This page is a little education about recognizing when you have a BPPV and when it is probably something else:
What is a BPPV? It is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. BPPV's are commonly referred to as "crystals in the inner ear." These are naturally-occuring position sensors (otoconia) in the inner ear, which can become dislodged and move into a semicircular canal. When it is in the canal and there is a position change, such as tilting the head up, laying down, rolling over, gravity will cause this BPPV to move in the canal and continue moving, even after you stop. This creates vertigo. In fact, it is the most common cause of vertigo. It causes a sensation of spinning, called vertigo. It is brought on by position changes, such as looking up, looking down, lying down in bed, or rolling over. It usually lasts only seconds, but up to a minute. In rare occurrences, it can last a few minutes. BPPV treatment is done with quick maneuvers to move the BPPV out of the canal.
Many people come to me thinking they have a BPPV because they have experienced vertigo. They try a maneuver, and it doesn't work. They have go to other physical therapists or even to the ER with vertigo. They do maneuvers with them, and it doesn't work. In fact, many times it makes it worse. Their symptoms are spinning sensations that last for 15 minutes, hours, or even days. It comes on without them knowing what they did. These are not symptoms of a BPPV! They are symptoms of something else, and they need to see an ENT. The majority of the time, our ENT will refer these patients to physical therapy at FYZICAL so we can give them guidance and exercises to reduce the severity and frequency of these symptoms, and teach them what to do if it should ever return.
Other things to know about BPPV's: It can occur in either the anterior (front) or posterior (back) of any of the six canals. Each of these areas require a different maneuver to clear them. Maneuvers are basically position changes in relation to gravity to dump them out. In the horizontal canals, it can even be more complicated. Be sure to see a vestibular specialist physical therapist at FYZICAL to help you understand exactly where it is at so we can get it cleared as quickly as possible.