How is Vertigo Treated?

Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or rocking, making you feel like you’re regularly unbalanced, even if you’re standing perfectly still. It can be caused by a range of factors, from Meniere’s disease to the development of tiny calcium particles within your inner ear. Short-term vertigo may be caused by a head injury, migraines, certain medications and more. In some cases, vertigo can go away without treatment. If you have a chronic case of dizziness, however, an ear, nose and throat doctor may be able to recommend some treatments that can help.

Medication

Deciding the best route for treatment is all about diagnosing the underlying issue causing your vertigo. There is a range of medications that may be able to help, from oral medicine and patches to suppositories and IV drips. If it’s caused by a bacterial infection, then antibiotics may be prescribed. For those with Meniere’s disease, you may require a low salt diet and water pills, also known as diuretics.

Canalith repositioning procedure

As mentioned, vertigo can be caused by the presence of small calcium particles in the middle ear, known as otoconia. This is also known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV for short. The canalith repositioning procedure is a series of head maneuvers that can help move these otoconia to a different part of the ear, where they won’t cause vertigo. It’s a highly effective treatment, relieving symptoms in up to 80% of cases in two sessions, though some patients may need to visit the ear, nose and throat doctor to repeat the procedure if the problem eventually comes back.

Vestibular rehabilitation

This is an exercise-based plan of treatment that your ear, nose and throat doctor may recommend as a treatment for a variety of inner ear and balance issues. It can take from six to eight weeks, involving a variety of exercises like vision stability training, posture training, walking exercises, neck mobility, stretching exercises and more. The vestibular rehabilitation program changes from person to person, based on your medical history and factors like leg strength, your gait, neck mobility and more. The aim of this program is to improve the function of the vestibular system, which communicates with the brain about changes in balance, head and body movement and gravity.

Surgery

In some specific cases, such as a hole in the inner ear causing recurring infections, a tumor or an injury to either the brain or the neck, surgery may be required. These surgeries will directly target the cause of vertigo, leading to immediate relief. There is a range of different surgeries that might be recommended, depending on that cause. For instance, for those with vertigo caused by recurring ear disorders like infections, a surgery may involve opening the middle ear to drain the infection, followed by a course of antibiotics.

If you are having a severe problem with vertigo, make an appointment with your ear, nose and throat doctor. They can help you find the cause, if it hasn’t already been discovered, and put into place the treatments that can help you find some relief.