SHOULD I SLEEP ON MY LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE SKIN
SHOULD I SLEEP ON MY LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE FREE

I wrote this blog that covers how BPPV treatment works in more detail. The procedure needed is specific to the ear, the canal, and the location of the crystals. The maneuvers are like playing a pinball game by rolling the crystals through the vestibular labyrinth using precise turns and the pull of gravity. There are many “repositioning maneuvers” to relocate the crystals back to the utricle. That is what the crystals are doing inside the semi-circular canals, because they are not supposed to be there! Think of the sand sifting back and forth as you turn an hour glass over and over.

SHOULD I SLEEP ON MY LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE FREE

However, if the crystals have broken free of the membrane in the utricle where they are supposed to stay attached, and they floated into the semi-circular canals, then they have to be repositioned back in their original place. There are cells in the vestibular end organ “utricle,” called dark cells and mast cells, that we theorize to regenerate the BPPV crystals. Very often, older adults with BPPV have learned to live in ways that do not provoke symptoms of vertigo, but the underlying BPPV still affects their balance, steadiness, confidence level and walking stability – and it causes unexplained repeated falls or chronic falls.

I now teach my physical therapy colleagues and highly recommend for all older adults with repeated unexplained falls, complaints of imbalance or excessive fear of falling to be screened for BPPV.

SHOULD I SLEEP ON MY LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE SKIN

One clinician told me she had a patient who developed a pressure sore on the skin of his ear due to sleeping on the “uninvolved” side for years while he had BPPV in the opposite (or involved) ear. Most commonly, people with BPPV learn to sleep propped up on pillows and avoid sleeping on the involved side to prevent feelings of vertigo when lying down. To be clear, this means that they have altered their movement patterns unconsciously to avoid any feelings of discomfort from BPPV. The majority of patients I have met who have been falling for years – without a known cause of the chronic falls – and test positive for BPPV during my exam have learned to live in ways that do not provoke any vertigo symptoms. In chronic cases of BPPV, if you avoid the specific provoking positions and motions, you might never experience true feelings of vertigo. The Vertigo symptoms of BPPV are only triggered in certain head positions and with specific head motions, unless it is a very acute case of BPPV. She didn’t feel vertigo when lying down because she avoided lying on the involved side. I explained to her that is why BPPV is defined as POSITIONAL vertigo. She was puzzled when my BPPV test was positive because she did not realize that she even had vertigo which was affecting her balance and causing falls. We were able to clear it for her completely in two sessions of repeated particle repositioning maneuvers. When I tested her vestibular system, she had a positive BPPV sign on the RIGHT side. She only slept propped up on her back or on her LEFT side when she slept on her bed. Sometimes she slept in her recliner chair. When she slept, she propped herself up on pillows to avoid lying down flat. She never complained of dizziness or vertigo but she did have repeated unexplained falls and complained of feeling “off balance” or “unsteady.” I recall one patient I saw who had been experiencing falls and imbalance for over ten years. In contrast, Chronic BPPV is usually on the side people AVOID sleeping on for years.’ ‘ Acute BPPV is frequently on the same side you sleep on, especially if it came on spontaneously without head trauma, ear infections or sinus issues, which can dictate the involved side. I thought the question was excellent so I want to share with you my reply.

After his examination and treatment, one of my patients asked me very inquisitively, “Is BPPV always on the side you sleep on?” He felt vertigo when lying down.

Should i sleep on my left or right side