Overcoming Vertigo: How Vestibular Rehabilitation Can Restore Your Balance and Quality of Life

Imagine this scenario:  It’s a regular day.  You wake up and get yourself out of bed and then all of a sudden, everything starts spinning around you.  It feels like the ground has been taken away from under your feet.  It lasts for about a minute and then settles.  You are in shock.  You have never felt this sensation before and you are nervous to move or drive in case this sensation comes on again.  Every time you move your head, you get this strange sensation of spinning and dizziness.  You don’t know what to do and feel scared and alone.  You call a family member and they offer to drive you to the hospital.  You’re unsure but take them up on their offer and head to the hospital.  

The hospital checks you out and the doctors tell you it’s nothing serious. They diagnose you with vertigo, prescribe you some medication to help with the symptoms and then tell you to rest for the next few days. You follow their instructions, take the medication but you still feel like this sensation of spinning and dizziness is still there. Suddenly you don’t feel comfortable driving to work, you don’t want to bend down to pick up your toddler and are scared to do any movement with your neck in case it triggers the spinning again. You don’t understand how all of a sudden you could feel so unwell and unable to do any of your usual activities. You lie in bed wondering, what should I do?  Who’s going to help me figure out what’s going on and help me feel better.  

We hear these types of stories from our patients all the time.   

Did you know that there are Registered Physiotherapists who are specially trained in the assessment and treatment of vertigo and dizziness?  This speciality is called Vestibular Rehabilitation. There are many different causes for these types of symptoms and your specially trained Vestibular Therapist at MUV Therapy Physio & Sports Medicine is able to complete a thorough assessment so they can find the root cause of your specific symptoms and start you on the right path for recovery. 

You do not need to have any referral from your doctor or any imaging reports to be able to start your care with a physiotherapist. 

The time it takes to recover from your symptoms of vertigo or dizziness is different from person to person, depending on the cause of the problem. Once the root cause has been found, recovery is definitely possible and our physiotherapists here at MUV Therapy can get you there so that you can get back to living your life and doing the things that you love. Vertigo and dizziness can have huge impacts on your quality of life and we at MUV Therapy are here to get you the help you need.

Why It's Best to See a Vestibular Physiotherapist in Mississauga for Vertigo and Dizziness

When it comes to dealing with the disorienting and often distressing symptoms of vertigo and dizziness, seeking the right kind of professional help is crucial. Vestibular physiotherapists specialize in understanding and treating conditions that affect your balance and spatial orientation. Here's why they should be your go-to professionals:

Expertise in Vestibular Disorders

Vestibular physiotherapists have extensive training in diagnosing and treating disorders related to the vestibular system – the part of the inner ear and brain that helps control balance and eye movements. This specialized knowledge allows them to pinpoint the specific causes of your symptoms, whether it's BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), Meniere's disease, labyrinthitis, or other vestibular disorders.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Each case of vertigo or dizziness is unique. Vestibular physiotherapists assess your specific situation and create tailored treatment plans. They use various techniques like canalith repositioning maneuvers for BPPV (like the Epley Maneuver), balance retraining exercises, and gaze stabilization exercises, all aimed at addressing your particular needs.

Non-Invasive and Drug-Free Approaches

Many people prefer treatment methods that don't rely heavily on medications, which can have side effects. Vestibular rehabilitation offers a non-invasive, drug-free approach, focusing on exercises and maneuvers that can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.

Education and Self-Management Strategies

Vestibular physiotherapists not only treat your symptoms but also educate you about your condition. Understanding what triggers your vertigo or dizziness and learning self-management techniques can significantly reduce anxiety and help you manage episodes more effectively.

Prevention of Recurrence

By identifying the underlying causes of your vertigo or dizziness and teaching you how to manage your condition, vestibular physiotherapists can help prevent future episodes. This proactive approach can be essential in maintaining long-term balance health.

Holistic Care and Support

Vestibular physiotherapists understand the emotional and psychological toll that balance disorders can take. They provide a supportive environment where your concerns are heard, and you're guided every step of the way towards recovery.

In conclusion, if you're experiencing vertigo or dizziness, consulting a vestibular physiotherapist can be a crucial step towards regaining your balance, reducing fear and anxiety associated with these conditions, and returning to your everyday activities with confidence. At MUV Therapy, our team of skilled vestibular physiotherapists is ready to support you on your journey to recovery.

Here is what one of our patients Melisa M. had to say about our Vestibular Rehabilitation Program

Let me tell you a story about my experience with sudden onset vertigo, dizziness, BPPV & labyrinthitis with one-sided hearing loss & why I can say with unshakable confidence that one of the things I know for sure is that if you too happen to find yourself experiencing the same symptoms, then Ty Agha at MUV Therapy is the only person you need to see.

Working as usual one day I suddenly noticed an odd sensation in my ears - a pressure building & sounds seemed muffled. Then came the whooshing & ringing & I knew something was wrong. After a visit at a walk-in clinic I was told that I had retracted eardrums & was prescribed a nasal spray & told that recovery would be slow. The next morning I woke up feeling dizzy & by mid-morning everything started getting blurry & it felt like the room around me was spinning. I tried standing up hoping that it would help things settle. It did not. As soon as I stood up the wave after wave of relentless room spinning, & what I have now come to know as vertigo, began & did not stop. With it came nausea & vomiting & no matter what I did it would not stop. Terrified & unable to take a single step without feeling like I was about to fall over, I went to the ER at my local hospital where I was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), administered an eply manoeuvre, & given some medication & referred to an ENT. Over the next few days I could do nothing more than lay in bed & pray for the world around me to stop spinning as I waited for the medicine & the eply manoeuvre to work.

With the ENT appointment date unknown I knew I couldn’t just sit & wait. A friend recommended Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy. Through some research I found MUV Therapy and Ty Agha. A few minutes later I was dialling their number & speaking with the loveliest lady, Karima, who worked some scheduling magic & set me up with a free phone consultation with Ty the very next day! Calm & confident & so reassuring from the moment he said hello, I knew that I had finally reached a care provider who would actually be able to help me & who was genuinely interested in seeing me get better.

After the initial phone consultation we booked an assessment appointment in which Ty spent over an hour thoroughly testing my balance, dizziness, vertigo, and vision. Once he had a sense of what was going on, he took time to sit and explain it all to me saying he suspected I had labrynthitis, & answered every question I had, while explaining what our recovery journey would look like.He explained that what I had also looked like a-typical vertigo & showed me how to do the eply manoeuvre with a slight modification. I walked out of that appointment with so much knowledge about my condition as well as an exercise to relieve the symptoms & promptly set up weekly sessions with Ty. Two weeks later, my vertigo was gone! Ty also referred me to a hearing and balance clinic where I was tested for hearing & suspected labrynthitis & Ménière's disease.

A few months from that first phone call with Ty I am happy to share that my life is starting to feel ‘normal’ again. The vertigo is gone and the cognitive challenges feel less debilitating. The dizziness has calmed & for the times that any of this does decide to appear, I am armed with multiple different exercises that Ty has taught me to calm it all down again & find balance once more. Ty’s suspicion from our initial appointment that labrynthitis might be behind what I was experiencing was also confirmed when I met with the ENT.

When you walk through the front door of MUV Therapy you walk into a space of care & expertise but more than that you find yourself wrapped in friendship & quickly become part of the MUV Therapy family where your health & well-being are truly their number one priority. This is your place & these are your care providers.

Wishing you all well on your healing journey…

Nadir, Ty, Tania, Karima…thank you for all you have done for me and been to me over the last few months ❤️

Vestibular Physiotherapy in Mississauga

For those seeking vestibular physiotherapy in Mississauga, specialized clinics offer comprehensive assessments and personalized treatment plans. These programs are designed to address the unique needs of each patient, facilitating recovery from vestibular disorders.​

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of vertigo or dizziness, consider consulting with a vestibular physiotherapist. Early intervention through vestibular rehabilitation can be pivotal in restoring balance and enhancing quality of life.