Do you ever feel like the room is spinning around you? If so, you’re not alone. Vertigo and dizziness is a common problem that affects millions of people each year.
While there are many potential causes, most cases of vertigo or dizziness can be treated safely and effectively.
Here’s what you need to know about this condition, the vertigo symptoms, and how to get relief.
Read on to learn more about this disorder and how to manage it.
What is vestibular neuritis or vertigo?
Vestibular neuritis is a condition that causes vertigo and dizziness. It occurs when the vestibular nerve, which runs from the inner ear to the brain, becomes inflamed. This can happen due to a viral infection, an inflammatory disorder, a head injury, and an ear disorder.
Vertigo symptoms typically come on suddenly and can last for several days or weeks. In some cases, vestibular neuritis may resolve on its own. However, vertigo and dizziness can persist for months or even years in some people.
Some of the most common causes include BPPV. These initials stand for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
Treatment typically focuses on relieving symptoms and helping people adjust to the condition. In severe cases, vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) may be recommended.
vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a type of physical therapy that helps retrain the balance system. With proper treatment, most people with vestibular neuritis can manage their symptoms and live normal, active lives.
Anatomy Of The Inner Ear
The inner ear is responsible for both hearing and balance. It consists of the cochlea, which is involved in hearing, and the vestibular system, which helps maintain balance.
The vestibular system includes the vestibular nerve, three semicircular canals (horizontal, posterior, and superior), and the vestibule.
The vestibular nerve carries information about movement and head position from the vestibular system to the brain.
The three semicircular canals are filled with fluid and lined with hair cells. As the head moves, the fluid stirs and bends the hair cells. This sends signals to the brain that help us keep our balance.
The vestibule is a small, round structure that houses the utricle and saccule. These are two other types of hair cells that help us keep our balance.
The utricle responds to gravity and linear (forward and back) movement. The saccule responds to changes in position, such as when you stand up from a lying down position.
What Are The Vertigo Symptoms?
The most common symptom of vestibular neuritis is vertigo. This is the sensation that you or your surroundings are moving when they’re not. Vertigo can be extremely unsettling and may cause nausea and vomiting. Other common symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance
- Unsteadiness
- Lightheaded
What Are The Vertigo Causes?
The vestibular nerve is responsible for sending information about balance and head movement to the brain. This information helps the brain process what we see and keeps us upright.
When the vestibular nerve becomes inflamed, it can’t send the correct information to the brain. This causes vestibular neuritis, which leads to vertigo and dizziness.
Vestibular neuritis is most often caused by a viral infection, such as the flu or herpes virus. In some cases, it may be caused by another inflammatory disorder, such as Meniere’s disease, and hearing loss.
Some of these other possible health conditions include stroke, head injury, brain tumor, and migraine or headache.
How Is Vertigo Diagnosed?
If you’re experiencing symptoms of vertigo, it’s important to see a doctor. vestibular neuritis can be difficult to diagnose because it shares many symptoms with other conditions, such as Meniere’s disease and labyrinthitis.
To diagnose vestibular neuritis, your doctor will likely ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam.
They may also order tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to rule out other conditions. if vestibular neuritis is suspected, your doctor may refer you to a vestibular specialist.
This is a type of doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the inner ear. Other times, you may be referred to a physiotherapist.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Similar to vestibular neuronal diseases, benign positional vertigo (BPPV) usually disappear within a few weeks.
The debris within the ear canal that causes vertigo dissolves into a tiny piece and then lodges it in the same place, which does not cause any other symptoms.
Some BPPVs come back. Until symptoms disappear or treatment is needed, BPPV is treated via the Epley maneuver.
How Is Vertigo Treated?
Most cases of vestibular neuritis will resolve on their own within a few weeks. However, vertigo and dizziness can persist for months or even years in some people.
Treatment typically focuses on relieving symptoms and helping people adjust to the condition. In severe cases, vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) may be recommended.
VRT is a type of physical therapy that helps retrain the balance system. With proper treatment, most people with vestibular neuritis can manage their symptoms and live normal, active lives.
If you’re experiencing vertigo or dizziness, it’s important to see a doctor. While vestibular neuritis is usually not serious, it can be difficult to diagnose and manage on your own.
With proper treatment, most people can find relief from their symptoms and live normal, active lives.
What Are The Vertigo Exercises?
If you’re experiencing vertigo or dizziness, there are several vestibular exercises you can do at home to help relieve your symptoms.
One simple exercise is the Epley maneuver. This involves lying down on your back and moving your head gradually from side to side.
Another vestibular exercise is the Brandt-Daroff exercise, which involves lying down on one side and then moving your head up and down.
Many other vestibular exercises can help relieve symptoms of vertigo. If you’re unsure how to do these exercises, or if you’re experiencing severe symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor or vestibular specialist such as the physiotherapists at Pillars of Wellness in Burlington, Ontario.
They can help you get better following an evidence-based technique approach.
What are the side effects of vestibular Therapy?
The physiotherapists will first assess if vestibular therapy is the best option for your condition. If it is, they will review with you what to expect during vestibular therapy sessions and any possible side effects.
Most people tolerate vestibular therapy well, but some may experience temporary dizziness or nausea after a session.
What Should You Expect During A Vestibular Therapy Session?
The initial visit will include a thorough assessment of your health conditions and medical history.
Vestibular therapy sessions usually last 30-60 minutes. During a session, you will likely do a series of exercises designed to retrain your balance system.
These may include things like lying down and moving your head from side to side or standing on one leg and moving your head up and down.
Your physiotherapist will also likely provide you with exercises to do at home. vestibular therapy usually requires several sessions before symptoms improve.
Pillars of Wellness offers vestibular therapy in our state-of-the-art facility. Our vestibular specialists are highly trained and experienced in helping people with vestibular disorders.
How often will I need to see a physiotherapist?
The number of vestibular therapy sessions you’ll need will depend on the severity of your symptoms. In most cases, people need to see a physiotherapist 2-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks.
What Should Be Your Next Step?
If you’re experiencing vertigo or dizziness, the first step is to see a doctor. Once you’ve been diagnosed with vestibular neuritis, you can start vestibular therapy at Pillars of Wellness in Burlington.
We offer vestibular therapy in our state-of-the-art facility. Our vestibular specialists are highly trained and experienced in helping people with vestibular disorders.
Why Choose Pillars of Wellness?
We at Pillars of Wellness in Burlington, Ontario are ecstatic to provide a comprehensive treatment strategy that combines a variety of therapies to help you recover more quickly.
Our clinic provides physiotherapy, chiropractic, naturopathy, counselling, occupational therapy, yoga therapy, acupuncture, holistic nutrition as well as other treatments.
With so many services and specialties in one location, you’ll get the finest care possible without having to go elsewhere. Pillars of Wellness is a one-stop-health shop located in Burlington.
Finally, physiotherapy is frequently covered by most extended health insurance plans. If you don’t have healthcare or have used up all of your benefits, you can look to our chiropractors for help.
Chiropractors and physiotherapists both possess the knowledge and skills to treat and manage vertigo, dizziness, or more formerly vestibular neuritis as well as its associated symptoms.
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