Tired of feeling dizzy, disoriented, or out of balance due to vertigo as a symptom of MS? I want to help.
Today on the blog, I want to walk you through what can be one of the most uncomfortable symptoms of MS - vertigo. While it can feel scary to suddenly feel disoriented in your body, there are exercises we can do together to help navigate your surroundings more confidently.
Without any further introduction, let’s talk about MS vertigo exercises to stop feeling dizzy during your daily activities.
Vertigo, a symptom often experienced by those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), can have a huge impact on your sense of balance and stability. Imagine feeling constantly off-balance, dizzy, and as if the ground beneath your feet is in constant motion. This sensation not only induces discomfort but also poses significant challenges to everyday mobility.
Imagine the sensation of vertigo like being on a spinning ride that you can’t get off of. It might feel like the room around you is moving, tilting, or swaying, even when you’re sitting or standing still. This false sense of motion makes it difficult to keep your balance, causing dizziness and a feeling of instability.
This constant state of unsteadiness can lead to nausea and sometimes vomiting, significantly impacting your ability to go about your day. For those with MS, vertigo is more than just discomfort, it’s a persistent symptom that affects overall mobility and quality of life.
While MS vertigo can be unsettling, there are solutions to mitigate symptoms. Before we dive into exercises to help with relief, it’s important to understand what causes MS vertigo in the first place.
The cause of vertigo is unique for each individual. For those experiencing MS, it can arise as a symptom of how MS affects the body, particularly the nervous system. This disruption can impair the brain's ability to process signals related to balance and spatial orientation, leading to vertigo. Additionally, vertigo in MS can also be triggered by infections, making vertigo more complicated when it comes on. In some instances, the cause remains a mystery and seemingly comes on from nowhere.
Two primary types of vertigo in MS are the following:
While hypo-vestibular vertigo is a symptom of MS, there are exercises you can do to help. The goal is to pick up the speed of your vestibular system therefore lessening vertigo (or getting rid of it altogether).
Like BPPV, the exercises we will be doing are going to bring on the symptoms of vertigo. Although this may be temporarily unpleasant, you are slowly building a tolerance to eventually do more repetitions without vertigo ever coming on. Take your time and be kind to yourself. When the symptoms come on, wait until they subside before beginning the exercises again. This is a practice of patience, so show up for yourself to ensure the symptoms are subsiding correctly.
While those who experience vertigo as a symptom of MS each have their own unique experiences, there are a few common questions I am asked by clients I wanted to answer today. Although this by no means fully encompasses every question you may have, please don’t hesitate to talk to your primary care physician with any concerns you may have.
Our sense of orientation, whether we are stationary or in motion, depends on the intricate interaction of multiple sensory systems: our eyes, the balance mechanisms in our inner ears, and the sensory feedback from movement, touch, and joint sensors throughout our body. When we turn our heads, the signals from our eyes, neck muscle sensors, and inner ears all align to provide consistent information to the brain.
If there is confusion in this information, it disrupts our sense of orientation and can lead to vertigo. In those who experience MS, these symptoms result from damage to the areas that coordinate the perception and response to visual and spatial information.
Approximately 20% to 60% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience vertigo at some point during their condition. The prevalence of vertigo can vary based on the stage and progression of MS, but the important thing to note is there are options to help mitigate your symptoms. If you experience vertigo, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional for proper assessment and management.
Beyond exercise, treatment options include physiotherapy, where healthcare professionals evaluate whether certain head positions exacerbate your symptoms and work to build up your tolerance to these positions. Medications can also be beneficial. Antihistamines and anti-nausea drugs like Arlevert (a combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate) or betahistine are sometimes effective. In more severe cases, steroids may also provide relief.
Before you decide if one method for alleviating vertigo will work better for you than others, have an open conversation with your healthcare provider. They understand your symptoms the best and will help guide you to a solution that will work best with your body and current stage of MS.
As a physical therapist specializing in MS, my goal is to support anyone experiencing the symptoms of MS on their journey to reclaiming independence. If you're looking to receive a wealth of information from me (plus many other MS specialists!) read my book: The MSing Link.
This guide is specifically meant to make the symptoms of MS feel more manageable, allowing you to take back control and live life to the fullest.
Do you have any further questions on how to help your MS vertigo? Please let me know in the comments or shoot me a DM on Instagram @doctor.gretchen.
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As a physical therapist & Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist, I have spent the last 10 years teaching people with MS how to feel more confident & empowered through MS-specific exercises and strategies.
If you want support and encouragement, plus a healthy dose of tough love, come follow me on Instagram (@doctor.gretchen) or on YouTube @DoctorGretchenHawley. It's where I share daily tips, tricks, and information about new offers — plus, you’re bound to feel more empowered, hopeful, & motivated after watching each post and video!
Questions? Email me at Hello@DoctorGretchenHawley.com
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Dr. Gretchen Hawley's The MSing Link offers a comprehensive guide to taking control of your MS symptoms and improving your mobility through MS-specific exercises and strategies.
6000+ copies sold in over 13 countries!
