Four years ago, I discovered that I was pregnant with my 3rd
child. Around that time, I was
experiencing some dizziness and difficulty with balance. It was normal for me to have a certain level
of dizziness during my pregnancies, therefore I did not worry about it at
first. Nine months later, I was a new mom fighting through bizarre episodes
that felt like I was spinning and rocking on a boat. I was determined to not let this steal the
joy of bonding with my precious beautiful baby boy. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of
a chronic condition that eventually developed into severe and debilitating
vertigo. It took me a couple of years
before I was able to get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
WHAT IS VERTIGO?
Most people who experience dizziness feel “lightheaded”
(like they are going to faint), however the sensation of vertigo is a little
different. Vertigo is the body’s perception of motion usually manifested by the
feeling that you are moving/spinning or the environment and objects around you
are moving/spinning. Some people may
describe a sensation that there is an unusual spinning motion inside their
head. Others experience a rocking
motion, a swinging motion, or the impression that the environment is tilted at
an angle. Vertigo is often accompanied
with nausea, blurred vision, and difficulty with balance, standing, and
walking. Some vertigo patients may also
experience tinnitis (ringing in their ears), hearing loss, difficulty speaking,
and confusion.
WHAT CAUSES VERTIGO?
Vertigo is often the result of problems with the inner ears
and the vestibular function of the brain.
There are various root causes for vertigo symptoms. Vertigo may be caused by inner ear damage,
head/neck injuries, and migraines. Common
diseases or conditions that can cause vertigo include Meniere’s disease,
labrynthitis, fluid in the inner ear related to the common cold, and bacterial
infections. Parasites, Lyme disease, and
other co-infections are also potential factors in vestibular dysfunction.
TREATMENT FOR VERTIGO
It is my understanding that vertigo is often easier to treat
the earlier you can get a proper diagnosis and intervention for the
condition. Audiologists, neurologists,
and physical therapists that have specialized training in vestibular disorders
commonly treat vertigo. Holistic practitioners such as chiropractors, holistic
doctors, and licensed acupuncture therapists can also assist in treating
vertigo symptoms. Appropriate treatment
for vertigo varies depending on the type of vertigo a person has and its root
cause.
POSITIONAL VERTIGO
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV is one of the
most common types of vertigo. BPPV is
caused by debris that becomes loose in the ear canal. BPPV is relatively easy to treat through a
series of body positioning techniques directed by a vestibular physical
therapist.
CERVICAL VERTIGO
Cervical vertigo is dizziness associated with turning the
neck. This type of vertigo is often a
result of a neck injury such as whiplash or a sports-related injury. It can
also occur due to poor posture and stress on the neck and upper back. Cervical vertigo can be treated through
physical therapy, posture exercises, back and neck stretches/exercises,
cranial-sacral therapy, and chiropractor treatments. I recently did some research on the affect
of a misplaced atlas (at the upper vertebrae of the neck) in proportion to the
skull. Orthogonal upper cervical
chiropractic care is a reportedly non-invasive therapy that often requires only
1-2 treatments to correct this problem.
HYPOFUNCTION
Hypofunction is a vestibular disorder associated with damage
to the inner ears and malfunction of the vestibular function of the brain. When using vestibular therapy to treat
hypofunction, patients do a series of exercises with their neck and eyes to
help compensate for the inner ear damage and the vestibular function of the
brain. These exercises will initially
bring on more vertigo symptoms, and a vestibular therapy patient may start out
doing the exercise for 15 seconds or less.
The goal is to work up to 2 minutes and to make the exercises more
difficult and challenging. I have been
doing these exercises for about 2 years and did slowly work my way up to more
advanced vestibular exercises. They
have helped my symptoms however have not completely alleviated them.
VESTIBULAR MIGRAINES
Vertigo associated with migraines can be complex and
difficult to treat. With this condition,
vertigo and dizziness are associated with multiple migraine triggers. Hypofunction vestibular exercises as well as
cranial-sacral therapy are often used to treat vestibular migraines, however
may not alleviate all symptoms, especially when migraines persist. I have been able to gain control of my
migraine symptoms through diet changes and avoiding some of my known triggers.
For more information on migraine triggers, you can read my blog post on
migraines:
CANDIDA AND VERTIGO
Candida is a fungus or yeast that often can be found in the
intestinal tract. Candida becomes
problematic when your body is not producing enough “good bacteria”. This can occur with frequent use of
antibiotics, use of oral contraceptives, and hormone changes with
pregnancy. The yeast loves sugar and
thrives on any kind of sugar in your diet. Candida consumes the sugar in your
body and has the potential to lead to hypoglycemic episodes. Individuals with a candida imbalance often
crave sugary foods. In some cases, yeast
can produce acetaldehyde in the blood stream, which is a chemical released when
someone consumes excessive amounts of alcohol.
Common side effects of this chemical reaction include vertigo and “brain
fog” or difficulty concentrating. About
a year ago, I was having frequent episodes of severe vertigo and “brain fog”
just before meals. My alternative health
care practitioner tested my candida levels, which revealed this was the
contributing factor. I had to completely eliminate all sources of sugar from my
diet, including any fruit or grains. It
took me about 3 months of treatments for candida along with use of probiotics
and strict diet changes to stabilize my metabolism and stop these episodes.
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
I was initially very distraught about having vertigo,
however after I educated myself about vestibular disorders and the root causes
of my symptoms, my emotional response significantly reduced. I occasionally
will talk to someone who describes having vertigo as a result of anxiety or
stress. Vertigo in itself is very
stressful and the sensation of moving/spinning can easily cause anxiety. If you suspect your vertigo is the result of
anxiety or panic attacks, I would suggest you pay attention to when you have
episodes of dizziness/vertigo and what precipitates the symptoms. Keeping a
journal or log of your symptoms might be helpful. I would be cautious about taking anti-anxiety
meds for vertigo, as they can cause dependence and have severe side
effects. Long-term vestibular problems
can lead to depression and feelings of sadness.
I would also caution you in starting anti-depressant therapy for
vertigo. Psychotropic medications have various side effects, vertigo/dizziness
being one of them. They can potentially
add to the problem. I believe using
psychotropic medications should be an individual decision, however there are
other options. If you are suffering from
severe or clinical depression and feel that medications are necessary, you may
want to consider seeing a psychiatrist who has thorough knowledge of medication
side effects.
GROUNDING
Because I have an elevated sensitivity to electromagnetic
frequencies from cell phones, computers, microwaves, fluorescent lights, etc.,
grounding has been very helpful for me in managing my vertigo. When the weather is warm, I try to spend at
least an hour a day barefoot outside in the grass. I often sit or lie down in the grass as well. There is something about the earth’s magnetic
field that benefits my vestibular system when my body is in direct contact with
the earth. Some people purchase
grounding or “earthing” pads that have a similar effect on the body when used
indoors.
THE NEW NORMAL
Over time, I have adjusted to living with vertigo. If I keep sugar out of my diet and routinely
do vestibular exercises, my vertigo is less severe. I have been doing holistic treatments for
more than a year, and my practitioner has informed me that I am one of his more
complicated patients due to my multiple layers of health issues.
A while back, I met a woman who experienced vertigo for
several years before finding effective treatment. After trying traditional medicine with little
success, she was finally treated through field control therapy (the type of
holistic therapy I am currently doing).
She had steady improvements over time, however it took years of holistic
treatments to heal her body enough that the vertigo was completely gone. I also
came in contact with a woman from my church that started having both migraines
and vertigo about a year ago. When
traditional medicine did not work for her, she decided to try a different
approach. She has seen a holistic doctor
and a field control therapy practitioner as part of her treatment protocol for
these symptoms. We have compared notes
and have found many similarities in the health conditions that have been
revealed through testing. We keep in
touch several times a month for support and prayer requests. I feel very blessed to have someone walk this
journey with me who understands what I am going through.
LIFE ON THE SIDELINES
WAITING ON THE LORD
Vertigo has turned my life upside down, yet I have
discovered numerous blessings as a result of this condition. About a month ago, I came to a spiritual
crossroads in my life. I had been
determined to overcome vertigo for so long, that I felt desperate at times. I don’t believe that God wants me to suffer
like this for the rest of my life, however during a meaningful time of devotion
and prayer I came to realize that He wanted me to let go of my condition and
give it to Him. He challenged me to see
how He can work in my life despite having these health problems. I am now at a
new place of faith in my spiritual walk.
I can’t say that I don’t have days where I feel discouraged, yet each
day I encounter God with a new depth in our relationship. He often asks me, "Am
I enough for you today?" Trusting him
with all aspects of my life is terrifying and liberating at the same time.
“Have you not known?
Have you not heard? The Lord is
the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his
understanding is unsearchable. He gives
power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and
young man shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and
not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40: 28-31
RESOURCES
For more information on diagnosis and treatment for
vestibular disorders, you can check out the web site for the National Dizzy and
Balance Center: http://www.stopdizziness.com/
Here is more information on the potential harmful effects of
candida and acetaldehyde on the body: http://healing.about.com/od/candida/a/candida_muran.htm
Here is more information on grounding and its health
benefits:
http://news.yourolivebranch.org/2011/05/18/why-does-walking-barefoot-on-the-earth-make-you-feel-better/