Vertigo and the elderly

You do not say if anyone has tried to find out why your mother-in-law has vertigo. If the cause has not been established, that would be the place to start.

Vertigo can be caused by something as simple as the wrong precription for her glasses. It could also be due to a number of physical ills from dehydration to wrong blood pressure, thyroid trouble etc. etc.

So, by all means get back to her physiotherapist and tell him or her that there is no way the poor lady can do these exercises, but get hold of her GP too and ask why he or she has actually diagnosed.

has she been checked for ear wax? ear issues can affect balance

There are many types of vertigo so what are her symptoms
If it’s bppv it needs a manoeuvre to diagnose it
There are osteopathies and physios that can do this and the gp can also
If it’s not bppv then there are other types that need other measures to try and sort it out and it’s it necessarily menieres I speak from personal experience .

I am 80. I experienced vertigo over a couple of months. I then had a TIA caused by a 90% blocked carotid artery. Had surgery to clear artery...vertigo disappeared. Sometimes there is a reason but Doctors will tailor their advice to the patient.

I went to the hospital just last week for something similar. they stood behind me and jerked my head quite quickly side to side. Apparently the fluid in you ears can get out of balance and this is designed to make it sit even again. Also medication is prob best for her age.

The should not do this procedure on a regular basis at all and she st her tender age it should be performed by a trained person as it is a specific action
I am on betahistine for my menieres and it helps plus I complete specific eye movements daily to allow both sides of my brain to work correctly! This lady requires correct assessment for her vertigo symptoms ! There are physios who specialise in this as well !

Cloudscape1

Thanks Allira, yes she is on Betahistine but has been advised to do the exercises too.

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I'd ignore them too. Perhaps get a GP appointment asap in case something else is causing it.

I started to get dizzy spells while laying down in bed nake my balance uneasy when getting up.
Dr said i need to do the Brante Daroff abd sent me the link.
I never attemted to do as was scared to donit wrong and make matters worse.
3 months on and i have had 2 clear weeks being dizzy free.

Very unplesent experience i hope i dont suffer in the future again

I would ignore the paramedics advice- they were probably well meaning but...I would get a second opinion.

Thanks Allira, yes she is on Betahistine but has been advised to do the exercises too.

Or, I suppose whether others have done these exercises and think they're suitable for a 94 year old. We don't want to be forcing her to try to do something that she's incapable off. They look pretty full on to me.

That is quite ridiculous! Poor woman.

I had vertigo for a couple of years when I was about 40 and was given tablets. They were similar to travel sickness medication and called Serc tablets (Betahistine).

I'm sure they, or something even better, must still be available.

Thanks. The exercises were recommended by the paramedics who came out when she first reported dizzyness. We're trying to find out from her GP if there's any additional support but I just wondered if anyone else had had this experience.

Who advised her to do these exercises? I suggest you go back to whoever did so and ask for more support, or some alternative and more suitable type of treatment.