Is Physical Therapy Worth the Trouble?

[melagras]

My ENT sent me to a physical therapist when he diagnosed me with BPPV (positional vertigo) a couple of months ago. I had finally gotten to a good place where I wasn't dizzy as long as I didn't do any exercising laying flat or sleeping on my left side.

I am still going twice a week and I feel like I'm going backwards. She had me lay down on the table with a pillow (which I can do for several minutes without getting dizzy) and move my head to the right, back to the middle then to the left and back to the middle. Well, when I moved my head to the left (which is my bad ear), I got dizzy and it has been downhill ever since. I feel like shit today.

My PT wants me to buy this expensive machine (Alpha Stem) to use at home which costs a whopping $600.00. Like I have that kind of money laying around. I doubt my insurance will cover it. This is ridiculous. When is it time to say "enough is enough"?

 

[RapidBreath]

I don't have experience with it for vertigo. Thats new to me. I know it does work for sports injuries.

My Mom gets vertigo. Taking decongestants helps somewhat with hers. They told her that she has crystals in her ears that cause that sensation and confuse the brain. When she has congestion (she gets allergies, so that happens a lot.) it makes it much worse, ergo the decongestant.

I hope this gets better for you. I don't know anything about that medical device they want you to buy.

 

[dr.mel_PT]

Is your PT specialized in vestibular complications? I'm in school for PT now and I've seen some pretty amazing turnarounds regarding patients with vertigo. The PT I shadowed worked with all kinds of vestibular patients and she was amazing; I never heard her tell a patient to buy any kind of machine to help with their vertigo because they had everything right there in the office. Vertigo could be caused by an upset of those ootolith crystals or another underlying problem, such as a neck or head injury which a PT can alleviate by manipulating the muscles. It could also occur from problems with your depth perception, which a PT can help you correct. Furthermore, PTs can help improve your balance to counteract the vertigo too.

I'm probably biased but I really do believe strongly in the power of PT when done correctly. I'm interested to hear how everything turns out. Best of luck to you!!

 

[melagras]

Is your PT specialized in vestibular complications? I'm in school for PT now and I've seen some pretty amazing turnarounds regarding patients with vertigo. The PT I shadowed worked with all kinds of vestibular patients and she was amazing; I never heard her tell a patient to buy any kind of machine to help with their vertigo because they had everything right there in the office. Vertigo could be caused by an upset of those ootolith crystals or another underlying problem, such as a neck or head injury which a PT can alleviate by manipulating the muscles. It could also occur from problems with your depth perception, which a PT can help you correct. Furthermore, PTs can help improve your balance to counteract the vertigo too.

I'm probably biased but I really do believe strongly in the power of PT when done correctly. I'm interested to hear how everything turns out. Best of luck to you!!

I don't know if she specializes in vestibular complications. The original problem stems from using two computer screens at work which made my neck muscles hard as a rock. I think that led up to the vertigo. When she did her initial evaluation, she noticed that my left shoulder rides up and forward and that both shoulders were also stiff.

I find it interesting that she just now asked me what kind of chair I sit in at home which is a rocking chair. She never told me that rocking chairs were off limits after performing the Epley maneuver.

Instead of taking anti-anxiety or anti-depressants, she suggested the Alpha Stem machine to help me relax. She uses it on me to help me relax before attempting to lay flat, etc. (I get real anxious.)

This has been such a fiasco.

 

[gettingfitmom]

I honestly would try the Epley Maneuver again. I was told to sleep sitting up for two nights afterwards and avoid bending over for the same amount of time. They sometimes put on a neck brace after the maneuver too. Good Luck!

 

[dr.mel_PT]

I don't know if she specializes in vestibular complications. The original problem stems from using two computer screens at work which made my neck muscles hard as a rock. I think that led up to the vertigo. When she did her initial evaluation, she noticed that my left shoulder rides up and forward and that both shoulders were also stiff.

I find it interesting that she just now asked me what kind of chair I sit in at home which is a rocking chair. She never told me that rocking chairs were off limits after performing the Epley maneuver.

Instead of taking anti-anxiety or anti-depressants, she suggested the Alpha Stem machine to help me relax. She uses it on me to help me relax before attempting to lay flat, etc. (I get real anxious.)

This has been such a fiasco.

Oh yeah rocking chairs could upset the settling of the crystals, so the Epley maneuver would be pretty much useless because it the rocking motion undoes everything that she did for you during the treatment. I'm surprised she didn't tell you that ASAP. I'm not familiar with the alpha stem machine, so I'm not sure what it does. Are there any other ways you could relax? Maybe a sound machine at bed time? Epsom salt baths before bed to further relax the muscles? I just think a $600 machine sounds unreasonable.

 

[melagras]

I honestly would try the Epley Maneuver again. I was told to sleep sitting up for two nights afterwards and avoid bending over for the same amount of time. They sometimes put on a neck brace after the maneuver too. Good Luck!

I've done it four times. I don't think I can go through it again.

 

[bethj]

You can do what I did since I have no health insurance. Just let it wear out over time. It eventually goes away on its own.
Beth

 

[melagras]

You can do what I did since I have no health insurance. Just let it wear out over time. It eventually goes away on its own.
Beth

This started in April. I think I'm beyond letting it go away on its own.