Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis
What is Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis?
This is a condition of the inner ear where a virus causes inflammation of the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain which causes symptoms of vertigo, dizziness and/or imbalance. Sometimes there is a change to hearing (such as hearing loss or noises in the ear - tinnitus). This usually only affects one side of the Vestibular/Hearing system
What are the two stages of Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis?
The two stages of Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis are the relatively short acute stage and the longer chronic stage. Symptoms in the acute stage start with a sudden onset of vertigo, often with associated nausea, vomiting and imbalance. This acute episode is generally constant and severe and lasts hours to 1 - 2 days. It is not uncommon for people to go to an Emergency Department because of the severity. Once a diagnosis of Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis is made, treatment focuses on managing the severe symptoms through medication. If there is dehydration due to nausea, intravenous fluids can also be given
The second stage starts when the severe symptoms have settled down, generally within a day or a few days. There is often a transition from very severe vertigo (e.g. spinning) and imbalance to milder but more persistent symptoms of dizziness (e.g. foggy in the head, lightheadedness, or giddiness), imbalance and visual problems. This can lead to feeling fatigued and problems with everyday tasks, particular with vestibular stress such as when walking in busy environments, on uneven ground, with turning the head, or standing in the shower with eyes closed
What causes Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis?
The cause of Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis is a virus in the inner ear. This is not like a flu virus and is not transmitted through the air (eg coughing) or via touch. The virus is in the same family as a cold sore or shingles virus. After the acute stage the nerve in the affected inner ear is damaged and no longer sends normal signals to the brain, which results in a weak or slow signal from that side to the Balance Centre. This causes the symptoms of the second stage, which include dizziness or balance problems
What is the diagnosis/management of Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis?
At Equilibrium Rehab we perform tests to determine the extent of the damage suffered because of the Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis
Some people recover fully from the second stage after several weeks without any treatment. However, many will have ongoing symptoms of dizziness and imbalance and would benefit from Vestibular Rehabilitation. There is strong evidence for the use of Vestibular Rehabilitation in treating this type of problem
At Equilibrium Rehab we will perform a comprehensive assessment, listen to what your specific problems are, explain about your condition and give you a tailored program and support to target your symptoms and improve your quality of life