Vertigo is a disabling symptom that is characterised by the feeling of the room spinning around you uncontrollably, which can be caused by a variety of health conditions. Dizziness is the feeling of being unsteady, giddy or lightheaded which is usually more subtle and less intense. Often these two things are used interchangeably and can co-exist, but the distinction is very important to determine your treatment options and why they are happening.
Vertigo can be caused by two categories of problem 1. Central problems with the brain or spinal cord and 2. Peripheral problems occurring outside of the brain or spinal cord.
Common vertigo causing conditions are BPPV, vestibular neuritis and Meniere’s disease, and less common causes are strokes and brain and spinal cord lesions. It is important to be assessed by a health professional to screen for the more harmful causes and figure out your best treatment pathway.
Dizziness causes are extremely broad and affected by the inner ear system, visual system and proprioception or joint feedback systems in isolation or in combination an appropriately trained physiotherapist can guide you on what systems are contributing to your problem the most.
Treatment for BPPV related vertigo involves a detailed assessment and simple but effective treatment manoeuvres to resolve the inner ear changes that are leading to the symptoms as well as staying upright as much as possible post treatment for 24 hours. Further causes of vertigo may require more time to resolve and benefit from medications prescribed through your GP or possible referral (to Emergency or a Neurologist) if you appear to have a more central cause of symptoms.
In conclusion, the Vertigo and Dizziness are distinctly different problems and treated differently, a suitably qualified Physiotherapist can help you treat and rehab the most common causes of these problems and help you in screening for more serious problems and refer you on to the appropriate care as required.
Don’t delay in beating this awful feeling! Book in via 9431 5955 or you can book anytime on our Client Portal via our website.
