Vertigo, Dizziness and Chiropractic Treatment

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is a common condition that frequently goes undiagnosed and is treated symptomatically with drugs such as Stemetil and Compazine (prochlorperazine), a sedative which can make you feel very tired (If you take this drug you should not operate machinery or drive) and it can have many other side-effects (read more).

A firm diagnosis and the right treatment can help you get rid of this disabling condition quickly.

BPPV is an inner ear condition that causes brief, severe episodes of vertigo feeling like the room is spinning.

Whilst it can occur in children, the older you are, the more likely it is that your dizziness is due to BPPV. About 50% of all dizziness in older patients is due to BPPV.

What are the causes of BPPV?

This inner ear condition often begins after:

• A head injury
• A severe cold or virus
• Due to ageing process
• Minor strokes
• Use of ototoxic medications e.g. gentamicin

The most common cause in the under 50’s is head trauma and whiplash.

In older people, the most common cause is degeneration of the vestibular system of the inner ear and BPPV becomes much more common with advancing age.

In half of all cases BPPV is called “idiopathic”, which means it occurs for no known reason.

Diagnosis of BPPV

Chiropractors are able to diagnose this condition after taking a full case history and performing a physical and neurological examination.

Specific tests such as the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre / test, are used to differentiate peripheral from central vertigo.

Treatment of BPPV

The condition is treated by certain repositioning manoeuvres.

Chiropractors at the Isis Chiropractic Centres are trained to perform the Epley or Semont Manoeuvre, which is a simple and well-tolerated technique that will cure BPPV in the majority of patients.

The chiropractor will move you into specific positions depending on what has previously been found in the assessment, using gravity to move the calcium carbonate crystals away into an area of the inner ear where they will cause no further symptoms.

This is followed by home exercises, called Vestibular rehabilitation exercises.

The treatment is very effective and within 3-4 treatments 80% are symptom-free.

The symptoms can recur and research shows a relatively low recurrence rate of about 15 percent per year.

Chiropractic treatment might not be the first thing you think of if you experience dizziness, but the manoeuvres and treatment used are the same as you would have if you go to medical clinicians who specialise in these conditions.

We as chiropractors see more and more cases of dizziness and it is not surprising, since according to the BBC there is a shortage of doctors in the NHS who can diagnose and treat these conditions.

Chiropractic is not suited for all types of dizziness, but if we can’t help you we will refer you back to your GP.

If you have any of the above symptoms and want further information please call the Isis Chiropractic Centres or contact us here.

Don’t rely on symptomatic relief. Taking tablets for this condition is not the answer.