HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY FIND THE RIGHT DOCTOR TO TREAT YOUR DIZZINESS

You have a symptom: dizziness, which can have over 80 causes! The medical system can be overwhelming to navigate. From my experience treating thousands of patients I know how costly, time consuming and frustrating this can be. Your health is no joke and your too busy to go to 15 healthcare providers just to check off the boxes to figure out, what you DON’T have. Let’s talk dizziness and see if we can get you to the right medical professional!

Defining your Dizziness

Hmmm, never thought about this? Well an accurate description can be VERY helpful in getting to the correct doctor for diagnosis, so let’s give it a try.

• Are you experiencing vertigo? Which means you see or you feel the room around you spin.

• Are you feeling a rocking motion as if you are on a boat?

• Are you feeling lightheaded, feeling like you are going to pass out?

• Do you feel “off and spacey” in your head and behind the eyes?

• Do you feel more so that you are unsteady in your feet, not so much in the head?

• Do you feel nauseous or disoriented when in big stores or see people move around you when you are still?

How long does your Dizziness Last

• Seconds

• Minutes

• Hours

• Occur is spells, if so how many spells. Is it per day, per week, per month etc.

Any Accompanying Symptoms

This is important! When vertigo occurs with particular symptoms it can direct you right to the correct diagnosis.

• Any hearing loss or changes with your dizziness? Does it fluctuate or occured with your first onset of dizziness?

• Any numbness in the face or extremities that is new since you noticed your dizziness starting?

• Do you have neck stiffness or headaches that worsen with your dizziness?

• Do you have weakness, slurred speech, or confusion?

• Have you recently hit your head or in a car accident around the time your dizziness started?

• Do you have double vision when you read or bouncy vision when you walk?

• Do you notice heart palpitations or feel the floor about to give out from underneath your feet when you go from sitting to standing?

• Do loud noises make you feel like you will faint?

• Do you hear your heartbeat in your ears?

Putting This all Together

First, you should start with your primary doctor in ruling out obvious disorders that can be attributed to abnormal blood panels or infections. Your primary doctor will serve as a case manager of sorts making sure your body systems are functioning normally and make referals to specialists. They can also keep track of any medications you are prescribed and ensure there are no cross reactions to medications you are already taking. You can learn more by reading my blog on “Should I use Medicine for Vertigo?”

BPPV, or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Dizziness, is the most common cause of true vertigo. Lasting seconds, no hearing changes, weakness, or numbness; occurring based on position changes. Often experienced first thing in the morning when getting out of bed and if you stay still the spinning sensation will halt. However, only to occur again if you move your head; as in getting into bed, rolling in bed, looking up, or bending over. The best treatment in canalith repositioning maneuvers which can be performed by a trained vestibular physical therapist, trained audiologist, or trained physician. Find a Vestibular Provider near you HERE.

Any symptoms involving hearing changes with your dizziness should initially be directed to an ENT, otherwise know as Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, that SPECIALIZES in dizziness. Some ENT’s can specialize in sinus, allergy, and throat disorders so it is imperative that you seek a provider who specializes in dizziness. Your appointment will likely begin with an audiogram to identify hearing impairments and then your diagnosis can be more accurately identified.

Neurology can be difficult to navigate in itself because of all the sub-specialties, and the type of neurologist can matter.

• If you have body weakness, numbness, double vision, or confusion with your dizziness, whether this is hours or minutes long a neurologist who specializes in stroke may be warranted.

• If you have 20 minutes to hours long of constant dizziness with light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, possible a headache, and visual disturbance a neurologist who specializes in migraine would be appropriate.

• Dizziness that is more vague accompanied by movement and balance difficulties, with increased falls or fall risk would be more appropriate for a movement disorder neurologist. For example tremors in the arms, feeling a sense of falling backwards, or shuffling type walking would be categories that movement disorder specialist would examine.

• Lastly, if you have had head trauma associated with the onset of your dizziness seeing a neurologist or neuro-psychologist who specializes in concussion would be a good doctor to start with.

Cardiology may be warranted if you experience dizziness that is more lightheaded in nature. Especially if you experience any heart palpitations or a sense of feeling faint when you are upright. A cardiologist can ensure your heart is functioning normally and that your blood pressure is not too high or too low in causing your symptoms.

At any point in your journey, a TRAINED vestibular physical therapist is a great choice to start your recovery process. Vestibular therapists can be very useful and effective in helping to identify which body system is impaired and help guide you to which medical professional is the right fit based on your individual presentation. Vestibular therapists may be able to treat your symptoms in one to two sessions, or by the end of the evaluation give you references on what the next step should be. Find your local Vestibular Therapist HERE.

Conclusion

While this list is not all inclusive, hopefully the information provides you with a starting guide on who you should go to depending on your symptoms. This information is a general guide and not specific to your condition. However, your primary physician or a trained vestibular therapist can help guide you to more individualized referrals based on your symptom presentation.

If you are a resident of Ohio and need more individualized advice, feel free to call 330-618-5703 to schedule of physical therapy evaluation with your local vestibular therapist at Custom Care Rehab. Or Submit an inquiry HERE.