Inner ear / balance problem

peterwright

I have just been diagnosed, outof the blue, with an inner ear / vestibular virus that sees me hardly able to walk and spinning out if i try. It has totally derailed my rididng and I am very depressed as i have a lot of important events coming up. Has anyone out there had similar experiences and if so any suggestions for getting healthy quickly and if so how long were you off the bike ?

Thanks

Peter

patch70

I had it at a time when I was travelling and non riding at all.
I was off my feet for ~2 days and took a couple more to be feeling good again.
Not sure of anything that helps heal more quickly apart from the usual things with viruses; i.e. rest, plenty of fluids, healthy food...
If it does persist, you can try something called an Epley Manoeuvre with either a physiotherapist or you local doctor. Not particularly pleasant but it often works well for relieving vertigo.

rule62

I have Meniere's Disease, which is an inner ear disorder that basically can result in the same things that you are experiencing. So yeah, you bet that I can relate. There are treatment options for vertigo, which any good MD can work you through. Is there a magic wand to get you through it quicker? Well sort of...just heal. On days when it's like I am riding on my own tilt a whirl. I prop up in bed and fire up the Tivo. Would I rather be out riding, well hell yeah, or any number of other things. Is that realistically an option though, not remotely. I just have to get still and quiet, follow my treatment options and let it pass.

There is definitely nothing to be gained by stessing out and getting frustrated. This is especially true in your case where it sounds like the condition is temporary and treatable. Give yourself some time to recover. And don't make it any harder on yourself than you have to. A vertigo condition puts a ton of stress on the brain and on the body. It can be dibilitating as hell and can definitely lead you into a funk while you are off of your feet. That is understandable. Don't make it worse though by fighting it with frustration and anger. You didn't ask for this condition. It just happened. I would think that what you would need to do now is to help your body out until the virus has run its course.

Either way, be really careful not to push getting active again too soon. It won't be smart either to get back on the bike on the road until you are really ready. That will only invite more issues, and the distinct possibility for permanent injury issues at that. I deal with vertigo and balance issues pretty much every week at some point or another. Believe me, you can't ride a bike when your brain is telling you that your body is spinning. And until this virus effect has run its course, something as simple as twisting your head back to check traffic can send you careening off the road in complete disorientation. Worse yet, it can just as easily send you careening into oncoming traffic.

In basic terms, cut yourself some frikkin slack Peter! Take it real easy. Heal up. And when you are back on your own two feet, work your way back onto the road.

Hope this helps big guy.

peterwright

Hey Rule62

Firstly, thanks for such a thoughtful and helpful response - much appreciated.
You have hit on so many of my feelings at present. I had an MRI this morning and feel a lot better as the result was clear - at least i am not dealing with something life threatening. I believe I have Vestibuar Neuronitis - an acute attack that I am working through. I seem to be making daily progress (never as fast as i want) and am walking out and baout now - will probably have a tentative ride next week - going mad oherwise. Lots of ear rehab exercises being done - walking pidgeon toes along a straight line like a drunk test etc etc - all very frustrating but I treat it like training.

Anyway - once again a big thanks for the encouragement and support.

Peter

rule62

No problem Peter. Glad to hear that things are looking better!

peterwright

Just went out on road for a quick test ride having ridden around indoors for a bit -rode into a curb, fell off and banged my knee and put a ding in my rim. Feel like an idiot and wish I hadnt as I am now also pretty shaken up by what happened (and what could have happened)

I really felt like I could do it but got really odd sensations when I moved my head around. Funny because driving is fine which i know others suffer with.

Back to the drawing board, trouble is have lost confidence in my judgement now so don't know when to try again.

Peter

rule62

Bummer Peter. I can guess how you are feeling about now. Maybe next time try your test on grass?

There were many times that I wondered if I could retrain my balance centers to function to the point that I could be safe out on a bike. All that I can say is that for me, it took a while but it did work out. There are still days when I have learned to stay off the road, but they are the exception and not the norm. The first time I went to the swimming pool it was pretty weird too. I don't know if it was the weightlessness, or the action of the water, but it threw me for a loop. After a few more visits and a little time to get used to it though, it isn't an issue for me unless I am having a bad day all together.

The bike test that I use is to sit on my bike balancing against something - like in the middle of a a doorway and using only light pressure with my finger tips to stay centered. I look back like I am checking traffic, down and up, like I am checking my gears, etc. On the days when I am safe to head out, I don't get any residual feeling of motion when my head moves back facing forward. On the days when I find that I will need to stay in, when I pull my head back around from checking behind me for example, my balance center ping pongs back and forth a few times before reorienting to the front.

Bottom line for me though has been that I have been a lot more able to adapt than I ever thought that I would. Confidence questions and a bit of uncertainty are there many days, but not to the point that I can't tell pretty quickly whether I have any business going out on the road. And I am well over 2,000 road miles already this year, with about another 1,200 on the trainer. So keep your chin up Peter. Don't let a set back shake you too much. Learn what you can from it and don't quit! You are a likely a lot closer to turning the corner than you might think.

peterwright

Hi Rule

Thanks again - you seem to be a real support for me at present. I have been sitting here nursing my sore knee and feeling real stupid for getting it so wrong and also planning to cancel my weeks training camp next Mon to Fri.

I plan to do nothing until Fri this week and then do your test as suggested.

The problem today was definitwly on returning head to forwards after clipping in - that was what threw me off. I had ridden round in curcles indoors prior to that with no problems but in trainers and so not having to look down ! Amazing what a diffewrence that made to the loss of balance.

Like you say - a learning experience but there you go. I certainly will not quit and will ride again soon.

Once again, thanks so much for your support.

Cheers

Peter

drserena

Hello, Peter,
Have you considered the idea that you may have a pinched nerve or structural pressure surrounding the vestibular nerve? If vestibular neuronitis is what they are diagnosising you with, it is basically "inflammation of the vestibular nerve". My question would be why?

Chiropractic would be an option and has proven time and time again to deliver wonderful results in the instances of ear infections, as it removes pressure on the ear canal allowing the tissues to heal and drain. Vertigo is another common condition that is easily treatable in some cases.

peterwright

Hi Dr Serena

Thanks for your post. I have seen an ENT specialist and she was unsure about the diagnosis but was clear that I had suffered an acute vestibular event.I had not had any hearing problems nor any previous noticeable virus. As a result of this she sent me for an MRI which I duly had. The MRI showed no problems and i assumed no inflammation of the vestibular nerve ? I therefore assumed vestibualr neuronitis as a result of a virus. The odd thing is that I have not felt poorly apart from the vertigo systems at any point - I have not felt viral so to speak !

I did have a stiff neck on waking a few weeks prior to the event and I suppose this could have been linked but am not really sure.

I have focused on just exposing myself to normal daily events in an attempt to fast track my recovery and get back on the bike etc. I feel ok after an indoor session (thankfully i did not fall off this bike)

I will gladly consult a Chiro or physio if you think there could be some progress in so fdoing. i had simply assumed I was going through the "normal" recovery and re-adjustment process.

Thanks

Peter

drserena

Yes from further details I would definately consult a doctor of chiropractic. A physiotherapist would not be appropriate in diagnosing your condition further as it relates to nerve impingement as they are not doctors by education, but instead therapists. Doctors of chiropractic are highly trained in understanding the pathways of the delicate nervous system. Some chiropractors also are familiar with cranio-sacral which may also be beneficial. Those that practice kinesiology (muscle testing) also work with cranials, but ask your friends and colleques for names. The best way to find a chiropractor is by referral.

Good luck. I think you really find chiropractic, regardless, to benefit your overall athletism, as well as find it a great form of prevention from sports injuries just as Lance has.

patch70

You could try the Epley Manoevre!!!

Either a general practitioner or a physio could do this with you.

If you are going to a chiroprator, look into them first as there are some very dodgey ones around and the published evidence for their effectiveness is rather scanty at best.

drserena

Peter-
You should be aware that vertigo is not just related to the ear (such as neuritis, virus, etc) or nerve irritation from a misalignment in the spine or cranials either. When someone enters my office with this, I also assume it could be vascular insufficiency either from weakened vasculature or compression from a degenerative spine. This is serious. Approach to treatment is different in these cases but still beneficial. It is important to find someone that you know is well educated.

To ease your mind if you were considering...there is actually alot of evidenced based research supporting chiropractic manipulative therapy in scientific journals. In fact, due to the research and the longstanding history in the United States, the government has now placed chiropractic with the Department of Defense, Veteren's Hospitals, and on Capitol Hill. Third party reimbursements also are covering chiropractic due to the research they have been provided.

I've listed some sites below where you will find research, including peer-reviewed journals, on vertigo and chiropractic:


http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/15/04/08.html

http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/13/26/07.html

http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/13/02/03.html

This one includes an article on the Epley's:
http://www.jcca-online.org/client/cca/JCCA.nsf/SearchView!SearchView&Query=Vertigo

http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/s...ipulation%2C%29

http://www.chiroweb.com/find/research.html

http://www.amerchiro.org/media/research/

I'm off my soap box....just passionate about what I do. It may not be the answer but its another opinion and option to check into.

peterwright

Hi DrSerena

Thanks for the post - I took your advice and have today had a session with a well known local chro who rides a bike !

He manipulated the opposite side of my neck to where the poorly ear / side is and has arranged for me to come back on friday for another session. If the diagnosis is not BPV (ENT ruled this out) and is a viral infection, then can the manipulation still help me ? If so how ?

As I have already also confirmed via the MRI that there is no swelling of the vestibular nerve on either side, does this not rule out this type of manipulation as effective treatment ?

Help me here because from what I can see and research, Chiropractic treatment seems to be implicated more in cases of BPV ?

Anyway - I am giving it a full go in the hope he can get me on my bike quicker.

Cheers

Peter