Vertigo Treatment in Kolkata (BPPV & Vestibular Rehab)

Overview

Vertigo is a spinning sensation, often brought on by moving the head. The most common cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where tiny crystals in the inner ear move out of place, so short spinning spells come on when you lie down, turn over in bed or look up. BPPV can often be treated in the clinic with simple repositioning manoeuvres, and other inner-ear balance problems can improve with vestibular exercises. Because some causes of dizziness are serious, every first visit starts with a careful assessment by Dr. Partha Sarathi Neogi.

How Dr. Neogi assesses vertigo and dizziness

1. Your history: what the dizziness feels like (spinning, light-headed or unsteady), what brings it on, how long it lasts, any hearing changes or headaches, and your medicines.
2. Screening for warning signs that need a doctor or emergency care first (listed on this page).
3. Positional tests for BPPV, and checks of eye movements, balance and walking.
4. A plain-language explanation, treatment if suitable, and advice on whether you need an ENT specialist or a neurologist.

BPPV, other causes, and how many sessions you may need

In BPPV, small calcium crystals in the inner ear move into one of the balance canals, so certain head movements trigger brief, intense spinning that usually lasts less than a minute. Repositioning manoeuvres, such as the Epley manoeuvre, guide the crystals back out of the canal through a series of head and body positions. Many people improve after one to a few treatments, but BPPV can come back.

Other causes of dizziness include inner-ear inflammation, migraine, blood pressure changes, medicines and, less commonly, problems in the brain that need urgent care. When the inner ear's balance system has been affected, vestibular rehabilitation exercises help the brain adapt and improve balance. Dizziness that is not from the inner ear is referred to the right doctor. How many sessions you need depends on the cause and how you respond, and progress is reviewed at each visit.

Who we often see

• Short spinning spells when lying down, turning in bed or looking up (BPPV)
• Vertigo that keeps coming back
• Unsteadiness after an inner-ear infection
• Dizziness and poor balance in older adults
• Dizziness together with neck pain, after assessment
• People referred by an ENT specialist or neurologist for vestibular exercises

What you can do at home

• Get up slowly from lying down, and sit for a moment before standing.
• Use a night light and keep walkways clear to avoid falls.
• Do the exercises you are given regularly, even if they bring on mild, short dizziness.
• Avoid driving, climbing ladders or working at heights while you have vertigo.
• Do not stop or change any medicine without talking to your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions