A woman I just spoke to on the phone was referred to my physical therapy specialty practice because she has experienced the “room spinning” and has been seriously injured by two recent falls in the last six months.

Luckily, person who referred her to me is aware of the focus on my practice to help people with dizziness, vertigo, imbalance and unexplained repeated falls and was able to share my website with this chronic faller.

The first fall-related injury was a forearm fracture and the second fall-related injury was a foot fracture.

If she lived alone, she would not have been able to stay home during the time of recovering from those fractures, but luckily she lives with a family member who was able to assist her with bathing, dressing and preparing meals.

Falls are the #1 cause of nursing home placement and 20-30% of those who fall will never be able to return home or live alone again.

Chronic dizziness and vertigo is a common cause of repeated falls.

During the recovery period for both fractures, she was unable to exercise as much as usual, so she lost a significant amount of muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance.

Physical deconditioning, which includes loss of muscle strength and reduced cardiovascular fitness, is a common side effect of chronic unresolved dizziness, vertigo, imbalance and unexplained repeated falls.

When we spoke, the hopeful comment she made that stood out to me the most was, “I didn’t realize that there was anyone who would understand my problem and be able to help me.”

My heart lept for joy as I heard those words from her, knowing that the symptoms of “room spinning” that she experienced before each fall was a classic description of BPPV.

And as you may well now know by reading my blog posts, simple BPPV can be cured in 1-2 visits about 90% of the time.

The “room spinning” is a common description of BPPV episodes from those who suffer.

Let this story be a wake-up call to anyone who is experiencing “room spinning” and repeated falls to seek out help by a Vestibular Expert healthcare provider before any serious fall-related injuries occur.

In addition to the “room spinning,” another major indicator of BPPV is a short-lived feeling of dizziness when lying down or rolling over in bed. Even though the feeling of dizziness typically lasts for less than a minute while lying in bed, the risk of falling is constant until the BPPV is cured.