Many people often wonder if there are any vertigo home remedies. The most important step is for anyone who is suffering with vertigo to seek out appropriate care by a Vestibular Expert to determine the root cause(s) of the dizziness or vertigo symptoms.
Unfortunately, sometimes there is a delay in the availability of the specialty healthcare provider due to a low supply of these types of Vertigo Specialists and an increasing demand for help with symptoms of dizziness and vertigo.
So you may find yourself waiting to see the right provider, or in-between visits, and experiencing vertigo. I offer these eight vertigo home remedies for reducing symptoms of vertigo and nausea that have worked for many of my patients.
8 Vertigo Home Remedies
1. First of all, a tip I learned from my Clinical Mentor is to apply an ice pack to the upper part of the neck between the ears at the base of the skull. A soft ice pack is the best since it conforms to the contour of that area, but even a bag of frozen corn or peas wrapped in a towel will work.
The risk of applying ice to any skin area is always frostbite, so it is important not to apply ice for longer than 20 minutes at a time. The skin must return to room temperature before applying ice again, but it can be used multiple times per day.
Even if there is no neck pain, applying ice to the upper neck between the ears is a vertigo home remedy because it helps to calm down the nervous system. It can be helpful to reduce both vertigo and nausea.
2. The second major strategy for reducing symptoms of vertigo is to keep your head as still as possible. The vestibular system is stimulated by movement, so if the vestibular system is part of the problem causing vertigo symptoms, then reducing head movement will likely quiet that system down and reduce the discomfort.
3. The third strategy for reducing vertigo is to keep your head upright, either sitting up or propped up on at least two pillows. The reason for this is because the most common inner ear cause of vertigo, or BPPV, is usually triggered by lying down or rolling in bed.
4. A fourth major strategy is to breathe through your nose into your belly. Mouth breathing into the upper chest can make vertigo symptoms feel worse and last longer, so belly breathing through the nose, deep into the belly, is ideal to reduce vertigo symptoms.
When I teach my patients this strategy, I suggest for them to, “Let the belly button lead the breath.” This calms the nervous system.
The belly button will go out when you breathe in through your nose and the belly button will return to the starting position when you breathe out through your nose. That style of breathing signals to your nervous system that you are not in danger and may help reduce the severity and duration of vertigo symptoms.
5. A home remedy for reducing nausea related to vertigo is to ingest ginger, but it is only good for people who are not allergic to ginger.
Ginger can be ingested in food, as a tea, or in a candy. All those methods of consuming ginger can help reduce nausea.
6. Another home remedy that can be used to reduce nausea is to use peppermint, but again this is only good for people who are not allergic to peppermint.
Peppermint can be made into a tea or eaten as a candy.
Some people like to diffuse peppermint essential oils into the air or dab the oil on their temples (away from the eyes), but essential oils must be used with caution for those who are unsure about their chemical sensitivity.
7. Another strategy that might give you some relief from vertigo symptoms is to stare at a vertical line when you are moving around. This gives you an external reference for “upright” and may help your brain re-orient itself.
To learn more strategies to safely move around with vertigo, click here.
8. While you are sitting still, staring at a vertical line can help relieve vertigo symptoms, but some people with acute inner ear infections may need to close their eyes in order to get relief.
When people with vertigo are sitting still, I usually ask people if they feel better while staring at a vertical line or closing their eyes and advise them to do whichever provides the best relief.
The strategies I shared are some vertigo home remedies that have worked for many people I have met, and I hope they work for you.
Of course, these home remedies do not replace the value of a consultation with a Vertigo Expert healthcare provider. I highly recommend for you to seek out proper care as soon as possible to avoid the adverse consequences of chronic vertigo, like falls with injury, depression, loss of muscle strength and loss of cardiovascular endurance.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.
I have had vertigo on and off for 2.5 years. For me it seems to be brought on with allergy season. Lately I have been putting a wet cloth in the microwave and holding it on the affected ear. Seems to help! I think my inner ears are clogged from allergies and maybe the heat helps to open things up. I got the idea from my eye doctor. My eye was hurting so I went to an eye doctor. She said all of the oil glands in my eyes were completely plugged shut possibly due to allergies. One thing she told me to put a warm cloth over my eyes several times a day. So I decided to try it for my eyes as well. Like I said, seemed to help.
Hi Mary,
I appreciate you sharing your story and your home remedy that helped you get relief.
Similar to your story, most of the home remedies I shared in my blog have been discovered by my patients or colleagues as they experimented with new ideas.
I have also felt better with a warm, wet cloth over my forehead or cheeks when I had sinus pain or headache. That is a great tip!
Thank you for your comment.
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
My biggest problem in the last 3 years is the headache that makes my entire face feel like it is pounding..and I cannot see..my eyes move wildly and it makes me throw up..some episodes have lasted 8 hours others more..am not able to stand or walk..I live alone and am retired so I am not pressured in time..the pain is excruciating..after ‘an attack’ I am down for additional hours to regain strength..then the next day I am useless..weak and extremely weary..have never been a whiner..I would trade this in 1 minute or less for chemo again 7 years ago..took it like a warrior and am well..I don’t understand what is happening..my PCP continues to say vertigo..it is very upsetting..
Hi Judy,
This article may be helpful.
I hope you find answers and relief soon!
I have gone through this for 40 years. Luckily it doesn’t happen too often. My endocrinogist put me on a very high dose of Vitamin D as my levels were pretty low and it can cause vertigo. But it has to be done through a doctor as you need to be tested first.
It was suggested to me about 15 years ago at an ENT clinic that I could very likely have vestibular migraines. I poo poo’d it because I don’t get a headache with it and it was explained to me that this was essentially a migraine without the headache. I am finally going to follow-up on that.
I really feel for you. It’s horrible!
Great link… I have had episodic vertigo for over 25 years. i have ben to multiple ENT’s, vestibular specialists, numerous ENG tests as well as many others and multiple vestibular therapy sessions. Although, it is better than it was 15 years ago, I still get it some morning when I lift my head off the pillow. It is not crystals, to is not a tumor, it is not from a malformation etc. etc. No one had ever come up with a case. i took meclizine for years and wondered why my memory was always affected. Now I take it only occasionally when an attack arises but my ENT always told me it was safe to take in a therapeutic dose of 6mg daily which I did for years and years. Any suggestions?
Hi Damien,
I think I just replied to you on my other blog here.
If that comment was not from you, please send me a follow up comment.
Best wishes,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
I have undiagnosed vertigo that is triggered by eating too fast, too much, high salt, AND, I believe screen time ( phone, tv, computer) sling with stress/ agitation/ anxiety. Mine come every 4-6 weeks.
Hello Jane, I have similar symptoms, my dizziness is aggravated when I work on screen for too long.
Dizziness is mostly prevalent throughout the day with occasional episodes of vertigo.
I have had constant scratching sensation in my ear for nearly two months which can reach a crescendo for a few seconds, then dies down before starting up again, a GP told me it was Vertigo and to apply the Epley Maneuver which I do, which is very ineffective, any experience of this anyone…? It is highly depressing, is there medication that could help…..?
Hi Roy,
Scratching like as in a sound? Is there any regularity in the rhythm of it?
Could it also be described as a pulsing, tapping, or ticking?
Or scratching as in an itch?
I am not quite understanding what you are describing.
What are you doing when it reaches a crescendo?
Kind regards,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi for the pass two Weeks I been having vertigo they very bad. So I noticed that my right eye got slowly first time this happen too me. I went to my doctor and gave medicine, wish I don’t like it’s Putnam to sleep. What can I do
Hi Marisol,
I am so sorry to hear this story!
I suggest you use this article to search for a vestibular physical therapist near you.
I hope that helps!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi KImberley
A very interesting read
I experienced quite a nasty episode of Vertigo back in early 2017. A couple of minutes before this episode, I had a warning of some sort that things were not quite right i.e. I felt clammy for no reason, so went inside and briefly sat down….seconds later the room started spinning madly and my reaction was to drop to the floor to try and stabilize my senses. Fortunately my wife was present and propped my head up on two pillows.
I had no idea what was going on,my legs felt numb and paralyzed. Consequently I was treated about 2.5 hours later by paramedics. I was pretty bad by this time and having vomited twice in succession (brought on when asked by the para medics to try and sit up)
Next was the GP surgery where I was given an anti vertigo injection to help stabilize the senses, then transferred to the nearest hospital where I spent the night, followed by a CT scan the following morning.
Discharged next day, the after effects were kicking in….nausea, a weak sensation in the leg muscles, and to be frank, it took a good few weeks to get back to some sort of normality
2 plus years later and the nausea is still with me on occasion. Taking crystallized ginger daily has helped enormously
I can totally sympathize with any person who has gone through a similar event, it’s pretty cruel
Thanks very much for your tips on breathing through the nose and imagining or staring at a vertical line……also closing the eyes does help.
Best regards
Philip J D
Hi Phillip,
I am glad that you found my list of home remedies helpful!
Using crystallized ginger to reduce nausea is a great idea! Thank you for sharing that tip.
It sounds like you never fully recovered from your initial vertigo episode in 2017.
I hope you are able to seek out a skilled care team in your area to help you maximize your recovery at this point.
I agree that suffering with vertigo can be very cruel! It definitely builds empathy. I have suffered with intermittent vertigo off and on since childhood, so I have been to the ER over 20 times seeking care!
It was not until I was in my 30’s that I figured out the cause and how to treat myself effectively. My own experience and my empathy for others like me are what inspired me to start this specialty Vestibular PT practice.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
Dr. Bell, my dizziness is often associated with numbness in the bottom of my feet. Have you ever heard of this?
Hi Karen,
Yes.
You should definitely have that checked out by your primary doctor. Your doctor will likely refer you to a Neurologist and/ or a podiatrist for an evaluation.
As long as you doctors clear you of any serious neurological causes of that symptom, then this blog and this blog may help you.
I wish you all the best!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Where do you buy crystallized ginger!?
Hi Sandy,
I like the organic crystallized ginger from the Ginger People. You can find them at a health food store or order online here.
My vertigo is caused when my middle ears are full of fluid usually most in the morning from grinding mt teeth at night it causes inflammation
Wearing Custom night guards help but I forgot them on this vacation and it’s been horrific
I just tried to get on a plane and everything started spinning so I rushed off
The only thing that helps when the episode comes on is ice packs all over my neck back head, ears, and air still w pressure on the front of my forehead or to lay down w pressure on my forehead and time
I also have an eustachi air blower you put up to you nose u can find at CVS and it helps open the Eustachian tube in the middle ear to relive some pressure
I have an appointment w a neurologist ent in a week bc they said it’s meiners disease but I think it is just my middle ear being inflamed and filling up w mucus which causes the inflammation and mucus and that out pressure on the nerve in the ear that runs to your brain that helps us balance
Again these are my own personal discoveries bc there are different things that cause vertigo
But it’s very complicated and it’s debilitating and scary.
I hope we can all find a way to get our lives back
Good luck and thank you to everyone who has commented it makes me feel like I’m not alone
I had this in the middle of the night. I woke to it. Horrendous. As per your episode my wife rang hospital, like you I had severe vomiting upon sitting up. I was in the ward 2 nights and literally couldn’t walk safely. They prescribed meds for a couple of weeks and an anti-nausea. 5 months later I’m now on a small island and last night the symptoms returned, not that bad but bad enough to keep me awake all night and now I’m semi dizzy.
Hi Dr. Kimberley,
I’m a kinesiotherapist (from Romania) and it happend to me three days ago, for the very first time in my life, to experience BPPV.
When I woke up early in the morning I had a sudden sensation that I’m spinning, nausea, loss of my balance and abnormal eye movements, known as nystagmus. The spinning sensation has now stopped after several Epley maneuvers. Nausea still persisted, even today.
Thanks God for His natural remedies such as essential oils. From the very beginning I’ve been using peppermint, grapefruit, lemon and ginger essential oils. These oils are of a great help, if you are not allergic to one of its components. When using essential oils you should only do it under the direct supervision of a doctor or certified aromatherapist.
Hope it will be of a great help what I have experienced three days ago.
SOME STRATEGIES I USED: eat healthy (that includes seeds, diary, eggs and vegetables), do exercise, get fresh air in abundance, enjoy sunlight, chose abstinence, rest, exercise, and drink water – these are the true remedies.
God bless you all.
Respectfully yours,
kinesiotherapist
Gabriel V.
Hi Kim
It was good to hear back from you
To date the cause of vertigo still evades me, but I am beginning to realize that possibly/probably daily habits i.e. eating meals regularly and drinking fluids e.g. water etc might play a vital part in the prevention
The good news is however, I have not experienced that awful sensation of the room spinning since that first experience. Nausea does creep in of course but am learning to control and keep that at arms length, by making sure of a daily consumption of crystalized ginger at regular intervals and keeping stress of any kind at a distance
Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my experience, it meant a great deal
My very best wishes
Philip
I am 20 years old and I suffer from vertigo badly . It comes in waves and Dremamine has been my best friend … I really want to go to a doctors office soon but I can’t even make it in a car ride my vertigo is so bad … I just want my life back .. any tips ??
So far I have tried dremamine every 4 hours and I cannot eat at all… my nausea is so bad … I’m open to any advice
Hi Destini,
It sounds like you are having a rough time!
That is a common problem, which is why I make house calls for all my private patients in San Diego County.
If you want to schedule a telehealth consultation, I suggest my trusted colleague Dr. Ian Purcell, MD, PhD. He takes some insurances or you can pay out of pocket for his care.
You can reach his office at (858) 223-2172. Please tell him I referred you.
I hope that is helpful.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I have vertigo and I want to try crystallized ginger,everyone telling me to try it,What do mix it with.
Hi Janice,
Most of my patients eat ginger candies, chew ginger gum, or eat crystallized ginger in small bits.
Other patients make it into ginger tea with hot water.
I would suggest for you to research nutrition and cooking websites if you want specific recipes for cooking or baking with crystallized ginger.
I just did a quick online search and found quite a few informative websites using crystallized ginger in recipes.
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I just suffered a bout of vertigo, actually a relapse after 12 days of ordeal. I got a sipper bottle and sipped water intermittently, keeping yourself hydrated can ease your agony. It helps almost immediately.
Thanks so much for your advice, I’ll try all of them. Blessings!!❤
Hello, I am dealing with withdrawals from getting off of two antidepressants and it is giving me the worst vertigo ever. I’ve been having it for 7days now, it’s a horrible feeling. Aspirin and sleep have kinda helped me so far. I can barely go on my phone, it hurts my eyes bad and makes my vertigo go worse. I’m not sure what else I can do to stop the vertigo and nauseating feeling of it. Ginger doesnt help me a lot either. 😭
Hi Sam,
I suggest that you contact your prescribing physician right away for medical supervision.
You can also go to urgent care or the emergency room – or call 911 – if you need immediate help.
Medications should be taken as prescribed by your doctor and stopping any medication should always be supervised by your doctor.
Hello,
My doctor prescribed steroid (medrol dose pack).
I just finished the dosage today.
I thought I felt better but the last 2 days have been bad again.
Do you know if this form of treatment helps?
Thank you.
Hi Jenny,
The medrol dose pack is a common medication that is used to relieve vertigo caused by inflammation.
I suggest you follow up with your doctor about next steps, since you finished the dose pack.
Best wishes!
I’ve been dealing with dizziness since 1991. My Dr diagnosed Mineare’s disease. Then later, I had a problem with something crawling in my ear, but nothing was in my ear. ENT tested hearing, and did MRI. He said I don’t have Maneare’s disease because my hearing is too good. A lifetime lost.. I still spin… Use Meclizine. Numerous Drs just blow it off. I have never had a suggestion to do any maneuvers to alleviate the spinning. I will definitely look for a provider in my area. The Reply isn’t working on my own. I’m not sure that I am doing it often enough or correctly. This nausea has to stop! This site was very helpful!
I had a really bad vertigo episode back in Aug 2020 and have been to several doctors since. I was finally diagnosed with BBPV and have had Eppley treatment. But it doesn’t seem to work, BBPV is negative after 1 week but it returns. I’ve had it done several times already. I am extremely frustrated and feeling hopeless at this point. Do you have a doctor recommendation for San Francisco/San Jose area in California?
Hi Beth,
I am sorry to hear this story. Feeling frustrated by vertigo is common, so you are not alone!’
This blog explains five reasons why the Epley maneuver may not work.
This blog has links to two online directories so you can find a Vestibular provider in your area.
This article and this article are about BPPV recurrence.
I hope you are able to find someone to treat your BPPV successfully.
This article discusses What to Avoid after BPPV treatment.
Don’t give up hope! Keep going.
Best wishes,
Dr. Kim Bell, DPT
Hi, thanks for the tips. Around a week ago I suffered with a few attacks and the dizziness has been lingering in my head ever since. Honestly feels like it will never go away. I’m no longer getting attacks, just this lingering dizziness. Is that normal?
Hi Delena,
Every case is unique!
I cannot speculate on your root cause or prognosis without examining you in person.
My suggestion is that you consult with a professional who specializes in treating dizziness.
You can use this article to search for someone near you.
I hope you get complete relief soon!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi lm dannielle l have been going threw this for 2 months I have seen physio therapist osteopath chiropractor GP now I’m seeing People at dizzy day clinic my symptoms are when I’m walking I’ll get very dizzy and unbalanced when I’m standing straight talking to someone when I’m going to a room with a lot of movement no one seems to help me would you know what it is please
Hi Danielle,
I am so sorry to hear what you are going through!
You can organize your story using the question I share in this blog.
You can use this blog to search for a vestibular provider near you.
This blog has home remedies that may help.
If needed, this article may help you realize the potential impact on your mental health as well.
I wish you all the best for a full recovery!
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
My husband suffers from lightheadedness. It is constant, worse when he first gets up in the morning and usually eases up a little as the day goes by.
It started several years ago and has gotten progressively worse. He is now ninety years old and has to use a walker as it is affecting his balance.
I have read that this is common for the elderly but I don’t find the reason for it. Is this something you could help him with?
Hi Emily,
I believe my secretary spoke to you on the phone to help you find a Vestibular Physical Therapist near where you live.
BPPV commonly presents as worse in the morning and better as the day goes on, but causes a continuous problem with unsteady walking.
Sometimes new medications can also cause dizziness at a certain predictable time of day, along with blood sugar dips.
I hope you can find a vestibular physical therapist nearby to check him for BPPV.
Also, I encourage you to go over any new medications with his primary doctor to discuss possible side effects.
I hope that helps!
Best wishes!
I have always felt unbalanced all my life very light headed it feels like I am drunk without drinking
I am 65 now and for years could not work out why I was like this
I had been to ENT and got tested
then years later found out from a test called ANC that I had wegeners for years
I looked up the internet and found you😁
this is amazing that food can do this to us
I have got gastritis and gall bladder removed 😔
I have just started on L Glutamine powder as that hopefully will help heal my stomach 👍
which in turn may put me on the road to recovery
it’s so sad to read everyone is going through the same as me
I think also it may be connected to our neck as movement makes it worse
so our food is the problem so to heal the stomach may heal our Balance
thank you so much you have opened my eyes.
Hi Mary,
Thank you for sharing your comment.
I am glad you found my blog!
This article on the link between the gut and vertigo may be helpful.
That is my most popular blog! I encourage you to take the time to read everyone’s comments and my responses, because there is a lot of additional content in the comments section.
Also, this article on dizziness with head turns may be informative regarding your comment about the involvement about the neck.
Although it is sad that so many people around the world suffer like you, I hope it comforts you to know that you are not alone in this!
I hope you feel better soon.
Sincerely,
Kim Bell, DPT
Over the past couple of month I’ve started to experience vertigo. My lower back starts to hurt then it travels up to my neck then my ears begin to ring and I get really dizzy and hot. After it passes I notice I will have a minor headache and will feel really unstable and weak. I noticed that’s it triggered from stress I just don’t know what to do I’ve passed out from it but I really hate going to doctors. What should I do ?
Hi Taylor,
I have had other patients with dizziness that seemed to be triggered by low back pain or stress. You should definitely notify your primary doctor of the situation.
This blog talking about upper cervical causes of dizziness and offers four specific steps to take that may help.
Keep in mind that the spine is one continuous column of bones, so problems at the low end can cause problems at the top end with bones like the Atlas and Axis bone.
Also anxiety can cause dizziness and result from dizziness. This blog discusses the link between dizziness and anxiety. This blog offers tips on what to do about it.
This link is a very popular lecture that I offered that discusses the anxiety component and the upper cervical causes of dizziness. I hope that video offers more insight into what might be happening to you.
I hope those resources help!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I’ve been suffering with vertigo over a year now. I’ve been to several doctors countless hospital visits, many Ent and neurologists. Also I’ve been scanned, MRI’s, therapy you name I’ve done it. The doctors just writes you off and leave you alone. Any suggestions that I could take or do so I could get my life back?
Hi Shanta,
I suggest that you try vestibular physical therapy if you have not already.
This article may help you find a qualified provider in your area.
I hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Kim Bell, DPT
I am currently at home on a high dose of prednisone, which gives extreme dizziness.
Finding this page, your simple home solutions have been a great help in assisting the spells to pass.
Thank you for putting some remedies that are simple to do! They help.
A wet dish towel around the neck also helps – easier than an ice pack.
Over the past month going into the 2nd month, I have experienced dizziness and lightheaded spells. First I went to er, they did mri and said nothing is going on in my brain. Attacks kept happening, went to urgent care, Dr there said possible BPPV, well ok I said. Went to primary care doctor, she diagnosed it as BPPV, do these eply exercises and go see a physical therapist. I did, spells were still happening at work, but worse because the anxiety started to kick in. Went back to er and they did another mri/ angiogram and ct scans. Nothing wrong they say. I still have bouts of lightheaded spinning and am waiting to see an ent in about a month. Due to things reopening it’s hard to get in to see drs these days. I am feeling like some of you all out there who just wants my life back. This is a scary feeling you have when you don’t know when you’re going to have an episode. Thanks for this blog, now I know I’m not alone. Feeling outside of yourself due to dizzy spells is super unpleasant and unpredictable.
Thank you this is so helpful I got my first episode of vertigo in 2016 in a plane returning from a missions trip. It was scary as I felt rhe plane spinning madly I thought it was falling, until I managed to open my eyes and saw my husband very calm, then I began to vomit. The spinning lasted for a few days then I just felt light headed. Never go it again until 2021 on a 2 separate occasions both on a flight. It horrible I have to fly this summer and it’s overwhelming me. I will try these tips as well s visit a specialist.
Do you realize that your blog goes around and around without giving a list of vestibular therapist? It’s very frustrating. Maybe just the name works to find someone in our area.
Blessings,
Janet
Hi Janet,
I am sorry to hear that you are feeling frustrated!
If you are searching for a vestibular physical therapist in your area, this blog article may be helpful. I have included two online provider directories that you can search to find the name of someone in your area.
I hope that helps!
Kindest regards,
Kim Bell, DPT
Hi I experienced my first bout of vertigo yesterday. I went to my doctor and I tested positive with the eye test. I’ve been doing the eply maneuver several times during the day yesterday and again today.
I don’t feel like I did yesterday but I feel generally weird. I was prescribed betahistine and not sure if it’s helping or if it was the eply. Is this general feeling of weird and not quite right going to last long? Should I continue to do the eply maneuver even though I’m not spinning ?
I ordered some motion sickness patches. I hope they will help.
Thx
Hi Shelly,
You are asking great questions!
Unfortunately, I cannot advise you on this since I have not evaluated you in person. Each vertigo case is different.
So I suggest you look for a vestibular physical therapist in your local area.
This article may help you with that search.
This article has home remedies that may help in the meantime.
I hope you feel better soon!
On August 15th, 2022, I woke up feeling fine. Once I got to the computer, I had a small dizzy spell and never thought anything about it. By 4 PM that same day, I was in the ER with full blown dizziness. They gave me an IV and pumped me full of fluids to stabilize me because I could not stop vomiting. The intensity of the vertigo felt like I was on a rollercoaster in the middle of a tornado. They were going to keep me there over night in the hospital, but I chose to go home even though I had no idea what was happening to me. For the first 3 days I could not open my eyes at all. If I had to get out of bed, I was on my hands and knees crawling and bumping into walls. After about 3 days the dizziness got slightly better to the point that I could open my eyes and hold onto the walls to go from room to room. It has now been over 2 full months and I am still dizzy. I wish I could say that I wasn’t, but I am. I seen a GP, and an ENT doctor for this. The ENT doctor ordered a two hour test called the VGS test at the balance center at the hospital which is about 30 minutes from me. It was through this test that it was determined that I had Vestibular Neuritis. This started with an ear infection. Early on, I was placed on a steroid, and I have since had to take three rounds of different antibiotics to clear up the ear infection. On the day that I had the test, I also started Physical Therapy. I was doing great and I was starting to feel less dizzy when I got one of those migraine pressure headaches yesterday. It felt like all the progress I had made I lost all in one day. With this migraine headache, I felt dizzier. I am wondering if the weather has anything to do with the pressure in my head? We had a storm come through when all of this happened, which made me wonder about the weather having an effect on the migraines and pressure. Today its still bad. Its discouraging, but I know in time this will get better. Reading through all of these posts on this website has been extremely helpful to me. No one has really told me what types of symptoms a person with Vestibular Neuritis has. I was worried that the extreme pressure in my head and ears was possibly the infection coming back, but I now know that is not the case. The other symptom I have is it feels like my left ear is constantly plugged up. I have pain that goes from the back of my neck and head area to the top of my head. I now know that this is all part of this Vestibular issue also. So happy that this website is here for people with Vestibular issues. It has been very helpful reading every ones comments. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Terri,
I am glad that my blog posts have been helpful to you!
You can tell by the comments that you are definitely not alone.
I wrote this blog on vestibular neuritis.
This blog is on vestibular decompensation which can occur later in life, if you sustained any damage to your vestibular system due to the neuritis (which would have likely showed up as a percentage weakness on your VNG).
If you ear was damaged due to the neuritis, you would also be susceptible to recurrent BPPV. This article can help you find a vestibular provider who can help you if you notice symptoms of BPPV.
General PT will not be as helpful as vestibular PT. This article discusses vestibular PT.
This article and this article discuss barriers to vestibular recovery. You may be dealing with one of the barriers to recovery that I mention.
The glossary on this website may help you learn about migraines and vestibular migraines.
I also wrote this article and this article on migraine related dizziness.
Certainly vestibular migraines can cause dizziness and be triggered by certain weather. This article is on migraine prevention.
This article and this article discuss dizziness related to your neck.
I hope that information is helpful!
Hi there
I am so thankful to have found your page. I just turned 40 and am experiencing what my ENT describes as severe Peripheral Vertigo brought on by a virus that has attacked my inner ear.
It’s the worst feeling I’ve ever felt and I cannot get a good nights sleep. My ENT sent me for a brain MRI to rule out a tumor and thankfully the scan was clean of anything bad. I’m on an antiviral treatment of 6 months as well as Serc which I will be starting today.
What I’m struggling with right now is how to feel normal when my entire body doesn’t. My vertigo seems to trigger when I lie on my bed and use my laptop to work or watch a movie. I feel like I’m being dragged down my bed when I’m not moving at all, and the middle ear pressure is so bad that it’s affecting my neck and back. I’ve also experienced a vestibular migraine for the first time which was awful.
Is there ANYTHING else I can do or take to feel normal? Is there a better way to sleep and lie in bed so that I can function normally?
Thank you again ❤️
Hi Mandi,
Many adults over 40 have peripheral vertigo issues, so you are definitely not alone.
I suggest that you consult with a vestibular physical therapist for vestibular rehab.
You can use this blog to search for a provider in your area.
This blog has home remedies that may or may not help.
Right now, this is the only blog I have related to sleeping but I don’t think it addresses all your questions.
In my first book on vertigo, which will be coming out in 2023, I discuss in detail how to sleep with vertigo.
You can join my mailing list here if you want to be notified when that book comes out.
Thank you! I just got vertigo for the first time last week and went to ER. Was prescribed Meclizine but decided to research its side effects and did not take it. I developed tinnitus during the pandemic and often felt dizzy when walking. I thought I may needed glasses.
I tried the ice pack, the breathing, and the starting at a vertical line for about 15 minutes. It worked immediately! I am grateful to your blog and just subscribed.
In my second pregnancy I realised I was getting dizzy when I danced lots of turns and rolls (I’m a dance teacher) and just blamed pregnancy and just got on with it. BUT since I gave birth it’s getting worse to point that if a class has lots of turns, rolls, handstands then it makes me so dizzy I throw up. It’s heartbreaking because dance is my work and my life
Going to try peppermint tea and ginger in my tea to see if it helps. But wondering if it goes away?
My vertigo is Meniere’s related. I need to fly but I am afraid of having a vertigo attack.
I’m on medication for Meniere’s, but it doesn’t seem to help anymore after 6 years of taking it.
I’ve not gone in a plane since I was diagnosed in 2017.
Hi Kim, thank you so much for this site, I found it searching how to fly with vertigo. I had what I believe to be my first episode with vertigo in December 2021 when I flew to England for Christmas. I had a cold and then got really sick, spent days in bed and wasn’t sure how I would fly home, but I had to get back for work so I made it happen. Funny thing was as soon as we were air borne it all went away, I was amazed. Unfortunately it came back as soon as we arrived home, and it took several weeks to get back to feeling almost normal again. I am still having dizzy spells, usually when I turn my head quickly and I have some ear/jaw pain at times too. I’m going to make sure I take some ginger on my trip next week and hope the flight doesnt set it all off again. Thanks again for your blog and helping so many people feel like they are not alone in this.