How to Prevent BPPV from Recurring (Vertigo)

If you've had BPPV before, you'll want to do everything you can to keep it from coming back!

BPPV, also known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, occurs when little crystals called "otoconia" float into the inner ear canals from an adjacent inner ear organ.

The result can be very uncomfortable and sudden vertigo.

For some people, effectively treating the BPPV once with the Epley Maneuver and/or the Gufoni Maneuver will be enough to keep the vertigo from coming back.

But for others, the vertigo can recur, sometimes frequently.

In this video, I'll answer some common questions I get from viewers about how to prevent BPPV from recurring, and I'll also share 3 tips to help minimize the vertigo from coming back in the first 24-48 hours.

If you've had success treating your vertigo or preventing it from coming back after treatment, please share your story below!

- Luke Gordon, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy/Owner of Gordon Physical Therapy

[nancymicklatcher]

I've had two episodes of BPPV, 7 years apart. Came out of nowhere both times. First time had the Epley Maneuver by a PT and it resolved after one visit but it made me so, so sick! Second time (just recently back in May) went to my chiro and he was able to resolve it much more gently and effectively just by maneuvering my head, without all the sitting up, laying back down nonsense that got me sick the first time. The frustrating thing is it came out of nowhere. Now I'm trying to stay hydrated, sleep with my head elevated a bit, and taking a Vitamin D supplement. Praying it stays away! It's awful!

[rebeccakahrs]

I dealt with vertigo for 6 weeks….it was horrible and I was working with my PT using the epily maneuver ……it helped but it didn’t go away…I started doing some extensive research….I’ve always been a huge Edgar Cayce fan…..he recommended water hydration…….within 2 days of drinking at least 72oz of filtered water daily it was gone. I’ve continued to stay hydrated and haven’t had another reoccurrence. For anyone suffering……what do you have to loose…..water is free and it helps to thin the viscosity of the fluid in the canals.

[rhinusbreedt]

Its been 1 year since my 1st vertigo experience..when it hit i thought i was dying..my head spun for 7 days as if someone threw me out of an aeroplane. started suffering from panic attacks for a few months. its now the 3rd time it hits me out of nowhere this time the spinning only lasted 2 days.. been 4 days now and still feel dizy when i move my head around but its getting better. dont have any great advice.. but i have moved from SA to Aus and i feel like im linking all of this to stress and maybe IBS which flared up a year ago as well. Its been the biggest life change to me ever. Didnt think me immigrating stressed me so much until this started happening. Haven't been active with training or stuff to reduce the everyday stress of our lives.. i have chronic neck and shoulder pains from .. i guess underlined stress. IbS and gastritis linked with every occurrence. Dont know if it affects my ears as well or can an inflamed stomach lining cause such bad vertigo?

[amyw]

Thanks for this video. I was diagnosed with BPPV in 1998 and it has recurred at times ever since.

[indiansoulsinger]

Thanks for the tips. I had BPPV 6 months back. My son is a doctor at Mayo Clinic. I was super nervous thinking I have some serious disease with my head spining. He mentioned to me “Mummy don’t worry it’s BPPV- I then looked for the answers myself thanks YouTube and Google. I did Epley and got rid of spinning head.
Now I got the recurrence again. Not as pronounced but not good feeling. I am thankful to you for “what not to do” I was thinking that my neck may be the culprit- so rotated my neck. That’s going to stop. I have adjustable bed so will incline tonight.
Thank you long haired help sitting somewhere!!

[annknitnut]

My first episode was just over year ago. Horrible feeling that i obsessed over and fear everyday! I saw neurologist and diagnosed BPPV. He used Eppley maneuver and it did stop the dizzyness. I used maneuver with success. Several months later I had recurrence, went to Dr., labs done. My Vitamin D was Very LOW. I started supplements. I believe my symptoms and recurrence has diminished since taking Vitamin D.

[coleti]

I have BPPV and i have watched DR ERIC BERG MD im going to start taking Vitamin D3 with vit K2 and magnesium

[Dee-lwts]

I have BPPV caused by the gentamicin operation in 2000 where double the amount of gentamicin was used but now I have also developed cervicogenic vertigo which requires exercising head movements ….I feel between a rock and a hard place.

[nonacee]

I had my granddaughter help to do the Epley after a few weeks of suffering. We watched YouTube to see how to do it. Yes i threw up on 2 positions but felt slightly better afterwards. It took about another week to recover.

My longest bout was 9 weeks. Couldn't drive, couldn't do anything and kept my head in a certain position to be able to function, any other movement had me nauseas. Saw the neuro, ENT, had scans, but it was finally when the ENT said it could be coming from my neck and I saw a chiro who cracked my neck that i recovered. Chiro though, thought that the sudden movement he performed was similar to an Epley.

I now have a physio on speed dial when it hits. It's a horrible affliction.

[lastsurvivorofthegeminicov]

I was exercising woke up next day with mild dizziness when I moved. Last Sunday I laid on my right side and had 2 vertigo attacks first one stopped after I got up and second lasted 6 hours with inability to walk and being sick. I ended up at the hospital was given fluids and zofran which helped the sickness and was diagnosed with bvvp. Fast forward this week I went to see my doctor which she said just keep doing the epley exercises and gave me a nasal spray and ear drops as my ear also pops. On Thursday I had a mini vertigo spell while trying to put the ear drops in and got scared I ended up finding a physical therapist. He performed the epley on me and I had vertigo for about a minute each time. He said that isn't common but to just hold the positions a bit longer. After Thursday I'm having extreme anxiety attacks, dizziness, migraine, brain fog and sickness feeling I also go from feeling like I'm tilting backwards to forwards randomly like at the moment feel like I'm tilting forward even laying down. I tried laying on the effected ear and no vertigo just anxiety so I'm not sure what else to do. I'm scared it won't go away and I'm gonna be stuck like this forever and the sickness makes it hard to eat like at all.

[israelcharo]

Retired physician here...your videos are excellent and your explanations very clear. I wonder if I could ask your opinion this: a patient has documented right post-canal BPPV, , , positive DH test and responded to Epley. Has had several subsequent episodes of transient vertigo with vertical head movements...DH intermittently positive; Epley repeated only when DH positive. But...now has reproducible vertigo (x15sec) after sleeping for an hour with right ear down WHEN moves head to neutral position (so looking straight up while still supine). Nystagmus appears to be up-beating (though difficult to be sure without the goggles etc). Question: Still posterior canal or now horizontal canal?? Tried the diagnostic test for horizontal BPPV and no vertigo or nystagmus... so, confusing... Appreciate your thoughts!

[moonfire]

I only have this problem as I'm waking up. Thankfully not very often. But it hit me hard this morning and scared me to death! All I did was start waking up and rolling over. My head was a spinning top and I freaked out screaming. It stopped when I laid on my back for a few seconds. I have a lot of migraines and ear ringing.

[pohjanakka]

Mine was first diagnosed when I was in my early 30s, about 30 years ago, after I tried to learn jiu jitsu. Turns out doing rolling ukemis is a bad idea when you have BPPV. Heh. After that I have had occasional attacks, most often connected to that rolling over in bed move, but they haven't been particularly common, and I have learned to deal with them. They usually pass by themselves after something like half an hour, if they don't doing those head movements can help.

I have probably have had the tendency at least from a fairly young age, I have, for example, never learned how to ride a bike. I have sometimes wondered if falling off a horse head first may have had something to do with the whole thing. I had a helmet, but since the top of my skull was the first part of my anatomy to make first contact with ground, well... the critter made a sudden stop, yanked its head down and bucked a bit, and the saddle slid a bit forward, and I was trying to hang on to the reins but being just barely over 10 years old at that time that just kind of propelled me forward and over the horse's head. I don't remember being all that dizzy at that time, and I climbed back on after a few minutes, but still... 🤔

[charlottekennedy]

I have it now it is horrible. Debilitating.

[roslynbuiviet]

My vertigo started immediately after I sat up from doing “plough pose” or Halasana in my yoga class. I have done the same pose many times before without causing vertigo. Coincidence or the probable cause? Will be scared to do it again now. The Epley manoeuvre stopped it though but not till a week later when I luckily discovered your video. Thankyou so much!

[Katie]

How do I know which ear is causing the Vertigo?

[padmajarane]

Which ear is the affected one? I get dizzy when turning from right to left side in bed

[GinaBell-ir]

After suffering from years I discovered the solution. A Korean research project found that taking vitamin D will prevent it coming back. After taking vitamin D after finding out I had low levels, its worked.

[laurareynolds]

My bed has a vibration function. I was using this for pain relief from a back injury. Had 2 diagnosis of BPPV in 3-month period after that. Not sure it's related but wondering if anyone else experienced this? Is my bed shaking the rocks lose in my head?

[Evelyn-zggp]

HAD IT 9 TIMES A YEAR FOR OVER 49 YEARS, DO I NEED TUBES