What is vertigo?

[Charmed.1]

My mom has been suffering from what the doc's say could be vertigo. This has been going on for about a year now. She can no longer drive for fear of having a dizzy spell and she is way too young for this. She went thru the therapy for a month and they said that most people are basically cured after this, she is not. Any input? I am completely ignorant of this disease and could use some help.

[Turquoise]

Charmed.1
Could your mom have ]Benign Proximinal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This is where the crystals in the inner ear migrate to other parts of the ear. When you turn a certain way they move around and cause extreme veritgo. It just lasts seconds but can cause falls, etc. My MIL has had it for 4 years. When she was first diagnosed they did a proceedure where they manipulate the head to try to get the crystals back where they belong. She was to keep head movements minimal for a week but the minute we got into the car to go home she forgot and started moving her head.

We went thru this 3 times before we realized she was not able to follow the directions. Since then I have taken her to a ENT surgeon but he gave her exercises which she cannot do. Now that she has ALZ she complains about it all the time and wants to be taken to the Dr. There is nothing they can do for her.

If your mom still has her right mind and this sounds like the problem, take her to a ENT specialist to have the proceedure done and get exercises she can do at home to help it. Good luck.
Turquoise

[Sandyspen]

Yes, my mom has it too.

The doctors gave her instructions also, don't move the head too quickly or rise from sleeping quickly, but with dementia, she never remembered their orders. Didn't even remember she'd ever been dizzy or gone to the hospital from one of the falls.

She suffered 2 very bad falls. Now, they give her a medicine to stop the spells. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of it. I'm sure someone else will come along who knows the name. It starts with an "m" and can be purchased over the counter without prescription. My mom takes it in the evening and hasn't had a fall since taking this med. About 6 months now.

Hope that helps.....

[Martha H]

I had a bout of vertigo many years ago. It was awful. The dizziness also made me nauseous, so it was a matter of feeling dizzy, throwing up, and falling. I was diagnosed with an inner ear imbalance and put on some medication (this was so long ago I don't remember what it was.) It went away after only a few days, thank God. They were terrible days. I could not drive, walk, cook or anything ..with 3 small kids at home.

I feel so sorry for anyone with this condition. I hope they will get rid of it with medication. Mine never came back. It was at least 20 years ago.

Good luck!

Love,
Martha

[LuvMyLilDoggie]

I had a friend who was off work for 3 months because of severe vertigo so it can last a while. They never found out what caused his. It just went away on it's own.

Barb