How To Manage Vestibular Migraines
Vestibular Migraine or Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV) is a type of migraine that affects blood flow to the vestibular system and the way the nerves and brain process vestibular information. When these signals become altered, confusing messages result in the brain and body feeling out of sync. Symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, and headaches can result. It can be a very complicated condition with many different triggers. Correct diagnosis, appropriate management from your entire medical team, and a compressive physical therapy rehab program can make a big impact in your treatment. Our physical therapists in Fort Worth, TX can help distinguish between the various types of headaches and migraines, determine treatment options, and coordinate care with your neurologist as needed.
If you live with chronic headaches or have been diagnosed with vestibular migraines, physical therapy can help you find relief. Manual therapies including dry needling and spinal manipulation can be effective tools and addressing increased tone and tension in the neck and head. These can add to the altered signals of pain and vestibular dysfunction and are important to treat.
Every headache requires a different approach to treatment, and every patient presents a little differently. Common symptoms from Vestibular Migraines include:
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Loss of balance
- Nausea/vomiting
- Temporary tinnitus
- Sensitivity to sounds and lights
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Neck Pain
- Headache
Surprisingly not all vestibular migraine patients have a headache with each episode. This can make diagnosis and treatment feel confusing. It’s important to find a physical therapist that specializes in both orthopedic treatment of the musculoskeletal triggers of headaches, as well as the neurological treatment of the vestibular system.
What to expect at your ClearCut Rehab physical therapy visits
Your therapist will perform a thorough assessment to identify the type of headache you are experiencing and the treatments that will be the most beneficial.
We will educate you on the most effective exercises and postures to complement our hands-on interventions. Our goals include the following:
- Reduce pain quickly through soft tissue work, spinal manipulation (if appropriate), dry needling, and manual stretching
- Reduce pain with postural education and targeted movements/exercises
- Minimize the risk of recurring pain through strengthening exercises, ergonomic changes, and behavioral changes
- Work together with your neurologist and medical team for the best continuity of care
Our team will also thoroughly evaluate your inner ears and eye-tracking capabilities. This way, they’ll be able to pinpoint the exact issue affecting your balance. Every program is developed with each specific patient’s goals in mind.
Vestibular rehabilitation is a process of adaptation and compensation to reprogram or reset the connections with the brain to restore balance and stability. Our programs focus on the following:
- Vision stability training enhances the stability of your gaze
- Posture training to improve your stability
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Balance retraining
- Walking exercises
- Neck mobility/stretching exercises
- Restoring your ability to perform the activities of daily living you may have been avoiding
Call today to request an appointment!
If you are experiencing neck pain and/or chronic headaches and think you could benefit from physical therapy, call our office today. At ClearCut Rehab, our physical therapists will provide you with a thorough evaluation to determine how our treatment methods will benefit you.
It’s important to address issues when they begin, so they do not worsen over time. Too often, people wait until they have severe headaches. Regular manual therapy sessions and vestibular rehabilitation can reduce and help decrease frequency and intensity of future episodes.
We understand how inhibiting pain and dizziness can be, and we want to help get you back to a migraine-free life!
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!