There can be many causes of vertigo. Meniere's Syndrome is one. My sister was diagnosed with Meniere's, she noticed she got it really badly every year at hay fever season. So one year she took antihistamines, and presto! No vertigo! It did eventually go away permanently.
I was talking to a friend at church today, she also is getting bad vertigo. She also has hearing loss and thinks it could be connected to that. It could well be, but I suggested she see a neurologist to be sure, to check it out.
In May last year, just before we were due to go to New Zealand for our holiday, I was hit with bad vertigo. I have enough trouble getting around, the vertigo was a big problem. Because I already see a neurologist for my other problems, I saw him about this. He diagnosed "benign positional vertigo" aka "benign positional nystagmus". The nystagmus refers to a characteristic flicking of the eye back and forth, as you try to work out which way is up. You don't always have it, but he knew which way to tip me around to trigger the nystagmus.
My neurologist told me that this is a condition neurologists LOVE to diagnose, because it is so easy to treat, almost miraculous, and patients are so grateful!
The cause - it's in the semi-circular canals, which are responsible for balance. For those with a maths or physics background, think of a three-dimensional plot, with x, y and z axes. We each have, on each side of our heads, a set like this with three directions all accounted for at 90 degree rotation, like the direction the walls go from the corner of a box. In fact, if you drew a loop on the side of each box, starting from the corner, you would get something that looks like the semi-circular canals.
These canals are tubes, each in a roughly circular shape. They are lined with small hairs and tiny 'stones' or otoliths (which means ear stone) and fluid through the tubes. The tubes are also sealed. When you turn your head or bend down, the fluid moves and this movement bends the little hairs, which triggers a message to the brain telling you what position you are in and which way you just moved. This connects with your yes, which should be sending a matching message ("I just bent over to tie my shoes and I'm looking at my shoes from this angle.")
What happens with age, and sometimes a knock to the head, or some other process - sometimes these otoliths get loose and move around. Then it doesn't take much at all for them to bump against the little hairs and trigger them, sending a completely misleading message to the brain - you try to compensate for this message and feel dizzy, sometimes falling over.
The cure - it's amazing. The GP I saw told me to do some exercises and gave me a sheet. I also found these exercises online when I Googled "benign positional vertigo" in double quote marks, like that.
But the exercises take time, and if you don't do them right they take even longer. It also depends on WHICH canal is affected (x, y or z) and you need someone who understands how it works, to observe you and then tell you.
Hence - my neurologist.
He tipped me around (making me feel a lot worse) and then watched my eyes, to diagnose which canal on which side was the problem. And in my case, just tipping me around (called "Epley's manouvre") was not enough. I had less vertigo, but it was still a problem. So for my next appointment I did as he asked and brought along a small vibrator. A lot of vibrating gizmos you get for massaging your back are good - you need something firm with a vibrating point the size and shape of your fingertip. I had a tiny little thing for working on my feet (reflexology).
The doctor used this on my mastoid bone (behind the ear) and this shook the little otolith loose and jiggled it into the fluid, like turning on a lava lamp. He then did the Epley's Manouver again, but in the direction he knew I needed.
I left feeling dizzy and nauseous, but over the next few hours the dizziness subsided, and NEVER RETURNED!
What is more, the long-term mild vertigo I'd had (and put down to nerve damage) was also gone.
We had a fabulous holiday, not even turbulence on the airplanes triggered vertigo.
So, a serious suggestion - see if you can find a doctor who understands t his and can help you. It's really easy, it involves very little (nothing invasive) and even my neurologist wants a vibrator just like mine. He knew theoretically a vibrator would work, but he was REALLY impressed at how effective it was. He hadn't had the chance to use such a strong, but small, vibrator before, for this.
But the vibrator alone isn't enough, you really need an expert to do this.
I was annoyed with how long I've put up with vertigo, and amazed at just how completely, and how fast, it got fixed.
And remember - it needs to be benign positional vertigo, because that's why it works.
Marg