Live Well with Phil Rainier: Dizzy

    If you’re like me and were growing up in the 60’s, you probably remember the Tommy Roe hit “Dizzy.”  Do you remember the words?   “Dizzy, I’m so dizzy my head is spinning.  Like a whirlpool it never ends…”  If you’re like me, you’ll have that tune going through your head all day now.  Sorry about that, but it’s for a good cause.  

    Today I’m writing about dizziness.  It’s not the “love” kind of dizzy Tommy Roe was singing about.   It’s a condition called chronic dizziness that sufferers describe as unpredictable, uncontrolled bouts of dizziness.  Often, it leads to nausea and vomiting.  Left untreated, it can cause a person to retreat from everyday life. It’s especially common in seniors that increase their risk for potentially devastating falls.    

    Now that we know what the problem is, how do we fix it?  Not so fast, partner. According to Central Physical Therapy PT and Vestibular Specialist Richard O’Quinn, dizziness can be linked to a lot of maladies.  The good news is, thanks to a new awareness, technology and relatively simple treatments a growing number of dizziness patients are getting relief.

O’Quinn just returned from a week of intense workshops on dizziness at the prestigious Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta. While there, he found himself in classrooms with some of the world’s top vestibular experts.  A physical therapist for more than 20 years, O’Quinn knew dizziness was a big problem, but after these meetings he says he came away with a new sense of how widespread the condition is and fresh enthusiasm for what he could do to help.

    Because dizziness and loss of balance can sometimes be a sign of something more serious, it’s always a good idea to see your doctor before seeking out treatment of any kind.  Having said that, the National Institutes of Health estimates 85 percent of equilibrium problems are linked to dislodged crystals in the inner ear.  Doctors and physical therapists like O’Quinn already utilize a procedure called the Epley Maneuver to treat the condition.  During the maneuver, a patient’s head is skillfully manipulated to coax out-of-place crystals back where they belong.  The technique is highly effective, but after his meetings in Atlanta O’Quinn is even more convinced the Epley Maneuver is not a one-size-fits-all solution.  In fact, he says there are a variety of new approaches that can relieve dizziness that hasn’t responded to other treatments.  For one patient, a maneuver that repositions crystals in the inner ear may help. For another, the best approach may be low-tech work-outs that teach the brain to compensate for a loss of balance totally unrelated to the inner ear.  The trick is going to a vestibular specialist who can distinguish between the two and then move on to a treatment that’s most likely to help.    

    After listening to Richard and doing my own homework, the take home message for people who suffer from chronic dizziness seems clear. There have never been more treatment options available to people with the condition.  The first step toward getting well and living well is getting evaluated.  If it looks like Physical Therapy is an option, there’s a very good chance a PT trained vestibular specialist will find a way to stop your world from spinning.