At Brainstorm Rehabilitation, we recently worked with a 48-year-old woman who had been battling severe nausea and vertigo (dizziness) for over 25 years. Imagine feeling constantly off balance and sick to your stomach for that long—it was a massive challenge for her! Over the past few years, her symptoms worsened, making it impossible to enjoy daily activities or even go to work. She ended up in the hospital multiple times and was prescribed various medications, but nothing seemed to help for long.
The Struggle of Living with Long-Term Vertigo
In addition to nausea and dizziness, she also experienced tingling and weakness in her right arm, which led to the use of antidepressants and sedatives. Despite undergoing many tests—including blood work, scans, and nerve tests—her doctors couldn’t pinpoint the cause of her symptoms. As a result, her ability to perform everyday tasks like working, walking, or even socialising had deteriorated, leaving her feeling isolated and frustrated.
Finally, a Breakthrough with Vestibular Testing
When she came to us, we conducted a series of tests that revealed she had vestibular hypofunction. Part of the inner ear doesn’t work correctly in this condition, causing balance problems and visual disturbances. Some of the critical issues we identified were:
- Moderate dizziness affecting her quality of life.
- Poor confidence and efficiency in preventing falls.
- Weak eye movements, especially when trying to focus on moving objects.
- Difficulty walking steadily, particularly when moving her head.
- Low balance confidence, making it hard to trust her ability to stay steady on her feet.
The Treatment Plan
We developed a personalised treatment plan for her using Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT). VRT is a specialised therapy that helps retrain the brain to compensate for inner ear issues. It involves exercises that improve balance, coordination, and visual stability, helping people regain control of their movements. Some of the exercises we focused on included:
- Eye and head movements to improve her ability to focus and reduce dizziness.
- Gait training (walking exercises) will help her walk more steadily, even when turning her head.
- Balance exercises to boost her confidence and reduce her risk of falling.
The Amazing Results
After ten weeks of therapy, she was like a new person! Her dizziness and nausea were gone entirely, and she no longer had any issues with balance or walking. Her eye movements and balance had returned to normal, and she could return to her everyday activities without limitations. She resumed work and social activities, which seemed impossible a few months earlier.
This is just one example of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy's effectiveness for people struggling with dizziness and balance problems. If you or someone you know is dealing with similar issues, there is hope for recovery. VRT is a safe, proven therapy that helps people regain control of their lives.
Want to learn more about VRT and how it could help you?
