Recently, I wrote an article about
Labyrinthitis, and mentioned that
with this type of inner ear problem, when it affects only one ear, the
expectation is for full functional recovery. I received some feedback from some
frustrated readers who had this problem but did not recover. They felt that I
made it seem like everyone gets 100% better, and they were living proof that
this is not always the case!
My training tells me that when a patient is not making progress as expected, it
is time to stop and reassess what is going on, and why?
First off, could something have been missed? If so, this is the time to
readjust the treatment plan to address the issue. If nothing was missed, then
why is the patient not improving?
Here is a list of
potential reasons that I have seen with patients over the years:
1. The patient is doing their exercises, but they are not doing the
exercises correctly.
2. The patient is not compliant with their home exercises. They
know how to do the exercises, but for whatever reason they are not doing the
exercises, or not doing them as frequently as they were prescribed.
3. The patient is avoiding exercises that cause dizziness or
nausea, and therefore the brain cannot learn how to adjust and recover.
4. The patient has many other health problems that are compounding
their problem, and causing them not to fully recover.
5. The patient has memory and cognition problems, and has no social
support network to help bridge the gap and assist them with their home exercise
program.
6. The patient’s exercise program does not address all of the
patient’s issues.
7. The patient has not been given the right exercises, or the right
exercise progression.
If you are not improving with your vestibular therapy, it’s time to talk to
your therapist. I can tell you, the therapist wants you to get better!
Sometimes a good review will allow the patient to get back on track with their
recovery.
If recovery is not occurring as expected based on your diagnosis, then you need
to go to another professional for a second opinion.
Artwork: Reflection, a pastel by Odilon Redon
