Coping with dizziness exercises that could help

Ears, nose and throat
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With our condition it's very to go out without worrying about whether we fall etc. I read an article on a woman who suffered from dizziness for nearly most of her life. Despite all tests they couldn't find an answer until she did certain balance test and it showed her brain didn't know where her feet and hands were.  So although she never got over her dizziness she did however control the sense off balance by telling her brain "right foot tap left foot tap" when she was standing and walking and then the same whilst sitting adding "left hand squeeze right hand squeeze" because it seemed the brain didn't know where these were.  I have tried this myself when I'm out and feeling dizzy and it does help. Just have to remember to do it.  Also in bed wriggle your toes before getting up. If dizzy focus not on the movement but tell your brain to stop and focus forward or close your eyes then tap your feet.  Say right foot then left we are now standing. The brain has to retrain.  I'm now out walking/jogging again which is great.  I still have trouble watching tv so limit that and computers.  Reading a book or doing a puzzle again stimulates the brain.  I also eat healthly and take cinnarzine ( buy it from a chemist) which is great for controlling dizziness.  For those horrible headaches Naxproxen for bad days. Medication you take for Vertigo can make the headaches worse. So cut down as soon as you can. Drink Ginger  honey and lemon for nausea and it helps with circulation. Get sunshine when you can as this is natural Vitamin D.  If you have to fly on a plane get earplane plugs that help reduce pressure gradually.  Plenty of rest when possible and elevate the pillows for sleeping.       We all get brain fog noises in our head, lighting and sound shocks when trying to sleep but this is part of the process and if you are worried get a CT scan to confirm all is ok. Usually it's ok and they can't find anything. Take herbal remedies where possible especially if you have drepression or anxiety see if they work. 

This site has helped me answer so many of my questions over the year I've had this so hopefully I can help you.  Mine is less now but at times I felt it would never get better and I still can't do out to dinner at night, pubs, parties etc.  I'm working on it. Let me know any exercises you have found to be useful in dealing with this and it could help others like I have said.  Keep positive everyone. We are here for each other. 

     

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Cant get cinnarzine in the US or Canada.

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Thanks for this helpful info Liz -  I will try this whilst out walking too.  Can you buy Cinnarzine over the counter - is this what you ask for and also could you tell me if this would work if you were more off-balance rather than actually dizzy?  

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Not sure why you can't. It's a travel sickness tablet we have here. You may get it on line 

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hi barnie. Cinnazine is a travel sickness tablet you can buy in the chemist helps people with balance and nausea whilst travelling. It is also used to treat meunière too. Doctors can prescribe different dosage but start with 15mg one tablet daily as it can make you drowsy. That's a child's dosage. I found it didn't completely knock me. I'm cutting it in half now and trying one in morning then late afternoon. Some may need more. Yes it can help if your off balance I'm very much like that too. It reduces the sensitivity in the ears. The exercises are important though as this will retrain your brain. Try standing on one leg for 10sec then the other then close your eyes and try it.  Walking nodding your head up and down then side to side. Be careful do it slowly to start and only a few. Finally spin slowly round 4 to left then right. This is more advanced and can be done on a swivel chair. It  can make you feel like you have vertigo or dizzy it's used for brain trauma victims but they have the same symptoms as we do. Hope that helps.

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Thanks so much for all that info Liz - really helpful. I will try these exercises and get the tablets too - I like to take something for when I go shopping down the town. The tablets will give me confidence as I get really anxious (which makes it worse) worrying that I will fall over or something. Thanks so much.

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Not sure. I read your post so I looked it up. Said not available in the US or Canada. Must be cause it works. If it works and docs can't make money off you, it's unavailable

Lol

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Another good one is sit on the edge of the bed. Fix on a target and bounce up and down. That was one my PT had me do towards the end of my therapy last time. Be surprised how dizzy that makes you. But it helps.

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cinnarizine did nothing for me, so not miracle pills.. everyone differ tho