Suggest Treatment For Benign Positional Vertigo

Posted on Sat, 13 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 13 Dec 2014 Answered on

Thu, 8 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. I am a 50 year old female. Basically healthy, but I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse since age 22... my symptoms (heart palpitations and dizziness) are almost fully controlled with 50mg atenolol per day. But I've been on this drug for over 25 years! I don't like taking this (or any) drug, especially as a "lifestyle" but I've tried to go off it several times and can't, so for now I take it until I can find some sort of natural substance that has a beta blocking effect. Any ideas? Recently, I've also been diagnosed with benign positional vertigo. Thank God it flares up only a few times a year... the attacks last for only a minute, but then there's residual dizziness for several days. I had an attack last week and began with practicing extremely good self care with lots of water, sleep, and an extremely clean diet, it seems to have helped. After lots of reading online, I believe that my two conditions... my MVP and my BPV... are related! I believe they are both just symptoms of my self-diagnosed "dysautonomia" because I read about the symptoms of dysautonomia and I believe I have a mild case of it for all my life. I believe I am sort of a "universal reactor" with a hyper-sensitive system, since I poorly tolerate many stimuli that others tolerate well. I have voiced this theory to several doctors, both traditional and homeopathic. No one seems real interested in my theory, though. I don't have a specific question, but would appreciate any insight or guidance you could give.

Answered by Dr. Suresh Heijebu (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Surgical management is the cornerstone in your case.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam.

I understand your concern.

I advise you to think of surgical approaches to BPPV.

They have excellent control on the symptoms which you are currently experiencing.

These procedures exclusively effective against those who have not responded to epleys and other medications.

These procedures include1.Singular neurectomy.2.Posterior canal occlusion.

To Clarify i would like to tell you that MVP and BPPV are not related to each other.

The symptoms of MVP can be only controlled through surgery-Valvuloplasty.

Dysautonomia has nothing to do with MVP,Of course it has few correlations with BPPV.

Enjoy stress free life.

POst your further queries,if any.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Suresh Heijebu (8 hours later)

Thanks for your reply. Can you tell me the risks and side effects of the surgical interventions for benign positional vertigo and also the success rate? Much thanks.

Answered by Dr. Suresh Heijebu (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Risks are relatively rare.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam.

The success rate of such procedures is quite high in the range of 50-70%.

The side effects are often similar to any surgical procedure carried out on the internal ear.

The risks include damage to cochlea resulting in equilibrium disturbances and hearing loss.

Post operative complications include infection of middle and inner ear.

But the risks are quite rare in experienced hands.

Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj