Different types of dizzy
 

Hi Guys,

I have two types of dizziness: the first is what I would call light headed, a little like if I were on a boat with a gentle sway. The second is much more intense and kind of zaps me from the back of the head. This is far more disturbing to me, it only lasts for a second or two but it feels like I am going to collapse. If I am lucky they are not so intense and just pass in a second, if I am not so lucky (so far about twice a week I am not so lucky) I actually have to stop what I am doing and sometimes even lean on something. These longer spells last only about 3-4 seconds but now and then they also result in a following headache and some more intense light headedness.

Anyone else had this?

I am now 7.5 months post car accident, and along with the usual suspects of pcs, ptsd, convergence insufficiency, and tinnititus, the dizziness and nausea are quite profound.

At first the neuro-opthalmologist suggested that I get my gaze "stabilized" before doing any vestibular therapy, but my eyes are not getting better with 3 months of prism glasses and vision therapy.

I seem to have "light" dizziness if I bend over, get up or change elevation (blood pressure changes?), but the more "heavy" dizziness as you described also troubles me.

If I walk in open space, at the grocery store or on stairs I need to pause and either touch something (a wall, the grocery cart, or even just stomp), and this seems to help. It is worse standing for sure.

Any advice? Perhaps it is time to see an ENT? Or physical therapist? Or just wait? I haven't had the energy to track down which specialists to see for this issue.

I still get the electric zaps when I am concentrating too much while reading. Always feeling dizzy....result of the labyrinthian concussion. Damage to inner ear and vestibular. It is all linked with the visual and proprioception damage.
I also have BPPV (vertigo) which is quite common after brain trauma....little crystals are knocked out of place and make your world spin. That had settled down but i tried doing the dance thing on the WII (for therapy!) and have been suffering spins and nausea for over a week. i think getting vision (neuro) and vestibular assessments are important.
Good luck!

Incredible progress
 

I am 6 months pcs. I was experiencing debilitating dizzy and balance problems and after 6 weeks of therapy I am 80 percent better. I went to the national dizzy and balance center. The great thing was that I didn't have to wait months to get started once I was referred. I can tell you more if you like. I have lots of other problems that I'm not getting help for, so it was great to see improvement in one area.
Su seb

Hi Su Seb....is that the center in the Twin Cities area? What do you think was the most helpful? Did they use lots of different strategies? My vestibular therapist has me doing video games while on a treadmil with a computer mouse strapped to my head(gyromouse). I am progressing but VERY slowly...8 months so far of VT)
Thanks for any info!

Vestibular therapy
 

None of my exercises are on a video screen.
And yes, I am in Minneapolis.
They sound so simple but they really worked.
They are basically all exercises involving standing, walking,balancing, balancing with eyes closed, moving head while walking, moving head while balancing on a pillow with eyes closed...


But they start very simple, and get more complex.

I'm doing so well with dizzy and balance that I moved onto more vision therapy today. For convergence insufficiency. I'm so excited to see progress. It's amazing! Especially after so many months with so little therapy.


Su seb

More
 

Also,
I go to therapy once a week, but I do the exercises everyday, once or twice a day.

Su seb

So wonderful to hear that progress is possible!

I had my Videonystagmogram (VNG) test at the ENT yesterday. AWFUL!
It triggered waves of vertigo and nausea-I felt like I was on the teacup ride at Disneyland.

It also triggered a painful migraine. Is this normal? I had to take my tramadol, ice my neck/head, and go to a dark/quiet place for a couple of hours before I could re-emerge and interact with my family.

I get the results in a week. I feel nervous (questions loop: will they have a 'diagnosis'?; will it be treatable?; am I making this up?). But it's a gorgeous day in the Bay Area, so I feel more hopeful than not.

What was this test exactly?
 

I had a whole battery of tests done and I'm not sure of the names of them. If you describe it, I could tell you more though!

my vestibular therapy sounds very much the same as Su Seb's. I just do eye movements, head movements, walking movements with head movements and standing balancing poses.

I saw pretty quick improvements but they have slowed. I still have a lot of problems with uneven surfaces and walking any length of time. I am hoping that now that I have new glasses and will be starting vision therapy, the vestibular therapy will help more.

Dizziness sucks.
CC