Vertigo is a symptom NOT a diagnosis!

It’s important to know vertigo is not a diagnosis or cause, instead it is a symptom of a true cause. In this way it is similar to sciatica and unfortunately similarly is overused as a “diagnosis”.

We often hear stories from clients and their friends and family where they have experienced dizziness and gone to their care provider. Less than 10 minutes later they have been 

“diagnosed” with vertigo following no tests or investigation, except their blood pressure taken. They’re then prescribed medication such as prochlorperazine which is also used to treat anxiety or schizophrenia. 

So if vertigo isn’t a diagnosis and is instead a symptom of a true cause, what is the true cause of vertigo?

The answer is divided into 2 main categories; Peripheral vertigo and Central vertigo. 

Peripheral Vertigo refers to any condition that affects the function of the inner ear or nerve that communicates to the brain, the most common amongst these is BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal positional vertigo). This is when a small crystal in your inner ear detaches and rolls freely within your ear. This causes small hairs in your inner ear, responsible for detecting motion, to be knocked over despite your head being stationary, this is most notable when lying down. There is a test for BPPV called a Dix Hall-Pike Maneuver which we can perform to diagnose BPPV as a true cause for the vertigo symptoms. In this case an Epley Maneuver is performed to resolve BPPV and resolve the symptom of vertigo. 

 

Other conditions that affect the inner ear can include; Meniere’s disease, Vestibular neuronitis, Labyrinthitis, Perilymph fistula and SSCDS (Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome)

 

Central Vertigo refers to any condition or injury that affects the brain. This can include Head injuries, Infection, MS (Multiple sclerosis), Brain tumors, Stroke and TIAs (Transient ischemic attacks). 

 

Central vertigo causes are often more severe in nature meaning the bouts of vertigo are often more intense and can last for 2-3 days and may be accompanied by slurred speech (Dysarthria), problems moving (Ataxia), numbness or tingling. 

In both cases with Peripheral or Central, identifying the true cause of the symptoms is vital, much like any symptom, and not accepting a quick blood pressure check and a prescription as an adequate “solution”. 

Unfortunately this may require you to be more assertive with your care provider or may require you to look outside the conventional scope of health care. We try to with all our clients to encourage everybody to take control and power over their own health and to think independently.