to prescribe antibiotics to treat the underlying cause. Correct diagnosis and timely treatment will help you to avoid serious complications of vertigo. Do not delay, Consult doctors now