If you’re referring to “crystals in the inner ear,” that usually means calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) that have moved out of place — a condition called:
🦻 Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
These tiny crystals normally sit in part of your inner ear that senses gravity. When they shift into the semicircular canals, they disrupt balance signals and cause brief spinning dizziness (vertigo).
❓ Can You “Dissolve” the Crystals?
👉 No — they are not dissolved.
Instead, treatment works by repositioning the crystals back to where they belong.
✅ How to Fix It (Repositioning Maneuvers)
1️⃣ The Epley Maneuver (Most Common & Effective)
This is the standard treatment for BPPV affecting the posterior canal.
It involves:
- Turning your head 45° toward the affected side.
- Lying back quickly with your head tilted slightly backward.
- Rotating head to the opposite side.
- Rolling onto your side.
- Sitting back up.
It takes only a few minutes and often relieves symptoms within 1–3 sessions.
⚠️ Best performed by:
- A doctor
- Physical therapist
- Vestibular therapist
2️⃣ Brandt-Daroff Exercises
These are repeated side-to-side movements done at home if symptoms persist.
🧠 Symptoms of BPPV
- Sudden spinning sensation when turning head
- Dizziness when lying down or getting up
- Brief episodes (usually under 1 minute)
- Nausea
- No hearing loss (usually)
🚨 When It’s NOT Just Crystals
Seek medical care urgently if you have:
- Weakness or numbness
- Slurred speech
- Severe headache
- Double vision
- Continuous vertigo lasting hours
- Hearing loss
These may signal stroke or another neurological condition.
💡 Helpful Tips
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated for a few nights after treatment.
- Avoid sudden head movements temporarily.
- Stay hydrated.
- Vestibular therapy can reduce recurrence.
If you’d like, I can:
- Walk you step-by-step through the Epley maneuver safely
- Help you figure out which ear might be affected
- Explain why BPPV keeps coming back
What symptoms are you experiencing?
