Deciphering Vertigo: Coping Strategies for Onset Symptoms

Vertigo can be debilitating, and its cause may be difficult to pinpoint. Finding physical therapy near me may play a crucial role in controlling this medical issue. The more you know about vertigo, the better you can communicate with your health care team.

Identifying Symptoms of Vertigo

Vertigo describes a particular kind of dizziness that accompanies issues with the inner ear and some brain injuries. The sensation of spinning may cause other symptoms:

• Motion sickness
• Loss of balance
• Vomiting

The inner ear contains three semicircular canals, which have liquid inside. The motion and orientation of the liquid inform your brain about your location in space. This is why you get dizzy when you spin quickly and then abruptly stop; the liquid is still in motion, but your body has stopped, sending mixed signals to your brain.

When the inner ear is the issue, it often has symptoms beyond vertigo:

• Nystagmus
• Fullness in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Headaches
• Tinnitus

You may also experience balance problems, such as trouble walking.

For some, vertigo is constant. For others, it may come and go. You may also experience it during certain actions, such as standing up suddenly.

Navigating Vertigo: Strategies for Coping and Management

Physical therapists, such as those working at an Avery Ranch physical therapy clinic, can help patients find relief. The first step, of course, is getting a diagnosis. A general practitioner should be able to provide this with proper testing:

• Rotary chair testing
• Posturography
• Head movement testing
• Blood tests
• Eye movement testing

Additionally, your primary care physician may ask you to do balance exercises to gauge your coordination. A CT scan or MRI may be appropriate if you’re at risk for stroke or experienced a head injury.

The good news is that most peripheral vertigo cases eventually go away on their own. They may resolve when patients recover from an illness, allergy season passes or stop taking medications that list vertigo as a side effect.

In contrast, central vertigo usually requires medical intervention. Any of the following can be the cause of central vertigo:

• Tumor
• Stroke
• Seizure
• Multiple sclerosis
• Blood vessel disease

For this type of vertigo, physicians typically target the underlying cause while prescribing exercises and medication to manage the symptoms of vertigo and secondary effects.

Strategies for Coping and Management

Various types of therapy can help you get rid of vertigo, depending on the cause. For instance, patients who experience vertigo as an anxiety symptom may benefit from psychotherapy. If you have vestibular neuritis or another inner ear condition, vestibular rehabilitation may be the best approach. This balance therapy adjusts your sensitivity to motion through physical therapy exercises.

Finally, your physician may recommend head position maneuvers. This involves a series of head position changes to manipulate loose calcium crystals out of the semicircular canals.The unique connection between vertigo and balance means a physical therapist can treat dizziness and other symptoms. A quick search of “physical therapy jobs near me” may reveal nearby clinics to research further. You deserve a life without vertigo, and with the proper care, you can make that a reality.