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VRT exercises

Posted , 6 users are following.

gillian76726
gillian76726

Hi, I have a general question to anyone who has had VRT exercises experience.  ie have you gained any relief with them or not?  I am in on my third Physio sessions at a new hospital and go back tomorrow for follow up.  however I do not feel any different,min fact I had to,stop some of them as they caused my muscles,to,seize up! (Hips,neck etc).  But the repetitious  ones where you shake your head side to,side, up,and down, while looking at a card do nothing for me except create dizziness a little bit, but it soon goes  away. However none of my vertigo problems feels one iota better and no idea  what they will do next!!

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • deb39563
    deb39563 gillian76726

    Posted

    hi  hang in there they will help it may take a while  good luck
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 deb39563

      Posted

      Deb, they don,t!!!  I started doing them back in 2011 at my first hospital, then again at the second one a year later, now on  the third one , nada, nothing!!!!!  It is now over 4 Years I have had this and am no further ahead!
    • deb39563
      deb39563 gillian76726

      Posted

      So sorry Gillian I didn't mean to assume any thing did not realize u have been doing this excercises for a year this yucky thing we all have affects us all differently I am still trying to sort thru this myself trying anything I can find these discussions really have help me hopefully, for u too I now have pulsatile tinnitus song with still balance issues still my excercises have help me though not near as bad I am hoping soon it will all be gone wishinguntil next keep us posted
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 deb39563

      Posted

      Hi Debs, sorry but after 4 years of the c. p it really gets you down. I have not been doing the exercises every single day for a year, nor four years.  I have just done them For a few months each time I see a Physio at a different hospital. I was told, as I mentioned to Andrea I was told at this latest place their exercises are different, but so far they,re not, so you can imagine after waiting all this time to be seen at what I thought was my saving grace, to find I'm back at square one.  I now have to see them again today and go through the whole thing again of explaining and not getting any answers. I don,T even have a definitive diagnosis as you do so when people ask me what my problem is I can,t tell them. All,so frustrating and upsetting 
  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 gillian76726

    Posted

    Gillian, I decided to go,to,the hospital yesterday as we have a new state of the art ER and get some answers. I saw a consultant who ordered a brain scan which was clear. He did a head turn on me wherein he turned my head fast from mid to side fast. He prescribed stemetil. I was there for the whole day basically. I have been referred to,an outpatient clinic starting in about a week. I at least feel a bit happier now. A Physio came to me as well and basically told me how to manage it. They liked that I had bought a Rollator and was using it. Without going into each and every detail,of,the day I felt my problem had at least been addressed and would,be managed. He seemed to think I would get,better in time. Here's hoping!
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 kathleen65757

      Posted

      hi Kathleen,  glad,to hear you did that!  I k ow about the head turn thingy which I,ve had done. For me sadly it was normal, but it may be good as they look,at your eyes to see how they react and make a decision . Keep me I formed x
    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 gillian76726

      Posted

      Ok Gillian! I am hoping it is not permanent like yours! Are you able to get around without any aids? I think they do not know much about it from what people are saying. The ones that follow a pattern and recover quickly are probably the only ones they really get right!
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 kathleen65757

      Posted

      yes Kathleen I am able,to get around, that isn,t my main problem,thankfully, but whatever I do, and the more I do, has this effect of flattening me out physically, and when I feel that way then vertigo is worse so it,s a bit of a vicious circle! Or if I have a gut problem (I have Crohn's) one day, that will make it worse, or a headache, just about any kind of pain, or even lack,of sleep, a thing that challenges my physical self will make it worse and all I can do,is go to bed (as I am doing right now!), stick my head up,against some pillows and keep it still and not Bob about ,too much.  I,think the ones who,recover quickly either Didn,t have it too bad, or had one of the lesser, or easier forms of vertigo to treat.  also,I think it,s a bit of a lottery on who,you get atmtheneaelynstagesmof this, and getting the right specialist.  a lot,of us didn,t and got passed around from one ENT to another,who  really aren,t much cop  for our particular problem, and that,s,all wasted time. Also there,s the 'Virus' issue , which a lot,of us feel,was the initial cause, as for me it came on over night, not a gradual thing. but when the flu,or virus left,,the vertigo remained! and strangely whenever I have raised this with various medical,people,I,ve seen, they never deny it, but neither do,they enlarge upon it which makes me wonder if they know more than they are letting on, and that leads me,to,wonder why'd?...
  • andrea75485
    andrea75485 gillian76726

    Posted

    Hello Gillian,

    I am on my third round of VRT. I started VRT June 29, 2014 went until the end of Septmeber 2014, was discharged and then went back middle of October 2014 and stayed until December 2014. That first session of VRT was a referral from and ENT. Finally saw a neurologist and she asked if I wanted to start up again with VOT. Vestibular Ocoluar Therapy. I am seeing results, BUT I feel I will need to do excersises for the rest of my life. I am much better. The summer of 2014 I was bedridden after being diagnosed with vestibular neuritis. I would keep trying. I am doing a very simple excersise right now of looking at an X on the wall and turning my head side to side for a minute. Stand arms length away from the X. I also have done very advanced excersises from standing on a foam pad, heel to toe, eyes closed and turning head side to side. ALL of these have got me where I am at today. I am able to go into a large store with miminal discomfort. Don't give up. I wish you the best.

    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 andrea75485

      Posted

      hello Amdrea, yes I know the exercises you describe well. These are the ones I have done each time with a few other ones.  No difference so yes am sorry to say that yes I have given up,as  I.ve done them on and off for over 4 years. I,ve never had problems in a big store etc.i'v e had it with these b....dy exercises as othher people have said same thing. Am also not pleased as the Neuro,Otologist said when I told her before I started them that previous times had not helped and she said oh ours are different! But they haven,t been!!
  • veemae80819
    veemae80819 gillian76726

    Posted

    Hi Gillian

    Sorry to hear you are having such a rotten time.  I can understand your frustration as I too have mutiple issues with migraine, vertigo and tinnitus.  When my symptoms was at it's worse, five years ago, I was prescribed a number of medication and was referred to a physio.  I was given exercises, I can't remember if they were VRT or VOT, but I started out very gently.  

    To begin with I would look at a small object, on a playing card, only moving my eyes and then gradually building up to moving my head, slowly.

    At my worst, I collapsed and was admitted to hospital.  I was unable to go out on my own for about three months and could not drive for two years.  Shopping in the supermarkets was a nightmare, I would feel like I was falling over.

    I persevered with the exercises along with medication and a series of alternative treatments.  I'm pleased to say, although I still suffer, that the vertigo gradually  improved and I have been driving again and get out and about.

    I know that our symptoms are not necessarily the same and the same treatment doesn't work for everyone but hopefully you will see some improvement in time.

    Good luck.

    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 veemae80819

      Posted

      thank you Veemae. It,s is a bit of a minefield on the exercise front that,s for sure. I saw a different Physio today and  explained my frustration,,and she has changed my regime concentrating on my neck which she says  is connected with this condition and mine is very bad for for most of the  time, and concentrating on getting that looser, along with some eyes only type ones a bit like what you mention.  I didn,t,have the same experience as you with shopping in supermarkets that a lot of people,get, mine was more at home in smaller spaces, and actually better when I,am outside.  it,s,the exhaustion that gets me too as I have had to adjust so much on the physical,side of things, not because I can,t do them but they exhaust me and the next day has a knock on effect where I can,t,do much at all. It,s not an easy condition.  to,deal,with that,s for sure!
  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 gillian76726

    Posted

    Ah ok Gillian. We are all different then by the sounds of it! Another thing I notice about me is a mucus issue which seems to come up from the stomach. I also had mild dizziness for a long time before the attack on our driving holiday home nearly three weeks ago. Maybe it could be auto immune? You have Crohns as I do too. My main concern is falling and I already was fearful of this. The Rollator is a big comfort to me and gives me some freedom of movement. I do think I am going to have to ration going out in the car which is a nuisance. Travel was mentioned by the ambo who came to check me out in the first couple of days after the initial attack and I reacted to a recent drive. I am not driving just a passenger! The more we compare our experiences may help to shed some light on this unfortunate condition. 
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