PERSONAL TREATMENTS

I am an advocate for VRT as a support to healing and regaining balance and brain function. No one treatment is a cure, but rather a support for me anyway. The way I explain VRT is that it entails exercises that help retrain my brain to communicate with my inner ear/ balance system. I can say VRT helped me gain my balance back over the span of the last two years. 

 

I had breaks in between going, and have to admit I have slacked on eye exercises, but even with that being said, I can say I am overall 85-90% better on most days even though I still deal with derealization and decreased cognitive function. My balance is wayyyy better!

 

 

My VRT Story

 

My Diagnoses have evolved overtime. Currently I have PPPD, Cervicogenic Dizziness, and Vestibular Migraine. But in the beginning it started off with diagnoses of Vestibular Neuritis, and Acute Peripheral Vestibulopathy. 

 

My vestibular journey started In May 2018 I woke up with vertigo after going through some major life events, and a severe pinched nerve in my neck, and was never the same. I was very freaked out, but I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I started googling Vertigo. 

 

5 days later, I saw my primary care doctor who knows me well, and she was the first practitioner who mentioned I may need to see a Vestibular Therapist for VRT. 

 

I had been through so many other chronic illnesses that took over my life before this day so I was determined to fight. The symptoms got worse and I ended up in the ER.

 

After being in the ER 2 times at Balboa Naval hospital and having a normal CT brain scan, they referred me to a VT in their physical therapy clinic on base which is located within their physical therapy program. 

 

The base holds symposiums so the ER department, practitioners and inpatient areas come together with a continuity program.

 

The fruits of their labor came forward when I showed up. 

 

I met my VT and she offered me an opportunity to participate in a new form of VRT

 

CAREN - computer assisted rehabilitation environment at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC)

 

The CAREN is used for a variety of tests, and studies including Warfighter Performance training, PTSD patients, and more. 

 

There are 5 CAREN systems in the D.O.D. and I think I read 6 or 7 in the US, and approximately 20 world wide.

 

CAREN from June 2018 - September 2018  (EEG within the study)

 

I have continued with the CAREN system along with traditional customized VT exercises as a part of my VRT off and on since then. I have also done a home program with a variety of custom eye and balance exercises based on my symptoms.  

 

My VT is a big fan of encouraging additional supportive treatments for me or anything else that supports my quality of life like….

 

Psychotherapy

Calming my nervous system down with yoga, meditation, mindfulness. 

 

I have seen about 20 doctors/ practitioners/ specialists related to my vestibular symptoms so I can find a root cause, and what I learned was a lot of the tools are within myself and VRT was a big puzzle piece in coping and regaining a lot of my balance back.