Can Oscillopsia Make Vertigo Worse?

oscillopsia, vertigo relief in Carmel

The short answer is YES. If you experience vertigo episodes, oscillopsia can potentially make your attacks worse. People who suffer from vertigo know how inconvenient and debilitating the episodes can feel. And if you have been one of those who experience constant vertigo attacks, you probably encountered the term oscillopsia while pursuing a long-lasting vertigo relief in Carmel. This is common in people who endured a head injury or those living with other health conditions such as meningitis and cranial neuropathy.

Your body distinguishes balance and movement through different organs. Besides the inner ear, the brain also processes visual cues from your eyes. If you have a condition called oscillopsia, it can make your eyes detect confusing signals. As a result, your brain now tends to get confused and perceive movement despite the absence of activity. This can lead to worse vertigo episodes that can interfere with your daily life.

Learning more about oscillopsia may be helpful for you or a sick loved one. There are a few basic facts worth knowing about so you can be knowledgeable enough to determine your next steps should you find the need. Suppose you feel signs of oscillopsia are affecting your vertigo; feel free to bring up the conversation with your healthcare provider for vertigo relief in Carmel.

 

Oscillopsia defined

Vertigo, a symptom of an underlying condition, differs from oscillopsia, a neurological disorder affecting your sight. However, it shares the same identifying sign of vertigo which is an illusion or a false sense that your environment is moving. Typically it's harmless, yet it increases your risk of getting into accidents when outdoors, especially when driving, running, or walking. This condition can give you a false sense of movement around you even when there's none. You may notice the following telling signs of oscillopsia:

  • Trouble focusing the eyes
  •  Blurry vision
  • Double vision
  • Shimmering or jumping vision
  • Vertigo episodes
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Lightheadedness  

 

Oscillopsia triggers

Nystagmus, one of vertigo's accompanying symptoms, can also trigger oscillopsia. Nystagmus is a visual problem commonly associated with Meniere's disease, making the eyes move uncontrollably. It can also affect your vision, depth perception, coordination, and balance.

To help you get better vertigo relief in Carmel, we encourage you to get an accurate diagnosis of oscillopsia. Getting a proper diagnosis may be challenging, but it can help you address your condition correctly and efficiently. In addition, you can visit a primary doctor or a neurologist to help you with this condition and better understand your remedy options.

It may also help to know about the other vertigo-causing conditions that are associated with oscillopsia, such as:

  • Inflammation in the brain caused by tumors or meningitis
  • Multiple sclerosis, seizures, and other neurological disorders
  • Injuries in the head and neck affecting the brainstem and cerebellum
  • Meniere's disease and other vestibular system disorders

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Notable Risk Factors of Oscillopsia

Knowing the several risk factors of oscillopsia can help you lessen its impact on your life. You can take note of the following risk factors that you can avoid or manage to reduce your risk of developing or aggravating oscillopsia:

  •  Neck or head trauma history
  • Damage to the eye muscle
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Drug abuse
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
  •  Lack of skin pigmentation or albinism
  • History of oscillopsia or nystagmus in the family
  • Current or previous inner ear infection, damage, or disease
  • Eye problems like strabismus and cataract

 

Coping with Oscillopsia

Every health condition can manifest differently in every person. The same goes for remedies. What works for you might not work for others, and vice versa. Knowing the root cause of your condition will also help guide you on how to care for yourself once your symptoms start coming out. For example, if you get diagnosed adequately with oscillopsia from nystagmus, your doctor may recommend using special eyeglasses to reduce eye movements. Here are other procedures and techniques healthcare professionals use to help patients with oscillopsia:

Optometric vision therapy

This type of therapy generally works in reducing or potentially eliminating oscillopsia and its accompanying symptoms. The procedure involves guided progressive vision exercises to help retrain your vision to function properly and improve your visual skills.

GABA-blocks or other medication

GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid blockers can help inhibit the effects of oscillopsia-causing disorders such as nystagmus or paroxysmal vestibular attacks. If nystagmus is the leading cause, sometimes doctors recommend using different medicines for other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, or a muscle relaxant. We recommend you always seek proper guidance from your doctor before taking any medication to maximize the benefits and reduce the risks of complications or other issues.

Upper cervical chiropractic care

This chiropractic approach can help resolve some of the most common symptoms or health concerns associated with oscillopsia. Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on your upper cervical spine, which can help with vertigo attacks and nystagmus. It's also proven helpful in helping the body heal and recover following a severe head or neck injury.

 

Finding vertigo relief in Carmel through chiropractic care

Several patients now prefer natural and non-invasive remedy options for their health concerns. There has been a growth in patients seeking the help of a chiropractic doctor for vertigo relief and other health concerns, including oscillopsia.

Several patients swear by the comfort they get following an upper cervical care procedure. The process helps fix your postural imbalances in the cervical spine. But unfortunately, this is usually an overlooked risk factor when vertigo attacks and vision problems arise.

Your upper cervical spine can easily shift from alignment due to its position and function. In addition, incidents such as car collisions, sporting injuries, and even poor posture or repetitive movements can affect your cervical alignment. And these misalignments commonly affect your nervous system, which ends up interfering with the flow of communication between the brain and the rest of your body.

When you visit Dr. Flory, our trusted upper cervical chiropractic doctor, he can explain how a misalignment in the cervical spine affects you. This might be the mystery cause of your false perception of movement and other symptoms accompanying vertigo and oscillopsia. They will also recommend a personalized approach and series of procedures that best fit your needs.

Don't let your symptoms linger far too long. Book your consultation with our upper cervical doctor at Atlas Spinal Care by calling us at 463-223-8227 or visiting our website to fill out our online contact form. Let us help you!

 

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Flory, call our Carmel office at 463-223-8227. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

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