Long Term Dizziness after BPPV

[cpyles]

I have experienced chronic dizziness for 2 years after having BPPV. The severity varies from day-to-day, but on bad days I feel lightheaded, easily get dizzy, will have mild visual disturbances [e.g. when staring a striped object I will see the stripes vibrate], and am very senstive to rapid head movements particularly in the dark. I am posting in hopes that someone else may have had a similar experiences and can share their diagnoses or successes.

History
37yoM.  Two yrs ago I had sudden attack of BPPV. After 6 weeks untreated it was diagnosed as both posterior and horizontal canal bppv and sucessfully treated at UCSF. Post treatment I have not had any nystagmus or "spinning attacks"

Post treament I was given vestibular rehab exercises which i did religiously for 45 min/ day for 6 mos. This helped but did not stop the symptoms.  I added daily Yoga and got significant relief but still no resolution

In the past yr I've seen two oto-neurologists.  Who were both stumped. MRI and MRA were normal.  One suspected some residual loose otoliths and prescribed epleys for two weeks. This didn't help. The second suspected migraine associated vertigo, since I usually have headaches that come w/dizzy attacks [though I think these are CAUSED by the dizziness].He put me on nortryptiline 25mg/day. After about 1month I did seem to improve, but after few weeks the same symptoms returned.  I am now upping the dose to see if that helps but I feel that I am barking up the wrong tree and the migraine assocation might be a red herring

Appreciate hearing from others

[Schneckle]

I've had vertigo for over 21 years, I was officially diagnosed with BPPV in 2000. A lot of times I have an intense itch on the inside of my ear, slight facial numbness, stiffness in my neck, blurry vision, on the right side off my face only. I've tried Antivert which just made me sleepy, what works best for me is a simple antihistamine like Sudafed. and if I get  a headache, which I often times do, I use Sudafed Sinus pressure and pain and do the Epley maneuver. My doc also suggested an over the counter allergy medication to prevent an increase in fluids due to allergies, which I am now taking seasonally. My vertigo comes only from my right ear, so I try to lay on my left side when I sleep or lay on the couch, maybe that's where I get the stiff neck from, but it does prevent the attacks a bit! I still get an attack about 5 times per year but they won't last as long anymore since I've been doing the Epley in conjunction with the antihistamin. So instead of being sick for weeks it might take 2 to 5 days.

[neidlinger]

Try the Epley chair available at Mayo and a few other places. It's helped dx and treat me more than the manual moves. PT doesn't work if ear crystals aren't stable. Some of the most serious persistent cases are because BPPV is in both ears or in the difficult to diagnose anterior canal.

It's not all in your head, but in your ears. Don't let doctors diagnose you as anxious when you know the vertigo came first!

[Kathyg100]

I have had BPPV symptoms for the past 3 months and was doing the Epley exercise on my own. Today I saw a PT who did an evaluation to rule out other, more severe, conditions. As bad as I feel, it is amazing to think there are worse conditions, but BPPV doesn't result in permanent inner ear damage thankfully. The PT explained to me that there are three canals in the inner ear where the otoliths can travel. The exercises are different for the three canals. So, if you have otoliths in the horizontal canal, the Epley won't work. The PT used a mask (like a diving mask) to look at my eyes under different conditions. All I could see was black. The ENT I went to sent me to the PT for the evaluation. It appears I have posterior canal issues on the left and horizontal canal issues on the right. I was treated for the left side today with the Epley and next week, if the right side still shows horizontal canal issues, I'll get treated for that. I really feel for all of us and anyone dealing with this issue. It has definitely made my life more difficult and my symptoms are considered "mild."

[nikkodawg]

44 yr old male. Had BPPV set in over a couple of days a month ago. I did the research and did the Hallpike-dix test on myself several times at home with consistent results positive for the right side. I did the Eply maneuver at home using a one minute pause between steps. It did not help. 24 hours later I did it again waiting two minute pauses between steps. This time the vertigo followed as I turned to the left and continued for about thirty seconds when I rose to a sitting position with chin down. It worked. A few hours later the symptoms were way better. I repeated the Hallpike-dix test the next morning with negative results for both sides. Yay!! it worked. But, here's the part which led me to this post. Since and now I feel light headed, not dizzy or vertigo but constantly lightheaded, feel a little "off" and sometimes head rushes when standing up. It doesn't seem to be getting better. Just thought I would share.  

[JenSann]

I am a Kaiser patient in NorCal and have been diagnosed with BPPV by ENT(head and neck surgery). I have had this for 11 years and historically my episodes eventually go away, but come back in full force about every 1.5-3 years. The current episode I am in has lasted 7 weeks with what I call residual dizziness, lightheaded, foggy headed feelings. My physical therapist and ENT state 3 mos is a normal course to rid of the residual, and I am counting the days for sure.

My question to you, was have you had any luck getting your Kaiser DR to refer you outside of Kaiser for additional opinions...the House Clinic that you mentioned for example?

Thanks Jen

[sonny49842]

Hey be strong! I think many of us are going though similar issues... I think Dr's hesitate to diagnos BPPV. I really don't know why honestly, I also have Kaiser and am awaiting a second opinion. I may even seek an outside referral. Have any of you heard (pardon the unintended pun) of the House Clinic? If you haven't, Google  them, they are renound.