What is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo?
Have you or anyone you know have a complaint of dizziness, the room spinning, when they get out of bed or perhaps look up to the ceiling or down to the floor?
This could be a symptom of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). A fancy name for the misplacement of the Rocks in your head!!! Sounds funny but that is pretty much the problem. In the Vestibular System found in the inner ear, you have small Otoconia (rocks) that on occasion float in the fluid of the Vestibular System and end up in one of the Semicircular Canals of the system. When this occurs it causes an imbalance of the signal sent to the brain when you move your head in the direction sensed by that Semicircular Canal. When this occurs you have a feeling of the room spinning, which usually lasts for a few seconds to one minute or maybe all day depending on how sensitive you are to the problem.
Fear not, because it is treatable with a simple maneuver called Canalith Repositioning Maneuver. Within a day or so you are back to normal and no more dizziness.
If you have this problem or know of anyone who has it, have a Physician refer you or your friend to the OGHS Outpatient PT/OT Department for an evaluation under video goggles to see if you do have BPPV. If so a simple treatment and follow up program will have you back to normal in no time.
We are here to help!!!!
Errol LeBlanc, PT/OT Director 407-4429
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