Help for Positional Vertigo

Q. I'm 83. For three years, I've felt like I've been rocking on 40-foot ocean waves. I've had many tests, and the doctors say it's because I am old. Is there anything I can do?
-- Pauline, Tampa, FL

A. Only Bill Haley and the Comets thought it was a great thing to rock around the clock. There are a couple of possible causes for the sensation you're describing. Some people experience it after a boat trip or long flight. It's called mal de debarquement syndrome (French for "sickness of disembarkment") and it can last for years.

Alternatively, your "rocking vertigo" could be benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), an inner ear disorder that occurs when small calcium particles in your ear canals break loose or clump together. The particles tell your brain about moves you're making, but when they're messed up your brain gets wildly exaggerated info -- for instance, you just rolled over in bed but your brain thinks you did a flying twist off a pommel horse.

While BPPV is associated with aging, you don't have to live with it. Your docs should be able to show you some easy head movements that tilt the particles out of your inner ear. If that doesn't do the trick, or they seem baffled, see a physical therapist specializing in balance disorders. Even if rock and roll is here to stay for you, a therapist can show you ways to maintain a more balanced life (playing ping-pong often helps).