Vertigo Specialist in Hardoi — Dr. Prateek Porwal

ENT & Vertigo Clinic | Prime ENT Center, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh

Vertigo is one of those conditions that people in Hardoi and surrounding areas often endure for months — sometimes years — before getting a proper diagnosis. I know this because a large number of my patients arrive at Prime ENT Center after being on dizziness medications for 6 months, still not knowing what’s actually causing the problem.

I’m Dr. Prateek Porwal — an ENT surgeon and vestibular specialist based in Hardoi. I completed my DNB in ENT from Tata Main Hospital, my MBBS from GSVM Medical College Kanpur, and hold a specialized certification in vertigo management — CAMVD — from Yenepoya University, Mangalore. I’ve been in clinical practice for over 13 years, with a strong focus on dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders.

If you’re looking for a vertigo specialist in Hardoi — someone who can actually diagnose what’s causing your dizziness and treat it properly — here’s what I do and how I can help.

Why Vertigo Often Goes Untreated (Or Mistreated) in Hardoi

The problem with vertigo is that it’s not a diagnosis — it’s a symptom. A spinning sensation can come from your inner ear, your brain, your cervical spine, your blood pressure, your medication side effects, or even anxiety. Treating the symptom without identifying the cause is why so many patients end up on betahistine or meclizine for years with no real improvement.

In my experience seeing patients from Hardoi, Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Fatehgarh, and Sandila — there are a few patterns that come up again and again:

BPPV misdiagnosed as “cervical spondylosis dizziness” and treated with physiotherapy that doesn’t help
Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis treated as “BP problem” or “sugar-related ghabrahat”
Patients on vestibular suppressants for months when the actual treatment is a 10-minute maneuver in the clinic
MRI done first instead of a proper clinical examination — and then a normal MRI reported as “no problem found”
Vitamin D and B12 deficiency contributing to dizziness, often overlooked entirely

Getting a proper diagnosis makes all the difference. And that starts with a specialist who actually examines the vestibular system — not just the ears.

Vertigo and Dizziness Conditions I Treat

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)

The most common cause of vertigo — caused by loose calcium crystals in the inner ear canal. Triggers when you roll over in bed, look up, or get up suddenly. Treated with specific head repositioning maneuvers. In most patients, significant improvement happens within 1–2 clinic visits. I treat all three canal variants — posterior (most common), horizontal, and anterior canal BPPV. I also developed the Bangalore Maneuver, a repositioning technique specifically for anterior canal BPPV, published in Frontiers in Neurology (2021).

Vestibular Neuritis

A sudden, severe episode of vertigo — often lasting days — caused by inflammation of the vestibular nerve, usually after a viral infection. Patients describe it as “the room won’t stop spinning” and often can’t walk straight. Treatment involves a short course of steroids in the acute phase, followed by vestibular rehabilitation exercises. This condition gets significantly better with the right management.

Labyrinthitis

Similar to vestibular neuritis but also involves hearing loss and tinnitus. Both the hearing and balance parts of the inner ear are affected. Requires urgent evaluation because hearing loss needs to be addressed promptly.

Meniere’s Disease

Episodic vertigo lasting 20 minutes to several hours, with fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of ear fullness. This is a condition of excess fluid in the inner ear (endolymphatic hydrops). Management involves dietary changes (low salt), diuretics, betahistine, and in some cases procedures — intratympanic gentamicin or steroid injections. Meniere’s needs long-term management, not just symptomatic treatment.

Vestibular Migraine

A common but underdiagnosed cause of recurrent vertigo — migraine-related dizziness without the classic headache. Patients often have a history of headaches, motion sickness, or family history of migraine. Responds well to migraine preventive medications and lifestyle modification. Frequently confused with Meniere’s disease, and the distinction matters for treatment.

Cervicogenic Dizziness

Dizziness originating from cervical spine pathology. This is probably over-diagnosed in India — most patients labeled as “cervical vertigo” actually have BPPV or vestibular neuritis. But true cervicogenic dizziness does exist and responds to neck physiotherapy and appropriate treatment of the underlying cervical condition.

Orthostatic Hypotension

Dizziness on standing up — caused by a drop in blood pressure when you get up quickly. Common in elderly patients, and often exacerbated by blood pressure medications, diuretics, or dehydration. Simple postural measures and medication review often resolve this.

Chronic Subjective Dizziness / PPPD

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) — a functional vestibular disorder that causes persistent, non-spinning dizziness and unsteadiness, often triggered by visual stimuli or crowds. Underrecognized in North India. Responds to a combination of vestibular rehabilitation and, when needed, SSRI therapy.

How I Evaluate a Vertigo Patient

The evaluation of a vertigo patient starts with a detailed history — when does it happen, how long does it last, what triggers it, any associated symptoms like hearing loss or tinnitus, any recent viral illness, any head trauma. In my experience, a good 10-minute history already points you toward the diagnosis in about 70% of cases.

After history, I do a clinical vestibular examination — this includes specific bedside tests like the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, Supine Roll Test, Head Impulse Test, and skew deviation assessment. I check for spontaneous nystagmus and positional nystagmus. I assess hearing with a tuning fork at minimum, and arrange audiometry when indicated. Blood pressure in both lying and standing positions is measured when relevant.

Investigations I order when needed include:

Pure tone audiometry and tympanometry
Videonystagmography (VNG) for complex cases
MRI brain/posterior fossa (when central cause is suspected)
Blood tests — CBC, fasting glucose, thyroid, vitamin D, B12

I do not routinely order MRI for every dizzy patient — most BPPV and peripheral vestibular conditions are diagnosed clinically. But I have a low threshold for MRI when there are any atypical features, recent onset hearing loss with vertigo, headache, diplopia, or any neurological signs. Central causes of vertigo can be serious and need to be ruled out properly.

Who Comes to Prime ENT Center for Vertigo?

My clinic in Hardoi serves a wide catchment area — roughly 60 kilometers in all directions. Patients come from Hardoi city itself, and also from Sandila, Bilgram, Shahabad, Pihani, Sandi, Madhoganj, Kachhauna, and surrounding villages and towns. Many patients also come from Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Fatehgarh, and Unnao when they want a specialist opinion without going all the way to Lucknow.

I understand the patient population here very well. Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common — especially in women who have limited sun exposure due to lifestyle and dress practices. B12 deficiency is common in vegetarian patients. Both of these contribute to vestibular symptoms and recurrent BPPV, and I address them routinely. Agricultural workers present with different patterns of vertigo too — heat exposure, dehydration, and seasonal patterns that are worth paying attention to in this region.

Why See a Vertigo Specialist vs a General Doctor?

A general physician can prescribe betahistine. A specialist can tell you whether betahistine will help at all for your specific diagnosis — and in BPPV, it won’t. A specialist can diagnose which canal is affected and perform the right maneuver. A specialist can distinguish between peripheral vertigo (inner ear) and central vertigo (brain), which is a genuinely important distinction that changes management completely.

I also want to be clear about something — I don’t over-treat vertigo. If you have BPPV, I won’t put you on long-term medications. If you have a viral vestibular condition that will resolve on its own with rehabilitation, I’ll tell you that. The goal is accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment, not a prescription to manage symptoms indefinitely.

About Dr. Prateek Porwal

Qualification: MBBS (GSVM Medical College, Kanpur) | DNB ENT (Tata Main Hospital) | CAMVD — Certificate in Advanced Management of Vertigo and Dizziness (Yenepoya University, Mangalore)
Experience: 13+ years in clinical ENT and vestibular medicine
Research: Published in Frontiers in Neurology (2021) — study on anterior canal BPPV; author of the Bangalore Maneuver for AC-BPPV; multiple publications in Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
Society: Honorary Secretary, Neurootological and Equilibriometric Society (NES) India — 2025–26
Founding Member: Indian Balance Forum (IBF) India
Practice: Prime ENT Center, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a vertigo specialist available in Hardoi?

Yes. Dr. Prateek Porwal at Prime ENT Center, Hardoi, is an ENT surgeon with specialized training in vertigo and vestibular disorders (CAMVD certification, 13+ years experience). He sees patients specifically for dizziness, BPPV, Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and all causes of vertigo.

What is the difference between vertigo and dizziness?

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness where you feel the room is spinning, or that you yourself are rotating. General dizziness may feel like lightheadedness, floating, or unsteadiness without the spinning quality. The distinction matters because different types of dizziness have different causes and treatments.

Do I need an MRI before seeing a vertigo specialist?

Not necessarily. Most common causes of vertigo — including BPPV — are diagnosed clinically with a physical examination. If an MRI is needed, your doctor will advise it after examination. Coming with a history of symptoms and any previous test reports is helpful.

How long does vertigo treatment take?

This depends entirely on the cause. BPPV often resolves in 1–3 clinic visits. Vestibular neuritis can take weeks to months of rehabilitation. Meniere’s disease requires long-term management. At your first visit, I’ll give you a clear expectation for your specific diagnosis.

I have cervical spondylosis — is that causing my vertigo?

Cervical spondylosis is frequently blamed for dizziness but is rarely the true cause. In most patients who are told they have “cervical vertigo,” the actual diagnosis on proper vestibular examination turns out to be BPPV. I’ll assess both possibilities and give you a clear answer.

Are vertigo medicines safe for long-term use?

Vestibular suppressants like meclizine and stemetil are meant for short-term symptom relief. Long-term use actually delays vestibular recovery because the brain needs to process the signals to compensate. I review all ongoing medications at the first visit and adjust accordingly.

Book an Appointment with Dr. Prateek Porwal in Hardoi

Prime ENT Center is conveniently located in Hardoi and accessible from Sitapur, Lakhimpur, Shahjahanpur, Unnao, Fatehgarh, and surrounding areas. You don’t need to travel to Lucknow or Kanpur for specialist vertigo care.

📞 Call or WhatsApp to book: 7393062200
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📍 Prime ENT Center, Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh