Vertigo Treatment: Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

There are no synonyms of this condition as such but this condition can be associated with feelings of dizziness, physical imbalance and unsteadiness.

Vertigo is a condition of dizziness caused by a spinning sensation. Vertigo can occur as a result of an issue with the brain, inner ear, and or sensory nerve passageway. Vertigo can either be a short-term or permanent condition. A chronic vertigo condition is related to issues of the mind. In some cases the vertigo can be a result of psychiatric issues. If occurred on a regular basis then it hampers someone’s daily functioning abilities leading to much severe mental disorder such as anxiety and depression.

Many people relate the condition of vertigo with that of fear of heights but that is not the case. Any brief period of dizziness is generally because of issues in the brain or ear. A person suffering from a condition of vertigo will constantly feel that their surrounding milieu is spinning. The symptoms will include tinnitus, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance and light-headedness.

Sometimes children try to create induced feeling of vertigo by spinning round and round. This kind of vertigo only lasts for a few minutes and then subsides. When vertigo occurs because of an injury it can last for long hours and sometimes even days before subsiding. If the symptoms of vertigo last for a few days along with feeling weak, then it can lead to a chance of stroke or other grave mental disorders. In such cases a physical examination from a doctor is essential.

Some types of vertigo can be dealt with without any treatment but some may need medical attention because the vertigo condition can be a manifestation of an internal, much more severe condition such as bacterial infections. If the vertigo occurs as a result of bacterial infection then the patient might require an antibiotic course. The medications can solve some of the symptoms. Drugs such as antihistamines and anti-emetics can lower the feelings of nausea and motion sickness for example.

Those who are suffering from severe vestibular disorder which is related to an infection of the middle ear can be prescribed drugs such as antibiotics, antiviral and steroids. Nystagmus is an involuntary movement of the eye that occurs from one side to the other. It occurs when the patient is suffering from vertigo or because of the dysfunctionality of the brain or inner ear. There is a category of vertigo known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) which is treated by exercise methods such as Semont and Epley. These exercises are carried out with physical therapist or doctor’s assistance. One single session can go on for about 10-15 minutes. Both these exercise methods cause the calcium crystal debris to slip out from the inner ear. This debris is instrumental behind causing the condition of vertigo.

Anyone who is suffering from symptoms of vertigo such as vomiting, nausea, headache, sudden jerks, hearing loss, ringing in the ears or profuse sweating is eligible to go for treatment.

A patient who is not suffering from the symptoms of vertigo as mentioned above are not eligible to go for treatment. Also, people who are allergic to ingredients contained within drugs such as antihistamines or anti-emetics should consult with their doctor or physician.

The side effects that can come along with undergoing vestibular rehabilitation therapy include fatigue, unsteadiness, sedation, dizziness and muscle weakness. People who have undergone epley manoeuvre exercise have experienced little or no serious side effects. However, some people have experienced adverse reactions such as vomiting and transient nausea. The drug Prochlorperazine causes an array of side effects such as sleeping disorders, dizziness, constipation, drowsiness, weight gain and swelling of breasts.

Antihistamines can cause side effects such as dizziness, vomiting, nausea, confusion, vision problems, issues with urination and drowsiness.

The guidelines that can be followed post-treatment are keeping under-check the factors can that cause stroke and thereby keep under-check vertigo. The patient should also avoid climbing great heights and also abstain from lifting heavy objects or even driving for his or her own safety and for the safety of other people.

Whether you are taking recourse to the epley and semont manoeuvre exercise methods or you are taking medications the time for recovery can take about 2 weeks or in other words 3-14 days.

The price of antihistamine drugs can range between Rs. 1,800 to Rs. 2,000 in India. A strip of anti-emetic drug can range between Rs. 40- Rs. 500. The price of CT scans in India is somewhere between Rs. 1,000- 10,000.

Vertigo can be cured permanently by treating the symptoms. If the inflammation of the ear is given due treatment then the condition of vertigo can be totally cured.