Did you get vertigo after bed rest?  I will discuss possible root causes in this blog and provide links to further information on each cause.

Causes of vertigo after bed rest

BPPV

One possible cause of a new onset of vertigo after bed rest is BPPV. This is a condition caused by crystals becoming dislodged and displaced in your inner ear.

People with BPPV commonly feel dizzy with lying down, rolling over, sitting up in bed, and getting out of bed. The dizziness usually lasts for less than five minutes but can get triggered repeatedly throughout the night or morning as you move around.

Vertigo from BPPV can also get triggered during the day by turning quickly, looking up, or bending over.

You can learn more about BPPV here.

Upper Cervical Dizziness

The second possible cause of vertigo after bed rest is from your neck. This condition can start gradually if you have been watching TV, reading, or working on a tablet in bed with your head propped up.

If you notice increased neck tension or stiffness, neck pain, headaches, or ringing in your ears, you may have upper cervical dizziness.

You can learn more about upper cervical dizziness here.

Orthostatic Hypotension

One cause of lightheaded dizziness after bed rest is problems regulating blood pressure after getting up. This can occur if you are dehydrated or you have been on prolonged bed rest.

Patients who recently had surgery or recently got home from the hospital are more susceptible to this cause of dizziness after bed rest.

You can learn more about orthostatic hypotension here.

Vestibular Decompensation

If you had a past episode of vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, then your vestibular system may have compensated to recover from any damage to your ears. In that case, a lifetime of active head motion is required to maintain the vestibular recovery.

Therefore, a lack of head motion can precede vestibular decompensation and can cause vertigo after bed rest. Symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance may return at a lower intensity than the past episodes.

Vestibular physical therapy can help.

Learn more about vestibular decompensation here.

Miscellaneous Other Factors

If you were on bed rest due to the flu or any kind of virus, you could be experiencing viral vertigo. Learn more about viral vertigo here.

If you have a personal or family history of migraines, you could experience vertigo after bed rest due to a vestibular migraine. Learn more about vestibular migraine here.

If you started any new medication while you were on bed rest, then dizziness or vertigo could possibly be a side effect of a new medication. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist, or check your medication label from the pharmacy, regarding any possible side effects.

Talk to your doctor if you have vertigo after bed rest, so you can get proper care and relief.