BPPV
If you've been dealing with that awful spinning sensation every time you roll over in bed, lie down, or look up, you already know how disruptive BPPV can be. And if you've Googled "BPPV treatment near me," you're probably frustrated, desperate for answers, and wondering who can actually help.
Here's the first thing you need to know: BPPV is not treated with medication.
That bottle of meclizine sitting in your medicine cabinet? It might take the edge off the nausea, but it's not fixing the problem. BPPV is a mechanical issue—tiny calcium crystals have drifted into the wrong part of your inner ear—and the solution is mechanical too.
Treatment involves something called a repositioning maneuver. The most common one is the Epley maneuver, where a trained provider guides your head and body through a specific sequence of positions. This moves the displaced crystals out of the semicircular canal and back to where they belong.
The whole thing takes about 15-20 minutes. It's not painful, though it can temporarily trigger that familiar spinning sensation as the crystals move. Most people feel significantly better—or completely better—after just 1-3 sessions.
Other repositioning maneuvers exist too, like the Semont maneuver or the BBQ roll. Which one you need depends on which ear is affected and which canal the crystals are in. A skilled provider will test and determine this before treatment.
If you're searching for someone to perform the Epley maneuver, you'll generally find three types of providers:
The question to ask any provider: "How often do you treat BPPV?"
If the answer is "occasionally" or "when it comes up," keep looking. You want someone who sees this every week.
Not all BPPV treatment is created equal. Here's what separates a true specialist from someone who just knows the basics:
At Dizzy Free PT, our founder Dr. Carly Clevenger literally wrote the book on this condition—Your Guide to BPPV: Understand and Overcome the Most Common Inner Ear Disorder. That's the level of specialization you want when you're trusting someone to fix the spinning.
You've probably seen the YouTube videos. Maybe you've even tried following along, twisting your head on your bed while watching your phone propped against a pillow.
No judgment here. A lot of our patients tried the same thing before calling us.
You also need to know which ear is affected. Left ear BPPV requires a different head-turning direction than right ear BPPV. Get it backwards, and you're not accomplishing anything.
And if it's not actually BPPV at all? You could be spinning yourself around for weeks while the real problem goes untreated.
When home treatment does make sense: If you've been professionally diagnosed, you know exactly which ear and canal is involved, and you've had BPPV before, your provider might teach you a modified home maneuver for managing recurrences. That's different from guessing based on a video.
Let us guess: You woke up with the room violently spinning, maybe got nauseated or even vomited, and thought you were having a stroke. You went to the ER. They ran tests, maybe did a CT scan, told you it wasn't a stroke, handed you a prescription for meclizine, and sent you home.
That's the standard experience. And it makes sense—the ER's job is to rule out emergencies.
Most cases of BPPV resolve in 1-3 visits.
Each visit typically runs 30-45 minutes. During that time, your provider will test to confirm or reassess which canal is involved, perform the appropriate repositioning maneuver, and recheck to see if the crystals have cleared.
Success rates for repositioning maneuvers are high—over 80% when performed correctly. Some people feel better immediately after treatment. Others notice improvement over the next day or two as the crystals fully settle.
What does "resolved" actually mean? The positional vertigo—that spinning when you move your head—stops. You might have some residual unsteadiness or brain fog for a few days as your system recalibrates, but the intense spinning episodes should be gone.
If your BPPV is more complex (multiple canals involved, or crystals that keep migrating back), it might take a few more sessions. But even then, we're usually talking weeks, not months.
This depends on the provider. Hospital-based clinics might have longer wait times—sometimes weeks. Specialized vestibular clinics often have more flexibility. At Dizzy Free PT, we typically see new patients within a few days because we know how disruptive BPPV symptoms are. Waiting three weeks while the room spins every time you lie down isn't acceptable.
A few possibilities: the crystals might be in a different canal (horizontal or anterior instead of posterior), requiring a different maneuver. Or it might not actually be BPPV—other vestibular conditions can mimic BPPV symptoms. A specialist will re-evaluate, retest, and adjust the approach. This is exactly why you want someone who does this every day.
Unfortunately, yes. Studies suggest BPPV recurs in about 30-50% of people within five years. The good news? Once you know where to go for treatment, recurrence is much less scary. You recognize the symptoms, call your provider, get treated, and move on with your life.
If you're tired of the spinning, tired of being told to "wait it out" or "take this pill," and ready for someone who actually specializes in fixing BPPV—we're here for you.
At Dizzy Free PT in Fishers, this is what we do every single day. Dr. Carly Clevenger has treated hundreds of BPPV cases and literally wrote the book on this condition. We offer same-week appointments because we understand that every day with vertigo feels like a week.
Call us at (317) 804-1222 or schedule a free 15-minute consultation to talk through your symptoms and see if we're the right fit.
We do more than treat symptoms — we listen, dig deep, and help you understand what's really going on. Through expert care, honest guidance, and a whole lot of support, we help you move from feeling overwhelmed to steady, confident, and back in control.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing severe or sudden dizziness, especially with symptoms like slurred speech, weakness, or difficulty walking, seek emergency medical care immediately. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of your specific condition.
Where Can I Get BPPV Treatment Near Me?
Carly Clevenger
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9 min read
Looking for BPPV treatment near you? Learn what to expect from vestibular physical therapy, how the Epley maneuver works, and how to find a specialist in Fishers or Indianapolis who treats BPPV every day.
BPPV treatment is provided by vestibular physical therapists and some ENTs who specialize in repositioning maneuvers like the Epley. In the Fishers and Indianapolis area, specialized vestibular clinics offer same-week appointments and can often resolve BPPV symptoms in 1-3 visits. The key is finding a provider who treats BPPV regularly—not one who sees it occasionally.
If you've been dealing with that awful spinning sensation every time you roll over in bed, lie down, or look up, you already know how disruptive BPPV can be. And if you've Googled "BPPV treatment near me," you're probably frustrated, desperate for answers, and wondering who can actually help.
You're in the right place. Let's walk through what BPPV treatment involves, who can provide it, and how to find the right specialist for you.
What Does BPPV Treatment Actually Involve?
Here's the first thing you need to know: BPPV is not treated with medication.
That bottle of meclizine sitting in your medicine cabinet? It might take the edge off the nausea, but it's not fixing the problem. BPPV is a mechanical issue—tiny calcium crystals have drifted into the wrong part of your inner ear—and the solution is mechanical too.
Treatment involves something called a repositioning maneuver. The most common one is the Epley maneuver, where a trained provider guides your head and body through a specific sequence of positions. This moves the displaced crystals out of the semicircular canal and back to where they belong.
The whole thing takes about 15-20 minutes. It's not painful, though it can temporarily trigger that familiar spinning sensation as the crystals move. Most people feel significantly better—or completely better—after just 1-3 sessions.
Other repositioning maneuvers exist too, like the Semont maneuver or the BBQ roll. Which one you need depends on which ear is affected and which canal the crystals are in. A skilled provider will test and determine this before treatment.
Who Performs the Epley Maneuver Near Me?
If you're searching for someone to perform the Epley maneuver, you'll generally find three types of providers:
• Vestibular Physical Therapists — This is their specialty. They see BPPV daily, know all the maneuver variations, and can handle complex or recurring cases. If BPPV treatment is 80% of someone's caseload, they're going to be good at it.
• ENTs (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctors) — Some ENTs perform repositioning maneuvers in their offices. Others diagnose BPPV but refer out for treatment. It depends on the practice.
• General Physical Therapists — Many learned the Epley maneuver in school, but if they only see BPPV once a month, they may not catch the nuances—like when it's the horizontal canal instead of the posterior canal, or when it's not actually BPPV at all.
The question to ask any provider: "How often do you treat BPPV?"
If the answer is "occasionally" or "when it comes up," keep looking. You want someone who sees this every week.
What Should I Look for in a BPPV Specialist?
Not all BPPV treatment is created equal. Here's what separates a true specialist from someone who just knows the basics:
• They treat BPPV weekly, not monthly. Frequency matters. The more cases someone sees, the better they get at spotting variants and complications.
• They test before they treat. A good provider will perform diagnostic positioning tests (like the Dix-Hallpike) to confirm which ear and which canal is involved. No guessing.
• They know multiple repositioning techniques. The Epley works for posterior canal BPPV—but if your crystals are in the horizontal canal, you need a different maneuver entirely.
• They can identify when it's NOT BPPV. Misdiagnosis is surprisingly common. True BPPV has specific characteristics—brief spinning triggered by position changes—and a specialist knows the difference.
• They offer follow-up support. What happens if symptoms return in two weeks? A good provider has a plan for that.
At Dizzy Free PT, our founder Dr. Carly Clevenger literally wrote the book on this condition—Your Guide to BPPV: Understand and Overcome the Most Common Inner Ear Disorder. That's the level of specialization you want when you're trusting someone to fix the spinning.
Why Not Just Do the Epley Maneuver at Home?
You've probably seen the YouTube videos. Maybe you've even tried following along, twisting your head on your bed while watching your phone propped against a pillow.
No judgment here. A lot of our patients tried the same thing before calling us.
Here's the problem: the Epley maneuver only works for posterior canal BPPV in the correct ear. That's one specific variant. If your crystals are in your horizontal canal, the Epley won't help—and might actually make things worse by moving the crystals further into the wrong spot.
You also need to know which ear is affected. Left ear BPPV requires a different head-turning direction than right ear BPPV. Get it backwards, and you're not accomplishing anything.
And if it's not actually BPPV at all? You could be spinning yourself around for weeks while the real problem goes untreated.
When home treatment does make sense: If you've been professionally diagnosed, you know exactly which ear and canal is involved, and you've had BPPV before, your provider might teach you a modified home maneuver for managing recurrences. That's different from guessing based on a video.
What If I've Already Been to the ER or Urgent Care?
Let us guess: You woke up with the room violently spinning, maybe got nauseated or even vomited, and thought you were having a stroke. You went to the ER. They ran tests, maybe did a CT scan, told you it wasn't a stroke, handed you a prescription for meclizine, and sent you home.
That's the standard experience. And it makes sense—the ER's job is to rule out emergencies.
But here's what the ER can't do: fix your BPPV. Emergency doctors aren't trained in repositioning maneuvers. They don't have the time or the setup for it. So you get the "take this medication and follow up with your doctor" discharge instructions.
The problem? Your regular doctor might not know how to fix it either. And the meclizine just makes you drowsy without addressing why you're dizzy in the first place.
You're not crazy for still feeling dizzy. You're just not getting the treatment you actually need yet.
The next step is seeing someone who specializes in vestibular conditions—someone who can do the hands-on repositioning that actually resolves BPPV. That's where vestibular physical therapy comes in.
How Long Does BPPV Treatment Take?
Most cases of BPPV resolve in 1-3 visits.
Each visit typically runs 30-45 minutes. During that time, your provider will test to confirm or reassess which canal is involved, perform the appropriate repositioning maneuver, and recheck to see if the crystals have cleared.
Success rates for repositioning maneuvers are high—over 80% when performed correctly. Some people feel better immediately after treatment. Others notice improvement over the next day or two as the crystals fully settle.
What does "resolved" actually mean? The positional vertigo—that spinning when you move your head—stops. You might have some residual unsteadiness or brain fog for a few days as your system recalibrates, but the intense spinning episodes should be gone.
If your BPPV is more complex (multiple canals involved, or crystals that keep migrating back), it might take a few more sessions. But even then, we're usually talking weeks, not months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I get an appointment?
This depends on the provider. Hospital-based clinics might have longer wait times—sometimes weeks. Specialized vestibular clinics often have more flexibility. At Dizzy Free PT, we typically see new patients within a few days because we know how disruptive BPPV symptoms are. Waiting three weeks while the room spins every time you lie down isn't acceptable.
What if the Epley maneuver doesn't work?
A few possibilities: the crystals might be in a different canal (horizontal or anterior instead of posterior), requiring a different maneuver. Or it might not actually be BPPV—other vestibular conditions can mimic BPPV symptoms. A specialist will re-evaluate, retest, and adjust the approach. This is exactly why you want someone who does this every day.
Can BPPV come back after treatment?
Unfortunately, yes. Studies suggest BPPV recurs in about 30-50% of people within five years. The good news? Once you know where to go for treatment, recurrence is much less scary. You recognize the symptoms, call your provider, get treated, and move on with your life.
Key Takeaways
• BPPV is treated with repositioning maneuvers (like the Epley), not medication
• Look for a provider who treats BPPV regularly—weekly, not occasionally
• Most cases resolve in 1-3 visits with the right specialist
• The ER can rule out emergencies, but they can't fix BPPV
• Home maneuvers are risky without knowing which ear and canal is involved
• If you're in the Fishers or Indianapolis area, specialized help is available
Finding BPPV Treatment in Fishers and Indianapolis
If you're tired of the spinning, tired of being told to "wait it out" or "take this pill," and ready for someone who actually specializes in fixing BPPV—we're here for you.
At Dizzy Free PT in Fishers, this is what we do every single day. Dr. Carly Clevenger has treated hundreds of BPPV cases and literally wrote the book on this condition. We offer same-week appointments because we understand that every day with vertigo feels like a week.
Call us at (317) 804-1222 or schedule a free 15-minute consultation to talk through your symptoms and see if we're the right fit.
You deserve to roll over in bed without the world spinning. Let's make that happen.
We do more than treat symptoms — we listen, dig deep, and help you understand what's really going on. Through expert care, honest guidance, and a whole lot of support, we help you move from feeling overwhelmed to steady, confident, and back in control.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing severe or sudden dizziness, especially with symptoms like slurred speech, weakness, or difficulty walking, seek emergency medical care immediately. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of your specific condition.
