What Is Vertigo? What Causes It? How Can It Be Treated?
It happens to about one of every two people who suffer a traumatic brain injury or concussion. In the days, weeks, months and even years after your injury, you’ll do something and suddenly feel like the entire world is spinning around you. You may start to sweat, even when it’s cool outside and you’ll often find yourself nauseated or even vomiting. It’s known as vertigo and it’s a common side effect of a bump or blow to the head.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a sudden feeling of dizziness or loss of balance. You may find it difficult or impossible to focus on any object, and you’ll often start to feel queasy or sick to your stomach. When vertigo hits, you can find it difficult to find any type of position where the room stops spinning.
What Commonly Causes Vertigo?
To a significant extent, your balance is dictated by your vestibular system, which is comprised of three pairs of fluid-filled canals behind your ears. When there’s any damage to those canals, or if foreign particles get into the fluid, your brain can get a false reading, giving you the illusion that the world is spinning, even if you are sitting still or lying down.
A concussion or traumatic brain injury can cause damage to the nerves in your vestibular system, leading to vertigo. In addition, a concussion can alter the fluid balance in your inner ears, producing the same result.
The Common Triggers for Vertigo
Studies show that certain types of activity are more likely to aggravate or initiate some level of vertigo:
- Certain types of head movements, particularly rapid back and forth movements or side to side movements
- Screens, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, television and movie screens
- Blowing your nose
- Exercise or activity that involves straining your muscles, particularly in your neck or shoulders
- Flickering lights
How Do You Treat Post-Concussion Vertigo?
There are a variety of treatment options, from physical therapy and medication to changes in your lifestyle. Until your body has healed, you may need to avoid certain types of activities, such as the use of tablets or laptops, or engaging in certain sports or other physical activities. If there’s significant damage to your inner ear or vestibular system, invasive surgery may be an option, but it’s typically a last resort.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.