3 Buckets of Vestibular (Dizziness) Rehab
If you have ever experienced dizziness, then you will be most empathetic to those who have experienced it as well.
Dizziness is not like pain. Roughly 80% of people will experience one episode of low back pain in their life. Dizziness is less prevalent as a whole, but is the #1 complaint of people over the age of 70. If you have experienced dizziness, then you also know, the feeling of true dizziness as a result of inner ear issues can be seriously debilitating to the point of total dependence on a loved one. That’s why awareness of dizziness, what causes it, and how we can get the best help quickly is key to helping you to make a full recovery. So with that let’s get started.
The reality of dizziness and for the person experiencing this dizziness is that their plan of care moving forward should be done in a team environment between your primary care provider (PCP), ENT, neurologist, audiologist, and physical therapist. The PCP should be guiding the patient to the appropriate provider, that provider (ENT, neurologist, audiologist, or physical therapist) should be able to screen and test and recommend treatment and/or help from one of the other professionals in the group previously listed. The reason we need more eyes on the condition is because most of these conditions do not fit into one box where one provider can manage all symptoms and function. An orthopedic surgeon reconstructing an ACL knows for the patient to have the most success needs a well trained physical therapist to help the patient make a full recovery and return to normal function. The same is true for the dizzy patient. They too need a team of healthcare providers with one common goal: To get you feeling and moving better!
For example, someone at the most basic level of experiencing a concussion should be seeing their primary care, neurologist, and physical therapist. All providers should help with determining the person’s readiness to return to work, school, sport, or daily activities. In the case of BPPV (“crystals out”) that person will have probably seen their primary care provider, ENT or audiologist, and, if not resolved, physical therapy.
There are 3 buckets of conditions that physical therapists can help a person overcome their dizziness episodes and 2 of the 3 were just mentioned. Concussions fall into the central nervous system bucket of brain and/or spinal cord injuries. BPPV (“crystals out”) fall into the mechanical dysfunction bucket. The final bucket is the peripheral nervous system where their is an insult to the nerves that are already traveling out of the spine and head and going to their place of sending/receiving messages.
The mechanical bucket by far shows the quickest recovery due to the simplicity of what is causing the dizziness. Think of the crystals being out of place in the ear being similar to the wooden ball in the maze game. You tilt and move the wooden box to help the ball get back to the center of the maze. The same is done in the ear as we move the head and body in different positions to help move the crystals back to the center of the ear. There is no neurological injury. The dizziness is a mechanical issue. Caution to those who try these techniques at home with or without provider direction! The wooden game you play has one path to get back to the center. Our ear is much different as there are 3 paths that these crystals can go down and swapping one canal for another instead of getting the crystals back home can cause even worse symptoms! Be sure to have these techniques performed by a provider who is skilled in doing these repositioning techniques so you don’t end up with a worse condition. Statistically you can have a full recovery in 1 visit!
The other two buckets dealing with the nervous system can take much longer to recover from and depending on the extent of the issue, a full recovery might not be possible. That is why getting the right help early on and being able to rehab and adapt to the changes in your nervous system is key to improving your condition and getting you back to normal life.
If yourself or someone you know is dealing or has dealt with issues relating to dizziness, feelings of their equilibrium being off, or anything of the like, then please seek a medical professional fast! After diagnostics are run, then please schedule with myself or any rehab provider specializing in dizziness to treat you and help you return to normal functioning. Dizziness and falls are no joke and can end up with you in the hospital and dependent on others. Don’t let your world change so drastically that you can’t return to normal life. Schedule a free call with me by clicking the link below.