BPPV
(Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
Do you feel dizzy when laying down in bed? Rolling in bed? Reaching forward to reach for something on the ground? Or maybe you have been feeling light-headed, dizzy and more fatigued in the last few weeks and just can't figure out why?!
BPPV, is abbreviated for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. BPPV is the #1 otologic (ear) cause of vertigo. BBPV is caused from degeneration of salt-like crystals, called otoconia, in a part of the inner ear, the utricle. These crystals can break free and float into an area they do not belong (semicircular canals).
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BPPV is the #1 cause of dizziness in individuals 60 years old, and while BPPV can occur at any age, 50% of people greater than 85 years old will experience BPPV.
Many of these individuals will seek out multiple providers feeling frustrated by providers who don't understand their complaints and can't offer them solutions. Vertigo is a symptom, not a diagnosis!
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As the condition of BPPV persists without resolution, you will usually adopt avoidance behaviors to prevent illicit symptoms of vertigo. However, these changes may alter inner ear fluid dynamics which may worsen symptoms and may also lead to cervical dysfunction and motion sensitivity.
At Piton PT we understand your symptoms! We strive to provide you with real solutions and strategies to stop modifying your life around your vertigo by treating the root of the problem to get you back to living your life to the fullest!
Symptoms of BPPV
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Vertigo and/or dizziness with positional changes of your head and neck (such as when you lay down at night, or bending forward, pitching your head back, or rolling in bed)
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Symptoms of vertigo (room-spinning) are typically short in duration (less than 1 minute)​
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Nausea/Vomiting
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Fatigue
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​Individuals with BPPV may not experience dizziness or vertigo, there are some individuals that there symptoms are fatigue and/or imbalance!
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How We Treat It
At your initial evaluation, Dr. Gray will spend up to 90 minutes with you and perform an evaluation which will include a thorough history of your symptoms and your struggles and create a treatment plan to get you back to all the activities you love. We will spend time assessing all your systems of balance which includes your inner ear, your visual system, and your proprioception system (joint sense).
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The gold standard for assessment of BPPV is with positional testing using infrared goggles. We utilize infrared goggles from Vestibular First, and provide you with the convenience of gold standard of treatment brought to you centrally in- person in Jackson New Jersey area all without requiring the need for a referral, authorization, or a prescription.
Using infrared googles is a vital component to proper assessment of BPPV because the eyes are a gateway into the function of the inner ear. Therefore, by using infrared goggles we are able to gather information about the health and function of the inner ear utilizing technology to record and track your eye movements to get to the root cause of your symptoms.
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Treatment of BPPV consists of performing canal repositioning maneuvers. Essentially, we will perform accurate and precise body and head movements to help the otoconia (crystals) move through the canal and back into the utricle (part of the inner ear) where it can be dissolved.
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Depending on the specific canal involved, there will be a specific type of maneuver. This requires the expertise of a skilled clinician to help diagnosis and treat BPPV effectively.