Last updated 10/03/2020 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

How to get rid of the crystal sickness?

Tired of having crystal disease? Do not despair - with the help of a knowledgeable therapist, this maneuver, home exercises and these tips can make you get rid of the crystal disease in record time. Feel free to share this article on crystal disease with someone who is suffering from dizziness - maybe this is the diagnosis they have?

In this article, we will go through several relevant home exercises and treatment modalities, including:

• How to diagnose crystal disease
• - Test Dix Hallpike
• Common symptoms
• Apple's maneuver
• Semont maneuvering
• Alternative treatment

Crystal sickness is a relatively common nuisance. In fact, as many as 1 in 100 will be affected in one year. Fortunately, the condition is fairly easy to treat for knowledgeable therapists - such as ENT doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists and manual therapists. Unfortunately, it is not common knowledge that this is a diagnosis that responds very well to specific treatment measures (such as Epley's maneuver which often cures the condition in 1-2 treatments), so many stay for several months with the condition. Do you have input? Use the comment field below or ours Facebook Page.

Affected? Join the Facebook group «Krystallsyken - Norway: Research and news»For the latest updates on research and media writing about this disorder. Here, members can also get help and support - at all times of the day - through the exchange of their own experiences and advice.

What Are Common Symptoms Of Crystal Sickness?

The most common symptoms of crystalline or benign postural dizziness are vertigo, dizziness caused by special movements (eg lying on one side of the bed), a feeling of being 'light headed' and nauseous. The symptoms may vary from person to person - but the characteristic symptom is that it is always produced through the same movement, often a twist to one side. Thus, it is common for people affected by crystal sickness to describe the condition as they turn in bed to a side or roll over to the right or left.

Symptoms can also occur when the person tiltes their head back, such as at the hairdresser or at certain yoga positions. A dizziness caused by crystal sickness can also produce nystagmus (the eyes move back and forth, uncontrolled) in the eyes and always last less than one minute.

How to diagnose crystal disease - and how to diagnose position-related dizziness?

A clinician will make the diagnosis based on history taking and clinical examination. The symptoms of crystal disease are often so characteristic that a clinician will be able to estimate the diagnosis based on the history alone. To make the diagnosis, clinicians use a special test called "Dix-Hallpike" - this is often very specific and has been specifically developed to diagnose crystal sickness / postural dizziness.

Dix-Hallpike test for crystal sick

In this test, the clinician quickly brings the patient from sitting to supine position with his head twisted 45 degrees to one side and 20 degrees backwards (extension). A positive Dix-Hallpike will reproduce the patient's dizziness attack along with characteristic nystagmus (rapid flick of the eyes back and forth). This symptom is often very easy to see, but can also be less obvious - it may be helpful for the clinician to equip the patient with so-called Frenzel glasses (a kind of video glasses that record the reaction).

What Is Common Treatment For Crystal Sickness?

Apple's Maneuver or Semont Maneuver: Said therapists are well trained in this technique and studies have shown that as many as 80% are cured with this form of treatment. Research has shown that the two techniques are almost equally effective (Hilton et al).

Apple's maneuver in the treatment of crystal disease

This maneuver or treatment technique is also known as the crystal repositioning procedure and was, hence the name, developed by Dr. Epley. The maneuver is performed through four positions where the clinician holds the four positions for about 30 seconds at a time - the main purpose is to get the misplaced otoliths (ear stones) in place in the inner ear. The treatment is very effective and it is common with full recovery during 2 treatments.

Research: This is the most effective treatment

Research has shown that Apple's maneuver performed by a professional therapist - in combination with home exercises - is the most effective treatment for crystal melanoma (Helminski et al).

Semont maneuvering

Often called the little brother of Apple's maneuver, as it is not as effective and requires 3-4 treatments for full recovery. Apple's maneuver is often preferred by the two.

What if the repositioning maneuvers don't work for me?

Apple's maneuver works in about 50-75% of treated cases already at the first consultation. This leaves 25-50% who do not experience complete improvement or any improvement at all after the first treatment - about 5% will also experience a worsening of the condition.

That is why it is said that up to 4 treatments with Epley's maneuver should be performed before giving up this form of treatment. It is most common that the posterior archway in the inner ear is affected, but sometimes there may be other arches - and then the maneuver should be modified accordingly.

Some clinics and facilities have so-called "vertigo chairs" that will make repositioning more effective, but this is often what we call "games for the gallery" and totally unnecessary, as a trained clinician will have good effect with the manual technique Epley's maneuver.

Also read: - 4 Home exercises against Crystal Disease

Crystal Disease and Relapse: Can You Get Relapse?

Unfortunately, yes, it is the case that those affected by crystal melanoma are often affected again. Research has shown that 33% will have a relapse within one year and that as many as 50% will have a relapse within five years. If crystal disease reappears, and you have had a good effect of Apple's maneuver before, you should see the same clinician for treatment again.

Feel free to share this article with colleagues, friends and acquaintances. If you want exercises or articles sent as a document with repetitions and the like, we ask you like and get in touch via get Facebook page here . If you have any questions, just give it a go Contact us - then we will answer you as best we can, completely free. Otherwise feel free to see ours YouTube channel for more tips and exercises.

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PAGE: - 8 Good Advice and Measures against Dizziness

ALSO READ: What You Should Know About Fibromyalgia

Sources and research

• Hilton, MP; Pinder, DK (8 December 2014). «The Epley (canalith repositioning) maneuver for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo». The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 12: CD003162
• Helminski, JO; Zee, DS; Janssen, I .; Hain, TC (2010). «Effectiveness of Particle Repositioning Maneuvers in the Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Systematic Review». Physical Therapy

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