My Experience With BPPV

My Experience With BPPV

Health & Wellness • N E W S L E T T E R • My Experience with BPPV Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

As a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience I have pretty much seen or treated it all; but being the patient was a very different story. Last March, I ended up with firsthand knowledge of what it feels like to suffer from vertigo; specifically BPPV. It was a Thursday in early March when I awoke with symptoms. When they say ‘benign’ they domean benign because this came out of nowhere! I remember feeling “dizzy” or “off balance” in my sleep, though it didn’t fully wake me up. When I awoke in the morning I was facing the side of the bed so I didn’t notice anything wrong; but when I sat up it was like someone turned the world upside down and sideways! I immediately fell over backward on the bed; there was no warning and no ability to keep myself from falling backward. It scared me and I had to take a minute to calm down and regroup. When I finally sat up the world felt more ‘right’ on its axis and I didn’t fall over. Once I convinced myself to stand up, I was able to stay upright; but I definitely felt dizzy and unsure of my steps. Turning my head

made me feel like I was going to lose my balance. As the day progressed, the symptoms seemed to calm a bit and I was able to move around with just some occasional dizziness. Only turning my head quickly made me have to stop and take a moment to feel right. I consider myself lucky because I am blessed to have a physical therapist that specializes in Vestibular Therapy on my team; Dr. Devin Wurman. Of course it was a snow day and one of the few times we have had to close the clinic so it was 24 hours before I could see Devin and have her evaluate my symptoms. The next morning I couldn’t wait to get into the clinic and have Devin treat me! Luckily, due to the recent snow there was space on the schedule. She did a thorough exam to rule out all other issues and then did her special testing for vertigo. When she is testing for BPPV, she has to position your head in a way that makes the “crystals” that are out of place move around in your inner ear. She then watches to see if your eyes react or if you have any other symptoms – like maybe the

room feels like it is flipping upside down. She tested the non-affected side first and as expected there were no symptoms. Then she started on the affected side. After about 5-7 seconds I started to say, “oh, well usually by now things start to get a little tipsy”… all of a sudden, the entire room flipped upside down! I was so freaked out that I grabbed Devin and told her not to let go! Thinking back, it was kind of funny. If someone had videotaped that interaction I surely would have about a million hits on you tube! Treatment for BPPV consists of positioning exercises to move the crystals in the inner ear back to where they belong, followed by eye exercises and a balance program. Within a few sessions, Devin had me back to feeling normal again! As I said before, I am blessed to have her on staff. And so are you. She is one of the only therapists in Loudoun County who is highly trained in Vestibular Rehab and she is here to help you whenever you need her. On top of 3. Meniere’s Disease Meniere’s disease is a disorder where a person experiences several episodes of fullness of the ear, reduced hearing, ringing in the ear, vertigo, imbalance, nausea and vomiting. It usually only affects one ear and can result in hearing loss in that ear. A doctor will diagnose this when a person experiences several episodes of fullness of the ear, reduced hearing, ringing in the ear, vertigo, imbalance, nausea and vomiting.

being a Vestibular Therapist, Devin is also one of the best orthopedic physical therapists I know. And again, I am blessed to have her onmy team. Wishing you well this month and always, Dee

4 Common Vestibular Disorders: 1. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) BPPV is the most common and easily treated of vestibular disorders. It occurs when the crystals in the inner ear fall into one of the semicircular ear canals. When this happens, you feel the sense of spinning or vertigo. It’s common for the vertigo to occur when you roll over in bed, look up, or bend over. It usually lasts about a minute.

2. Labryinthitis/Vestibular Neuritis These are commonly caused by a viral infection that causes inflammation of the vestibular nerve. The main symptom is prolonged, severe vertigo that gets worse with head movement.

4. Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV) Approximately 35% of patients who have migraines suffer from some kind of vestibular syndrome. The best course of treatment is a combination of medicine, physical therapy and some changes in diet. Physical therapy can help decrease muscle tension, dizziness and improve balance.

21251 Ridgetop Circle Suite #140, Sterling, VA 20166 www.LoudounSportsTherapy.com 703-450-4300

Our Pat ient Spot l ight

Bill Hilsman came to Loudoun Sports Therapy Center after experiencing dizziness and other vestibular symptoms. He worked with Devin Wurman, LSTC’s vestibular specialist for several visits and you can see he is feeling better. Success Story: “I came with significant dizziness and balance issues. I suspected I had crystals in the wrong channel. All of this was cleared up in about 4 sessions. They helpedme strengthenmy balance and made me much steadier on my feet. Full recovery- better in so many ways for the future.”

Pat ient Resul ts

I NO LONGER HAVE VERTIGO! “I’m so very glad I was sent to Devin. Everyone at Loudoun Sports Therapy Center was ready to help me get the results I needed. I no longer have vertigo – what a great feeling!” ~Margaret K.

I CAN DO EVERYTHING FULL SPEED! “I can do everything full speedwithout pain and I don’t feel soreness like before. Before physical therapy, it hurt just to walk around. After any weight lifting, my legs would be really sore and I could only run 75%. I feel much better!” ~Derrick K. I’M PLAYING SPORTS BETTER THAN EVER! “Before coming to physical therapy, pain in my back prevented me from participating in any sports. Now after my weeks of ‘fun and games’ at physical therapy, I’m back to the full gauntlet of sports, playing better than ever.” ~Bruce S.

I COMPLETED A 40-MINUTE SPIN CLASS!

“I have been to LSTC for the last several weeks following knee surgery. When I started I had a lot of pain and limited flexibility. Through my sessions here, my flexibility and strength have improved significantly. I continued with therapy for six extra sessions at the recommendation of the therapist and those sessions really helpedmy strength and endurance. I was able to get through a 40-minute spin class for the first time just before my last PT session. Great results!” ~Suzanne M.

21251 Ridgetop Circle Suite #140, Sterling, VA 20166 www.LoudounSportsTherapy.com 703-450-4300

“I jumped up to head the ball the same way I do in practice. But this time I felt dizzy after and my headache wouldn’t go away.” Have you ever been in a similar situation with an athlete and did not know what to do? Some of the most common symptoms associated with concussion injuries are headaches, dizziness and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms that athletes also often report are light or noise sensitivity, confusion, drowsiness, behavioral changes, and nausea. But because every concussion is unique, not all of these symptoms need to be present to indicate it is a concussion. In severe cases, the athlete might lose consciousness, but again, this is not a necessary symptom to definitively identify a concussion. Most concussions occur after: • Player to player contact • Player to playing surface contact • Player to equipment contact Abrupt head jarring or head movement, like when a car crash occurs, can also cause a concussion. To read the rest of this article, head to http://www.loudounsportstherapy.com/posts/what-to-look-for-after- a-possible-concussion/ What to Look for After a Possible Concussion • Have you been on a roller coaster with your weight? • Have you struggled to find the right diet that works for you? • Are you looking for accountability to help you reach and maintain your weight loss and fitness goals? If you answered YES to any of these questions, THE HEALTHY EDGE LIFESTYLE AND WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM could be life changing for you! StartingMonday, October 3rd at 5:30pm, Weight Management Specialist and Health Coach Millie Betts will lead 8 weekly group sessions to help you reach your individual goals. Want to find out more before you register for the whole program? Join Millie on Saturday, September 10th at 10am here at LSTC for a free informational session. You will learn: •How THE HEALTHY EDGE works •The cost •What you get for your money •What the expectations are and how it can help you Join a LIFESTYLE AND WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM at LSTC!

Ask your question by posting it on our Facebook or twitter page. • Q: What is Devin’s background and how long has she been a vestibular therapist? Ask a PT: Have a question about physical therapy, an injury or a pain you’re feeling?

• A: Devin graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003 and has been a Certified Vestibular Therapist since 2005. She is one of the few vestibular specialists in Northern Virginia. She uses proven techniques to address issues that affect inner ear conditions such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Labrynthitis, Meinere’s Disease and Migraine Associated Vertigo.

Refer someone to LSTC for physical therapy Refer someone to LSTC for physical therapy and when they come in for care and tell us you referred them we send you 2 movie tickets as a thank you! and when they come in for care and tell us you referred them we send you 2 movie tickets as a thank you!

And we will enter you into our drawing for a $50 gift card! And we will enter you into our drawing for a $50 gift card!

Congrats to Alyssa Shehadeh! She is our next big winner in our patient referral game raffle! Alyssa referred a patient our way so in addition to some movie tickets, she alsowon a $50 gift card. The game starts over now! We will draw another name once we hit 13 patient referrals so play along!

This informational session is FREE but you must call LSTC to sign up. Call 703-450-4300 TODAY!

21251 Ridgetop Circle Suite #140, Sterling, VA 20166 www.LoudounSportsTherapy.com 703-450-4300

21251 Ridgetop Circle Suite #140 Sterling, VA 20166 703-450-4300 www.LoudounSportsTherapy.com

Outpatient Physical Therapy Specializing In: Lower Back Pain • Neck Pain • Sciatica • Hip Problems • Shoulder Pain • Bursitis • Tendonitis • Frozen Shoulder Joint Pain and Replacements • Foot and Ankle Pain • Plantar Fasciitis • Knee Problems • Arthritis • Muscle Pains Sprains • Strains • Hand and Elbow Problems • Sports Injuries • Concussion Management Program Sports Performance Program • Return to Sport Program • Balance and Vestibular Problems • Other Conditions