How to Treat Vestibular Disease

Vestibular diseases can have many causes, from infection to injury. The vestibular system controls the body's ability to maintain balance, so disorders in the vestibular systems can be pretty debilitating. Knowing how to treat vestibular disease is an important part of maintaining your normal activities.

Instructions

Coping with your vestibular disorder

• 1

  Develop an understanding of signs that your vestibular system has a problem. According to the National Institute of Health, symptoms can include vertigo, nausea, feeling like you're falling, blurred vision, disorientation, and prolonged ringing in the ears. Seek consultation with a doctor if these symptoms persist for a proper diagnosis. Vestibular problems can have many causes, so a doctor will need to diagnose the cause of your problem to decide on a course of treatment.

• 2

  Find out from your doctor if your vestibular problem is caused by an infection. For example, labryinthitis and vestibular neuronitis are infections that that cause vertigo and nausea due to an inflammation of the inner ear. Ask your doctor if you need antiviral or antibacterial medications to clear up the infection. Remember that an inner ear infection can cause permanent damage to your ear, so consult a doctor right away if you have signs of a vestibular disorder.

• 3

  Ask your doctor to prescribe medications for the symptoms of your vestibular disorder. If your vertigo is pronounced, it may be impossible to stand without staggering, and your nausea could be severe enough to cause vomiting. Ask your doctor about medications for motion sickness, as this can reduce the nausea and vomiting associated with severe vertigo. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to reduce fluid retention for conditions caused by fluid imbalance in the inner ear.

• 4

  Request help finding a vestibular rehabilitation therapist if your symptoms are caused by conditions with unknown causes like Meniere's disease. If you have Meniere's disease, your symptoms may persist over a long period of time, or even progressively worsen. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy will help retrain your body to compensate for the balance disorder. According to Vestibular.org, the therapy includes desensitizing your balance system to movements that spark a reaction, and retraining your eyes and brain to compensate for difficulties with processing visual information.