Rocks in My Ears
Q: I often get a sensation of spinning or feeling I may fall when I turn my head quickly or look up. My doctor says it has do with little rocks in my inner ear. Is that possible? What can be done? It is affecting my walking.

A: I think the condition you are referring to is called benign positional vertigo (BPV), and it is due to tiny canaliths (calcified granules) in the semicircular canals. Normally when you turn your head the fluid in the inner ear moves, stimulating tiny hairs, giving you the sense of position. When we were kids we used to spin around many times and stop to get dizzy. When you spin around many times and stop, the fluid in your inner ear keeps moving giving you the sensation of continued spinning. This is vertigo. People who suffer from BPV have those hairs stimulated by small granules when they move or position their heads in a certain way. This vertigo sensation is incredibly strong and can cause a lot of disequilibrium and concern.

The good news is that there is an effective non-surgical procedure called Epley’s maneuver that is helpful for many people. The maneuver is performed first with the patient seated turning the head through a series of motions, then laying down, followed by slowing sitting to an upright position with their head still turned to one side. This entire maneuver takes about three minutes. In many cases the vertigo resolves or goes away for months. The goal is to slowly move the debris to a place where it is least likely to be a bother.
— Dr. May

My Hip Makes Me Limp
Q: I have been dealing with deep hip for a while. I have had an x-ray and MRI which are normal. I take ibuprofen to help decrease pain but it doesn’t resolve it. Massage helps but it never really goes away. Do you have any ideas? I’m starting to have a limp.

A: If you get massage work then you are probably familiar with trigger points and how sore they can be. Each trigger point has a particular pattern of pain it creates for a particular muscle that may be many inches away. With hip and low back pain, these trigger points can be found in a number of muscles including the piriformis, gluteus minimus, quadratus lumborum, and gluteus maximus.

All these trigger points can be easily addressed by a licensed massage therapist. However, there are a few points that are not accessible, particularly the obturator internus, pubococcygeus, levator ani, and the pelvic diaphragm. These muscles affected by standing and hip rotation can develop trigger points which can only be addressed by pelvic floor trigger point work. This is where a physician applies direct pressure to these points internally. A series of six to eight treatments can make a difference and address other problems that people think are permanent. This treatment can also help women with incontinence and PMS issues.
— Dr. Arianna Staruch

Passing Around Every Cold
Q: This time of year it seems my child is always getting sick but gets over it quickly but then I am also catching every cold, yet I have a tougher time getting better. What can the family do?

A: School and day cares are places that children not only stimulate their minds but also their immune system. Kids play in close contact, share everything, and don’t always wash their hands thus school and day care become germ pools. It is important that you teach your child and make sure that the school is teaching the children to wash their hands before eating, after going to the bathroom, and after recess.

Children’s immune systems are immature. Each time they get these minor colds and infections their immune system is not only being stimulated but it is also remembering so a child can fight future colds more efficiently.

Ways to help their immune system and yours is to make sure the whole family is drinking plenty of water, decreasing sugar intake (sugar interferes with the immune system), and increasing intake of veggies and fruit . If your child is a finicky eater like most children are then a good quality children’s multi-vitamin is an excellent option. With any onset of colds try teas or supplements that contain echinacea, elderberry or goldenseal. Echinacea is great at decreasing the severity of a cold and at preventing colds. Maintenance doses can be taken for six weeks at a time. Echinacea should be avoided if the child has any autoimmune disease or is allergic to flowers in the daisy family. Goldenseal should never be taken long term. Brew some immune tea or sore throat tea, let it cool, and then pour them into ice cube trays for a child’s snack.

As for parents, Airborne, zinc gluconate lozenges, or throat sprays are good to take the minute your child comes home with a sniffle or cough. Consider taking multi-vitamins during the winter that contain vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and selenium. (Note zinc should never be taken long term or doses exceeding 300mg per day and vitamin A should never exceed 10,000 IU in pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant.) Adequate sleep and proper nutrition are the best preventative measures one can take to fight the cold and flu season. Stay healthy!
— Dr. Lindsey Nelson

This Issue’s Experts

Lindsey Nelson, ND, is a naturopathic primary care physician and can be reached at 503-279-0205 or by email at: lindsey@clearh2o.org.

Jacob May, DC, brings careful thought and analytical thinking blended with a
holistic approach to medicine. To contactDr. May, call 503-279-0205 or email jacob@clearh2o.org.

Arianna Staruch, ND, is a naturopathic
physician focused on women’s health issues. To contact Dr. Staruch call 503-279-0205 or email arianna@clearh2o.org.