What Should You Know About Vestibular Neuritis?
Vestibular neuritis is a type of disorder that causes dizziness and vertigo. In this condition, the nerve of the inner ear is affected. This nerve is also known as the vestibulocochlear nerve. The nerve is mainly responsible for sending information about head position and balance from the inner ear to the brain. If the nerve is inflamed due to any particular reason, then the message cannot go through the nerve and leads to various problems. If you notice any problem in your ear and suffer from sudden dizziness, then contact an ear doctor as soon as possible.
This condition may improve in a few days. But you have to remember that the symptoms need a minimum of three weeks to improve. You may experience vertigo and dizziness for several months.
The Symptoms
Balance difficulties
Nausea, vomiting
Sudden vertigo
Dizziness
Concentration difficulties
The Reasons
Most of the time, viral infection is the main culprit that leads to this problem. There are various types of viral infections that can cause this problem such as flu, mononucleosis, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, and shingles. First of all, the ear doctor tries to find out if there are other reasons behind vestibular neuritis including stroke or neurological condition. They may recommend doing an MRI scan. After that, the doctor may test your hearing to see which nerve is affected due to this problem.
The Treatment Process
As you are suffering from vestibular neuritis due to an infection, therefore, you have to take antiviral medications or antibiotics to treat the infection. If you notice that the symptoms are not improved, then you have to take vestibular rehabilitation therapy. In this therapy, you have to do some exercises to help the brain adjust to the changes.
In the beginning, you may think that your symptoms get worse due to this exercise and that is normal. After a few days, you notice that the symptoms are getting better. You may take three weeks to recover from the problem completely. But you have to keep in mind that you may experience occasional dizziness for several months. Due to this condition, you may not be able to make a lot of movements. But try to move around as much as possible to normalize the situation. This practice helps you to regain your sense of balance sooner.
Schedule Your Appointment
Experiencing vestibular neuritis is absolutely normal. You do not have to worry or get afraid at all. If you experience sudden dizziness, then contact Oklahoma Otolaryngology Associates, LLC in OKC immediately.
**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of the patient-doctor relationship.