Can someone give me a non-medical, basic description as to what VN (vestibular neuronitis) is and its effects (treatment and chances for recovery)??

I am still trying to figure out what is going on with me, and when i do a search on VN, i get lots of info on the internet, however, most of it is medical journals and long detailed descriptions that quickly lose me....

Anyone?

OK, As I see it its that the balance system has been knocked out in one or both ears. Some damage has been done to either the nerve which carries the signal from the ear to the brain or the ear itself - meaning that the signal that is getting through to the brain is warped or distorted or theres no signal at all. Because the brain is used to getting a dual nice signal it can't understand whats going on and then the reaction is vertigo, dizzyness, lightheadedness, visual problems, fatigue etc.

So what has to happen to recover is that the brain has to get used to dealing with the signals that are coming through - or where the nerve was damaged as the nerve regrows the new signals that come through.
This process takes time and requires a lot of energy by the brain (hence the fatigue). This is also why you feel so bad when you do anything different or new. Because the brain hasn't experienced the new thing before it doesnt quite know how to react and probably reacts in a wrong way. But the more you do something then the brain will learn and soon be able to cope with it. This is the principle with vrt (vestibular rehabilitation) which is the only form of treatment available for vn or labyrinthitis.

Even if you do not have a program of vrt you should really try to do as much as you can - go for walks, move around the house, go shopping, get out and be as active as you can and although you may feel worse initially it is doing you good.

SO there you have it in a nutshell. Hope that makes sense and I've explained it ok.

Best wishes
Tesss

That makes a LOT of sense Tesss....

Thanks so much for that "non-medical" explanation. I feel like I understand it a lot better now. Thanks so much.

So is there anyway to 'test' for VN? How does one know one has it? Can it be tested? I know I have 'something' going on, and i want to know for sure that it isn't just 'anxiety' like my doc said it was (after initally saying i had some sort of innear ear infection).

And I know nothing about vrt. Who provides this type of treatment? And ENT?

I have been keeping as active as possible. I don't always feel like it, but i always work out, go for walks, and do the normal stuff i used to do, like work, go shopping, etc. I just feel 'odd' still in many cases.

Help?

It will take time for you to feel better. How long have you been feeling like this? I would talk to your ENT about getting an ENG test. It can test the function of your vestibular system and let you know what kind of damage is done. Vestibular rehab is a specialized field and has to be done by people who really know there stuff. I'm not sure where you are from, but you can probably find stuff online. In the mean time, stay as active as possible. It really does help. it's great that you are still moving around and exercising. Good for you! The first time I got a bout of vertigo/dizziness from my ears, it lasted about 6 months, with gradual improvements. Remember that your brain needs to compensate so it's a learning process, which means it's normal to feel like you made a gain and then feel like you took a step back. That doesn't mean you won't get better, it just means your brain is figuring stuff out. It helped for me to take Ginko Biloba. Ask your doctor if that might be right for you.

Take care!
Joy

Hi joyb77,

Thanks for the response. I feel a little more encouraged since reading your message. The fact that you said it will take a while to feel better is encouraging actually.

Actually, it has been a year this past Saturday since I felt this way. It was exactly one year ago Saturday that i heard a high pitched frequency sound in my left ear, and since then.......well, i won't get into all of that.

And of course, since then, my anxiety is very high. Always had anxiety before but never the physical symptoms. Safe to say, Saturday was a sad day for me. I try not to feel down and stuff, but i couldn't help it. I kept thinking back to the past year and it made me very sad and down. However, I am not one to sulk all the time, so I got myself together and went to the gym for my daily workout. It always makes me feel a little better.

Yeah, I NEED to get to see an ENG. I am just POSITIVE that something happened to me physically (on that day) and everything that is happening to me now, is somehow related to that, and NOT just due to "anxiety" and my friendly GP now suggests. :rolleyes: I have never doubted my own sanity before in my life, and now I don't know what to think.

So what does this ENG test include? And what about VRT? What does that include?

Really? Ginko Bikoba? I never heard of it, but I will do some research. Thanks!

Had a weird thing happen to me yesterday. Had it happen twice before (since all of this junk started), but not in MONTHS. I was playing tennis (like I always do) and I just got really lightheaded and a little sick to my stomach and felt like i was going to pass out. I didn't, ended up sitting down for 20 mins and then felt much better, but it was REALLY weird.

Do you think this is all related?