VERTIGO
When the Room Won't Stop Spinning
Few symptoms are as disruptive — or as frightening — as sudden vertigo. A simple movement like rolling over in bed, looking up at a shelf, or bending down to tie a shoe can trigger a spinning sensation severe enough to cause nausea, loss of balance, or a fall. The good news: one of the most common causes, BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), is also one of the most treatable — often resolving in just one or two visits with the right hands-on technique.
What Is BPPV?
BPPV occurs when tiny calcium crystals inside the inner ear become dislodged from their normal position and shift into one of the ear's balance canals. When you move your head in certain directions, those displaced crystals send confusing signals to your brain about your body's position — causing the brief, intense spinning episodes characteristic of BPPV. It's extremely common, especially in older adults, and it's frequently misdiagnosed or left untreated simply because people assume dizziness is just something to live with.
How I Treat It
Treating BPPV isn't about exercises you do over weeks — it's a specific, hands-on repositioning technique performed in-session:
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Diagnostic positional testing to confirm BPPV and identify exactly which ear and which canal is involved, since treatment depends on getting this right
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Canalith repositioning maneuvers (such as the Epley maneuver), which guide the displaced crystals back to where they belong through a precise sequence of head and body movements
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Balance and gait assessment, since even after the spinning resolves, some residual unsteadiness or fall risk can linger for a few days
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Education on positions and movements to avoid in the short term to prevent recurrence while your inner ear settles
Most people notice significant improvement immediately after the first treatment, though some cases require a second visit if crystals have shifted into more than one canal.
Why In-Home Care Makes Sense for Vertigo
Actively spinning, nauseated, and unsteady is not a safe condition to drive in and, waiting for an outpatient appointment while symptomatic often means suffering through days of avoidable dizziness.
BPPV rarely resolves on its own quickly, and every day spent avoiding movement to prevent triggering symptoms is a day of reduced activity and increased fall risk. A single well-timed treatment can often resolve it entirely.