NeuroTalk Support Groups - PCS Tension type Headaches Vestibular Therapy

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- - PCS Tension type Headaches Vestibular Therapy (https://www.neurotalk.org/traumatic-brain-injury-and-post-concussion-syndrome/206903-pcs-tension-type-headaches-vestibular-therapy.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb2188 (Post 1082636)

Hi Everyone,
It has been one year since my 3rd concussion July 2013. I have had tension type headaches everyday since. Today I saw a specialist at the Jefferson Concussion Clinic. He recommended I that go to vestibular therapy due to my eye movement, also when we did the exercise where you look at your thumb in front and move your head while keeping your eyes focused, my headaches worsened.

My questions is: Has anyone been treated for headaches with vestibular therapy? How successful was it? From what I have been reading, it looks like this addresses balance issues.

Thank you for your time reading this and hope everyone feels better.

-Chris

I did about 6 months of vestibular therapy after my ortho PT was suspicious about my continuing headaches and dizziness. The neuro/vestibular PT found that I had nystagmus, convergence disorder, and I don't remember what else. The exercises seemed so lame - turning my head at a certain cadence while focusing on a dot was one of the first ones - but I slept in my car in the parking lot for 30 minutes or so afterwards because those little exercises wiped me out! It was really a fascinating process, although frustrating to be the one going through it! Initially I could only turn my head at ~80 beats/minutes for 10-15 seconds. The goal was to get to 120+ bpm and to add degrees of difficulty as I progressed. We also did some balance work as I advanced. Do your homework! A couple of hours in PT each week isn't enough to make significant progress, so even though it's boring and "lame" it's worth making the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevbo887 (Post 1096013)

What test did you guys take?

The only tests I took before being told I needed it was follow pen/light (told I was blinking a lot and slow)

Then walk a straight line and stand on foam board.

So what exactly goes on in vestibular therapy?

I don't know what all the treatments were called but I did something on a commuter with letters that would flash up and I had to repeat back.. something where I had to shake my head and watch a letter.. and something where I was on a balance board while watching something...

I had vestibular therapy, it did help with the balance issues, it is absolutely exhausting....I remember looking at my therapist saying...and doing this simple task is going to do what? The thing is, it is not a permanent fix. You learn exercises that you will reuse for the rest of your life.