Hi Niz,
We are so sorry to hear about the persistence of vertigo and other symptoms after your stroke. This must be incredibly frustrating, so we hope our suggestions can assist you moving forward.
Dizziness, ear issues and pain
We understand that dizziness and pain can be very debilitating, particularly as you have been experiencing them for quite some time. We also know that dizziness can also be related to ear problems hence it is crucial to seek further assessment for proper management.
We recommend you seeing a neurologist for further assessment and potential treatment recommendations. Some neurologists specialize in balance disorders and/or Oto-Neurology (combining ear, nose, throat conditions and how they’re related to neurological conditions like stroke). A neurologist can also look further into the pain you are experiencing in your feet and legs and potentially prescribe medication that may help alleviate the pain.
Speak to your GP about a referral to the Neurology department at your local hospital and/or a referral to a pain clinic. These specialist clinics in the public health system typically operate on a triage basis and so may result lengthy wait-times, depending on what information is provided in the referral by your GP.
If you would like to be seen sooner, your GP can also refer you to a private neurologist local to you. If you run into trouble, you can give us a call on StrokeLine 1800 787 653. While we cannot recommend one specifically, we can help you with some research and guide you in locating one.
We are sorry that the physiotherapy visits you’ve had so far have not been effective. We encourage you to speak to your GP about a referral to a Vestibular Physiotherapist specifically – they specialize in identifying dizziness and other balance-related problems caused by a stroke. They can work with you to develop an individualized rehabilitation program to manage your symptoms.
You may also benefit from reading this blog to understand more about dizziness after stroke and vestibular physiotherapy.
NDIS
We are sorry to hear that your NDIS application has been rejected. Here are some suggestions for you to explore and potential reasons why stroke survivor applications may be getting declined. This is based on feedback and conversations we have had with other stroke survivors or NDIS support workers.
Why:
- Insufficient evidence provided to support the claim. The more evidence to justify the disability, the better (from any health professional you have worked with).
- Not the right use of language. The form needs to be in plain English, not medical jargon – including health/medical professional reports. 10 Steps to excellent NDIS therapy reportsis a good resource.
Suggestions:
- Request a face-to-face meeting. Get someone within the NDIS (such as a Local Area Coordinator) to look over the application.
- Speak to and get your medical/health professional reports to describe your function on your worst day.
- Start a new application and prepare. Look atDisability Requirementsin detail and highlight 1-2 main areas that you are affected by, and describe how they limit you (e.g., communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management). Include evidence of how your disability affects your ability to work and study, and what would help. TheOperational Guidelinesare hard to find on the NDIS website, but this is where the Disability Requirement link comes from.
- Apply for review of a reviewable decision. You may request one here.
- You may also fill out a feedback or complaints form on the service, here.
We hope this information has been helpful for you.
If you would like any more information or support, please do not hesitate to contact us on StrokeLine 1800 787 653 or email strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. We are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST
Best regards,
Strokeline
