When you roll over in bed and the room spins like a washing machine, you’re not imagining it—you might have BPPV, a harmless but terrifying inner ear disorder that causes brief, intense episodes of vertigo triggered by head movement. Also known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, it’s the number one reason people visit doctors for dizziness. It’s not a brain tumor, not a stroke, not anxiety—it’s tiny calcium crystals (called otoconia) that have escaped their normal spot and are floating where they shouldn’t be, sending false signals to your brain about motion.
This isn’t just about feeling dizzy. BPPV can make you nauseous, unsteady, and afraid to move your head. You might avoid bending down to tie your shoes or turning your head to check your blind spot while driving. The good news? It’s treatable—often in one visit. The canalith repositioning maneuver, a simple series of head movements performed by a clinician or even at home can move those loose crystals back where they belong. Studies show it works in over 90% of cases, and most people feel better within days. No pills, no surgery, no long recovery.
But not all dizziness is BPPV. Other conditions like vestibular neuritis or Meniere’s disease can mimic it, which is why proper diagnosis matters. If your symptoms last longer than a minute, happen without head movement, or come with hearing loss or numbness, you need more than just a repositioning maneuver. That’s why the posts below cover real cases: how to tell BPPV apart from other causes, what to do if the maneuver doesn’t work, how to prevent it from coming back, and why some people get it again and again—especially after head injuries or as they age.
You’ll also find practical guides on managing symptoms at home, what to avoid (like sleeping on your back), and how physical therapists use specific techniques to retrain your balance system. Some people find relief with vestibular rehab exercises; others need just one session of canalith repositioning. Either way, knowing what you’re dealing with takes the fear out of the spin.
There’s no magic pill for BPPV. Medications like meclizine might calm nausea, but they don’t fix the root problem—and they can make you groggy for days. The real solution is movement—controlled, precise, and repeated. That’s why the most helpful posts here focus on what works, what doesn’t, and how to get back to normal without unnecessary drugs or tests.
If you’ve ever woken up dizzy, felt like you’re on a boat when you’re not, or avoided turning your head because you’re scared of the spin—you’re not alone. And you don’t have to live with it. The information below gives you the clear, no-nonsense facts you need to take back control.
