You spin me right round baby right round
What is vertigo ?
Vertigo is a type of dizziness where you experience the sensation of spinning, swaying or whirling. It can also get worse when you change position quickly for example rolling over in bed, sitting up from laying down or looking up quickly. You generally also feel that you are or objects around you are moving when they’re not. Welcome to the world of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). In simpler terms – a non-serious sudden attack of dizziness which can be bought on by a change in head position.
Why does my ear affect Vertigo ?
The ear is an interesting little but mighty organ. Ever wondered why you may feel a bit off balance when you have an earache or ear infection? Well, it is because the ear is our hearing and balance organ. The ear is made up of 3 layers – outer, middle and inner. The outer ear is what we see on the outside that leads us into the head. The middle ear is a small area inside the head which houses the ear bones & connects to the inner mouth and inner ear. The inner ear is where BBPV stems from, and it houses our hearing and balance organs – the cochlear and the vestibular system.
Inside the inner ear is a maze of hollow chambers and canals which are all connected and filled with fluid. There are 3 semi circular canals which are in prime position to detect movements in the 3 ways our head can move – nodding up and down, looking left and right and tilting left and right. Inside these chambers there are tiny crystals. These crystals move and send important information to the brain about what type of movement is happening. When these sneaky crystals escape their designated chamber and start to float in the canal, this is where they can start to play havoc.
When the crystals move through the fluid in the canal, it sends a message to our brain that we are moving, even though you are sitting still. Because this message from the crystals doesn’t match what our eyes are seeing and what the ears are detecting, we experience vertigo. It is basically one big and uncomfortable mismatch of information which is tricking the brain.
As mentioned above, the sensation or spinning or swaying are the main symptoms of BBPV. Some people also report of feeling lightheaded, off balance and even nauseous. Attacks usually only last a few minutes and can come and go. It is also not uncommon for people to have a period of symptoms followed by no symptoms for sometimes months. Some people also report their attacks to be longer lasting and more constant.
Can physiotherapy treat Vertigo ?
The good news is yes, BBPV is very treatable. It is quite common for a GP to diagnose you with BBPV and refer you on for treatment. Finding a Physiotherapist who is qualified in treating Vertigo is essential. If they are not qualified, they can make the symptoms appear worse and more uncomfortable for you. This is why it is important to have a thorough consultation with our Physio, to ensure we can develop the right treatment pathway plan specifically for you.
if you suffer from Vertigo or dizziness book in with Tim here