Every year more than two million Americans fall and sustain serious injury, costing in excess of $3 billion dollars. Hidden costs include pain, disability, lawsuits, deterioration in general well-being, and the impact on other family members. During the same year more than two million people visit a doctor for dizziness, and an untold number suffer with motion sickness, which is the most common medical problem associated with travel.
Balance disorders can affect anybody at any age. There are many diseases that will cause someone to complain about being “dizzy”. The duration of vertigo is important in determining the disease process causing the sensation. The timing of the vertigo is important, as are any other symptoms that accompany the spinning sensation.
Some forms of vertigo are treated with balance rehabilitation. Other forms of vertigo can be treated with medication or surgical procedures.
Meniere’s disease, also called idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, is a disorder of the inner ear. Although the cause is unknown, it probably results from an abnormality in the fluids of the inner ear. We offer numerous forms of treatment for this disease, and try to maximize control of a patient’s vertigo while minimizing the medical and surgical intervention required.
There are several forms of positional vertigo that can be evaluated and often treated in clinic.