Medically reviewed by Misty Seidenburg
Vestibular neuritis is an inner ear disorder that causes sudden and intense dizziness, balance problems, nausea, and vomiting. It’s also one of the leading causes of vertigo. While the acute phase of vestibular neuritis may last a few days, some symptoms can take weeks or months to fully resolve. Physical therapy can improve balance and stability for people dealing with this condition to move with confidence after vestibular neuritis.
Let’s start with the basics. The vestibular system, nestled within the inner ear, is a sophisticated sensory system that maintains our sense of balance and spatial orientation. Crucial to this system is the vestibular nerve, which relays information from vestibular organs on both sides of the head to the brain, enabling us to move with precision.
If this intricate sensorimotor pathway is disrupted, our sense of balance can be impaired. Vestibular neuritis, in particular, affects the vestibular nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain and is commonly caused by viruses and bacterial infections, including:
When invaders are introduced to the body, they trigger an immune process at the vestibular nerve. This reduces blood flow and damages nerve cells, causing intense acute symptoms. Once a few days have passed, the residual nerve damage produces post-acute symptoms.
As described above, vestibular neuritis symptoms occur in phases.
The intensity and duration of symptoms vary from person to person, based on the extent and severity of nerve damage and other pre-existing conditions that may contribute to dizziness. Always share your concerns with your healthcare provider to ensure a proper diagnosis.
Vestibular neuritis is often confused with vestibular labyrinthitis, and the two conditions are closely related. They both involve the vestibular system and cause similar, sudden, and abrupt symptoms, with gradual improvement in the weeks and months that follow.
However, unlike vestibular neuritis, which affects the vestibular nerve, labyrinthitis affects the labyrinth, the part of the ear that contains organs that help with hearing and balance. Labyrinthitis can cause ear ringing (tinnitus) and temporary hearing loss, which are not usually associated with vestibular neuritis.
Several other conditions affect the vestibular system, causing symptoms similar to vestibular neuritis.
There are several other possible causes of dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems, including medications, anxiety and stress, and low blood pressure. Diagnosis is essential to receive proper treatment and prevent serious complications.
Treatment for vestibular neuritis typically involves medication and physical therapy. Your healthcare provider may prescribe several medications to treat the underlying virus or infection and ease nausea, dizziness, and inflammation.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) consists of exercises and activities to help patients with vestibular disorders manage their symptoms.
This form of physical therapy specifically addresses balance and stability problems, incorporating safe and gentle movements to help the brain adjust to balance changes. VRT starts with a comprehensive evaluation, which allows the vestibular physical therapist to identify specific limitations and prescribe exercises to increase compensation and gradually reduce symptoms.
Vestibular therapy can help you regain your sense of stability, which may be keeping you from doing all the things you enjoy.
Research shows vestibular rehabilitation therapy helps:
One clinical study found that weekly physical therapist-guided interventions for at least six months are recommended to achieve optimal results. However, your treatment plan may differ slightly because VRT is customized to your needs and goals. Many options, including in-person, virtual, and home exercises, can be used during a course of care to work with you and get the best results.
Although it’s best to seek treatment at the early onset of dizziness, vestibular therapy can help you achieve some level of improvement, no matter how long symptoms have been present. Check out these patient testimonials to learn how physical therapy is improving lives, and find a physical therapy clinic near you.
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