Vestibular Migraine Treatment in Calgary
Caring, Individualized Vestibular Physiotherapy at Home
What is Vestibular Migraine?
Vestibular migraine is a neurological disorder causing repeated episodes of dizzy spells, spinning (vertigo), or balance problems, with or without a headache. It affects how the brain handles balance and motion signals.
Common Symptoms of Vestibular Migraine
Episodes of vertigo or dizziness (minutes to hours)
Feeling off balance or unsteady
Sensitivity to light, sound, or motion
Headache (may or may not be present)
Visual disturbances (e.g., aura, blurred vision)
Nausea, fatigue, brain fog
What Causes Vestibular Migraine?
The exact cause is not fully understood, but it’s related to how the brain processes sensory signals. Triggers may include stress, lack of sleep, certain foods, hormonal changes, or visual stimulation (e.g., screens, busy environments).
How is it diagnosed?
There is no single test, so I look for a pattern of migraine features combined with episodes of vertigo or dizziness, based on symptom history and ruling out other causes of dizziness.
Treatment for Vestibular Migraine
Treatment focuses on managing triggers and improving symptoms. This may include lifestyle changes (sleep, stress, diet), medications if needed. Vestibular physiotherapy helps reduce dizziness, improve balance, and build tolerance to motion and visual triggers. Through targeted exercises and gradual exposure, it retrains the brain to process balance signals more effectively and improves day-to-day function.
Recovery time for Vestibular Migraine
Vestibular migraine is often a chronic condition with episodic symptoms. With proper management, many people experience fewer and less severe episodes over time.
When to Seek Help
You should seek help if you experience ongoing dizziness, unsteadiness, or balance problems that are affecting your daily life or not improving over time. It’s also important to get assessed if you feel unsteady when walking, have difficulty with head movements, or are at risk of falling.
Early vestibular physiotherapy can help identify the cause and start targeted treatment to improve balance and reduce symptoms more quickly.
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Episodes of vestibular migraine can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, and in some cases up to a few days. The duration varies between individuals, and some people may also experience lingering mild dizziness or sensitivity between episodes.
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Vestibular migraine usually can’t be cured, but it can be well controlled. By finding triggers, changing habits, and using the right treatments, most people cut down how often and how bad attacks are.
Vestibular physiotherapy can lower ongoing dizziness and make moving and looking around easier, so many get back to daily life with few symptoms. It also helps the brain adapt to inner ear changes, speeding recovery and reducing unsteadiness.
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Vestibular migraine is not typically dangerous or life-threatening, but it can significantly affect daily life. Episodes of dizziness, vertigo, and sensitivity to motion or environments can impact balance, work, and confidence with movement.
With proper management—including trigger control, medical support if needed, and vestibular physiotherapy—most people can reduce symptoms and return to normal activities.