Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Ear Crystals displaced)

L

loneswaneast

Cathlete
I went to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist because I have been having dizziness, imbalance and other symptoms I suspected to be connected to some kind of inner ear problem. It turns out the calcium crystals in my ear canal (who knew about those?) had somehow become displaced. There is an easy maneuver to correct this, but has anyone else ever experienced this?

The Doctor thought the cause might be High Intensity Exercise. Is this true?
 
Me, as well. I've had it for years. Right after my third child was born. Pops up every once in awhile, but my son taught me the maneuver. It can be discombobulating, though.
I think quite a few things can cause it. Mine started after a serious sinus and ear infection. Don't know if the infection was the catalyst, but, I say it was.
 
loneswaneast said:
I went to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist because I have been having dizziness, imbalance and other symptoms I suspected to be connected to some kind of inner ear problem. It turns out the calcium crystals in my ear canal (who knew about those?) had somehow become displaced. There is an easy maneuver to correct this, but has anyone else ever experienced this?

The Doctor thought the cause might be High Intensity Exercise. Is this true?
Click to expand...

Girl, I know what you are experiencing. It took four months to get a proper diagnosis before my ENT doc sent me to physical therapy. I was on a low dose hormone replacement therapy, working out every single day, under a lot of stress at work, not sleeping well and taking sleeping pills. Also, my employer forced me to use two computer screens. I personally think that was the "straw that broke the camel's back." My ENT nor the physical therapist could pinpoint exactly what caused the BPPV.

I don't recommend doing the Epley maneuver at home. My physical therapist told me you can possibly stroke out.
 
Wow I had no idea how many people have experienced this. I became very ill in November with vertigo, vomiting when I stood up, could barely walk on my own. The emergency doctor diagnosed me with this but a few days later a physiotherapist diagnosed another problem in the inner ear called vestibular neuritis - an inflammation of the nerve which also causes these symptoms. I happened to have 2 really bad cold sores and then went to the dentist 5 days prior to the episode and from reading, it appears the herpes virus is a common cause. Who would have thought?? I had to be off work for almost 7 weeks and still experience mild symptoms of imbalance/ dizziness/ trouble driving etc. I've already had a recurrence of the BPPV as well. Being in the health care field I was convinced I had herpetic meningitis - the emergency doc got a good laugh out of that lol!
 
Add me to those that have experienced this. Not sure what caused it (so far had it 2 times). The best reason I can come up with is degeneration because of age. Lots of things seem to be happening with my body that I swear are because I'm older (51).

It's an awful feeling and no one can imagine how sick you can get, especially with the epley move and then I'm sick for a whole day after. I get motion sick really bad in general, maybe that contributes?
 
melagras said:
Girl, I know what you are experiencing. It took four months to get a proper diagnosis before my ENT doc sent me to physical therapy. I was on a low dose hormone replacement therapy, working out every single day, under a lot of stress at work, not sleeping well and taking sleeping pills. Also, my employer forced me to use two computer screens. I personally think that was the "straw that broke the camel's back." My ENT nor the physical therapist could pinpoint exactly what caused the BPPV.

I don't recommend doing the Epley maneuver at home. My physical therapist told me you can possibly stroke out.
Click to expand...
I have been doing the Epley maneuver at home, had no idea it was dangerous. I will stop and reschedule with the therapist. Thanks for the warning.
 
jamie vaughn said:
Wow I had no idea how many people have experienced this. I became very ill in November with vertigo, vomiting when I stood up, could barely walk on my own. The emergency doctor diagnosed me with this but a few days later a physiotherapist diagnosed another problem in the inner ear called vestibular neuritis - an inflammation of the nerve which also causes these symptoms. I happened to have 2 really bad cold sores and then went to the dentist 5 days prior to the episode and from reading, it appears the herpes virus is a common cause. Who would have thought?? I had to be off work for almost 7 weeks and still experience mild symptoms of imbalance/ dizziness/ trouble driving etc. I've already had a recurrence of the BPPV as well. Being in the health care field I was convinced I had herpetic meningitis - the emergency doc got a good laugh out of that lol!
Click to expand...
Interesting, because I have a history of cold sores. I used to get them all the time, but haven't had one in years, but how interesting that it can manifest itself in the inner ear. OUR physiology is fascinating.
 
desertambrosia said:
Me, as well. I've had it for years. Right after my third child was born. Pops up every once in awhile, but my son taught me the maneuver. It can be discombobulating, though.
I think quite a few things can cause it. Mine started after a serious sinus and ear infection. Don't know if the infection was the catalyst, but, I say it was.
Click to expand...
From all the replies, it sounds like there are many triggers. It is such a strange feeling. I was convinced I had a brain tumor at one time, the vertigo was really something. I fell a few times just from being slightly off center.
 
fitover40 said:
Add me to those that have experienced this. Not sure what caused it (so far had it 2 times). The best reason I can come up with is degeneration because of age. Lots of things seem to be happening with my body that I swear are because I'm older (51).

It's an awful feeling and no one can imagine how sick you can get, especially with the epley move and then I'm sick for a whole day after. I get motion sick really bad in general, maybe that contributes?
Click to expand...
No doubt about the aging thing. There are some things that happen that no diet or exercise is going to stop. I'm 66 and am just beginning to accept that I just can't do everything I used to. Now I understand why my aged relatives would always say they were just happy to still have their health.
 
loneswaneast said:
No doubt about the aging thing. There are some things that happen that no diet or exercise is going to stop. I'm 66 and am just beginning to accept that I just can't do everything I used to. Now I understand why my aged relatives would always say they were just happy to still have their health.
Click to expand...
I can accept the age thing if I was in my 60s. No one prepared me for things to start going wrong in my 50s! It doesn't help when your friends who are a decade older than you tells you your too young for age problems because they don't have them. Genetics suck I guess.
 
This is great topic - this has happened to me. I went to ER on New Years Eve morning. When I woke up, turned quickly to look at clock, and the whole room started to spin out of control. I laid back down but the room just kept spinning. I finally focused on the fan and it stopped but it really freaked me out because it never happened before. The ER said it was vertigo (they took a brain scan to be sure nothing else). I thought for sure I was having a stroke or something. What a relief. I asked doctor if it is related to age - I'm 57 but he said no. I educated myself on this as I never heard of it before. Drinking a lot of water, sleeping 8-9 hours a night are just a couple of things that help and I was lacking at the time this happened. I had a cold sore too - interesting that others had that too. I get a little dizzy if I get up too fast (has been happening for a long time) but nothing like I experienced that morning and hope to never experience again.
 
Hi there, I too had this same thing about 4 years ago (I was 36). Absolutely awful and it kept reoccurring for four months. My first episode happened when I woke up and sat up and the whole room went into a violent spin. I also had the Epley maneuver done at my ENT's office and kept going back after each episode. After my last Epley I had read online from a Neurologist that anytime someone comes in for any type of vertigo that he always had them follow up with acupuncture. At that point I would have tried anything because it was so miserable and scary so I went for acupuncture and it was the best thing I could have done. I had to go three times a week for a few weeks and then weaned off. I still go now every six months just for a "tune up" and peace of mind plus I love the relaxation of it. Good luck!
 
My husband had this and it was really making him dizzy. He did a few simple moves (they have youtube videos) and it really did cure him! It was totally kooky!

What the moves consisted of were him laying on the bed in a certain position and then changing that position...he did this a few times...and voilà! Cured.
 
loneswaneast said:
I have been doing the Epley maneuver at home, had no idea it was dangerous. I will stop and reschedule with the therapist. Thanks for the warning.
Click to expand...

There is a modification of the Epley maneuver that you can do at home while going through therapy. It is called the Semont Maneuver. My therapist tried to get me to do these at home but I didn't feel comfortable with it.

 
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