JohnUC33 said:
Anybody who knows much about OMT, please comment.
Okay, I've been battling with episodes of vertigo and lightheadness for about 4yrs. now. I went to a few MD's, and they ran every test they could think of, and they still didn't know what was causing it.
So, I went to a DO, and he helped me establish a sleep pattern. His treatment worked for about the last year and a half.
Moreover, I started a third shift job over a month ago. My sleep schedule got out of wack. Futhermore, I had a really bad episode of vertigo and lightheadness over three weeks ago. A MD checked some vitals and nothing seemed out of place. Well, its been almost a month and Mr. Vertigo
(a mild version) is still hanging out with me (and I do have a good sleep schedule now).
Well, I made an appointment with an osteopathic ENT this upcoming week. I'm thinking about just going in and straight out asking for some OMT because nothing else seems to work. Would anybody be able to vouch for the effectiveness of OMT for vertigo?
To preface, these boards arent meant to give medical advice- you should find a good osteopath or a neurologist (or both in one) to diagnose this condition for you. Dizziness and vertigo can be caused by several conditions, and without diagnosing the cause there is little hope of recovery. I do not know what tests were run, so i cannot give any recommendations or advice in your particular case.
However, two of the more common and benign causes of recurrent vertigo are:
1)temporal bone dysfunction due to a)cervicogenic dizziness, or b)primary skull trauma
2)an otolith
Both kinds of temporal bone dysfunction can be addressed by a DO that knows what they're doing with their hands. These are both due strain on the fascial structures surroinding the temporal bone in the skull -specifically the vestibulochoclear nerve (CN VIII) which can cause dizziness and sometimes ringing of the ears (tinnitis). facial nerve palsy/bells palsy due is also common due to entrapment of the neighboring facial nerve (CN VII). [When dizziness + ringing of the ears are both present in this condition, it is usually classified as meniere's syndrome]
Cervicogenic dizziness is usually due to SCM muscle spasm in the neck, this muscle pulls on the fascia around the temporal bone directly. In the history you will find a whiplash-like injury to the neck or torticollis within days to months before the onset of symptoms. The treatment can be physical therapy (which will typically take weeks) or OMM- with OMM often leading to immediate and complete recovery with one treatment. OMM will consist of muscle and fascial stretches (muscle energy, myofascial release, neurofascial release, counterstrain etc.), but any sort of physical/emotional relaxation therapy and the ability to sleep may ease your symptoms.
Temporal bone dysfunction can also be due to direct skull trauma (usually to the side of the head)- several days up to a few months before the onset of symptoms. The source of symptoms is the same as cervicogenic dizziness, with impingement of CN VIII due to local fascial irritation at the skull or membranous strain in the skull. This is a case where cranial osteopathy (despite its controversy) is really your first line of treatment, and clinical improvement if not total remission should be seen in one treatment if the diagnosis is correct and the practicioner knows what they're doing.
an otolith (small stone) in the vestibular system of the inner ear can sometimes be misplaced- which will also cause chronic dizziness, with exacerbations and remissions. The [Epley] maneuver attempts to move the stone back to its original position, and its common practice among both allopathic and osteopathic ENT's and Neurologists (though there are some that dont know it, depending on their training). This treatment is not unique to osteopathy. Some FP doctors and OMT specialists will know how to do this as well, however.
all that said, there are MANY other NON-benign causes of chronic dizziness. Medications need to be evaluated for ototoxicity. Patients with chronic dizziness that dont immediately resolve with OMT or positional therapy should be evaluated for CNS tumors, vertebrobasilar ischemia and vasculitis and other causes.
[Basilar migraines may cause dizziness as well, though these may or may not be entirely benign. they can mimic stroke symptoms and at times can have dramatic consequences while driving or operating machinery, and can potentially be damaging in and of themselves (increased stroke risk)]
hope that helps,
Michael
