What is vertigo, and what is the cause of dizziness?

Vertigo is the sensation of room spinning, unsteadiness or disequilibrium. People can also feel dizzy, woozy, giddy, light-headed or sometimes nauseous. The term ‘vertigo’ is commonly used interchangeably for ‘dizziness’ in relation to vestibular disorders, although the feeling of dizziness can be brought on by a range of things. A number of medical conditions can result in feeling dizzy, but typically vertigo is associated with the vestibular system, a complex organ located within the inner ear that provides important information to the brain about head movement and posture. The Dizziness Physio can help diagnose your dizziness and ensure appropriate treatment. Other forms of dizziness are related to medical conditions that require treatment from a doctor, please see the IMPORTANT INFORMATION section on this website for more information regarding other causes of dizziness.

Will my dizziness come back?

Depending on your diagnosis your dizziness may return at some stage after treatment. There are a number of reasons this can occur. If you have started backing off your physio exercises and notice a return of your symptoms then it is likely you are going through ‘decompensation’, which means your brain is getting less effective at preventing your symptoms. This can be helped by staying consistent with your home program provided by your physiotherapist. If you have had BPPV, there is a chance your dizziness will return at some stage in the first 18 months after being treated, but fortunately if you have been treated effectively once then its likely to be very effective again, and people can learn to self-manage their BPPV if they have recurring attacks.  

Will the physiotherapy exercises make me feel dizzy?

During the initial consultation we will work out what is the best form of treatment for your dizziness. The Dizziness Physio will never perform a treatment that they think will cause significant harm to you. In some circumstances it is important to bring on symptoms, and this can be quite daunting for people who feel unwell when their dizziness is severe. The Dizziness Physio understands this can be a very scary thought for those who have strong symptoms, and it is always a priority to explain each step as we go through the consultation to put your mind at ease. If you are prone to severe symptoms it may be worth coming in with a partner or friend who can drive you home if you feel unwell after the consultation. The home exercises are not designed to make people feel sick, at worst they should bring on MILD symptoms and at best they will just feel like a challenge to your balance and vision.

How long until I feel better after starting physiotherapy for my dizziness?

This is very dependent on the cause of your dizziness. Those suffering BPPV, the most common form of dizziness, can often feel better immediately after the session. Many people report feeling 80-100% better within only a couple of sessions, although sometimes it can take a little longer. If you have been given a comprehensive program to perform due to a different vestibular problem, normally you can expect to see some improvement within 6 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks if you’re lucky! Various things can alter the rate of recovery, including the severity of the symptoms, the specific vestibular pathology, your adherence to your program and for how long you have had symptoms before being treated. The Dizziness Physio can give you an idea of how long it might take you to start feeling better.

How long is an appointment?

Appointments are approximately 30-45 minutes. Often assessment can be spread across two visits to allow for treatment without clients feeling overwhelmed or unwell from doing too much on the first visit. For example, a comprehensive balance assessment may wait until the second session if the priority is to treat your dizziness rather than for falls prevention.

How much is a Dizziness Physio consultation?

Initial consultation ranges from $88-95 and review consults are $78-85. This is location dependent and related to internal workings of the various practices. Medicare subsidised visits are available for those who have an appropriate Enhanced Primary Care plan from their GP. Private health rebates are available and all locations have HICAPS processing.