Is dizziness common among stroke survivors? What can I do about acute dizziness?

Hi Rooshie31,

Thank you for reaching out to the Stroke Foundation. I am very sorry to hear that you have had a dissection of the vertebral artery and the challenges you are facing with ongoing dizziness. Yes, dizziness is common amongst stroke survivors, especially in relation to a vertebral artery dissection. You are definitely entitled to seek a second neurological opinion if you like, as you should feel comfortable and confident with the information you receive.

Just to clarify, are you currently receiving any physiotherapy from a community rehabilitation or outpatient rehabilitation hospital program? If you are, it would be worth discussing your dizziness with them, as they will most likely have an understanding of dizziness after stroke. In many cases, people do find their symptoms will ease, once treated by a specialist neurological physiotherapist who treats dizziness or vestibular conditions.

If you are not receiving any therapies, it may be worth going to your GP to find out if you are eligible to

1) Receive a chronic conditions care plan. This is usually for people with chronic conditions of longer than 6 months, however it may be worth still asking in your case. This care plan will help decrease the cost of physiotherapy sessions.

2) Be referred to physiotherapy through community rehab or outpatient rehabilitation through the public hospital system.

Alternatively, you can find private neurological physiotherapists near you through the link here. Ensure that you specify their clinical area as neurology, and check the clinics website for vestibular physiotherapy to ensure they specialize in dizziness related concerns post stroke. You can get your GP to send them some background medical information as this can be helpful to the physiotherapist.

It is also wonderful that you have found and utilized our enable me website. I would recommend reading an enable me blog called Dizziness after Stroke by the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Please find the link here.

If you would like to speak to a health professional on Stroke line, do not hesitate to call us on 1800 787 653

If you continue to be concerned about the severity of dizziness or you have any other signs of stroke then please call 000.

All the best,

Kath

Stroke Line

Hi Rooshie31,

Thank you for reaching out to the Stroke Foundation. I am very sorry to hear that you have had a dissection of the vertebral artery and the challenges you are facing with ongoing dizziness. Yes, dizziness is common amongst stroke survivors, especially in relation to a vertebral artery dissection. You are definitely entitled to seek a second neurologist opinion if you like, as you should feel comfortable and confident with the information you receive.

Just to clarify, are you currently receiving any physiotherapy from a community rehabilitation or outpatient rehabilitation hospital program? If you are, it would be worth discussing your dizziness with them, as they will most likely have an understanding of dizziness after stroke. In many cases, people do find their symptoms will ease, once treated by a specialist neurological physiotherapist who treats dizziness or vestibular conditions.

If you are not receiving any therapies, it may be worth going to your GP to find out if you are eligible to

1) Receive a chronic conditions care plan. This is usually for people with chronic conditions of longer than 6 months, however it may be worth still asking in your case. This care plan will help decrease the cost of physiotherapy sessions.

2) Be referred to physiotherapy through community rehab or outpatient rehabilitation through the public hospital system.

Alternatively, you can find private neurological physiotherapists near you through the link here. Ensure that you specify their clinical area as neurology, and check the clinics website for vestibular physiotherapy to ensure they specialize in dizziness related concerns post stroke. You can get your GP to send them some background medical information as this can be helpful to the physiotherapist.

It is also wonderful that you have found and utilized our enable me website. I would recommend reading an enable me blog called Dizziness after Stroke by the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Please find the link here.

If you would like to speak to a health professional on Stroke line, do not hesitate to call us on 1800 787 653

If you continue to be concerned about the severity of dizziness or you have any other signs of stroke then please call 000.

All the best,

Kath

Stroke Line

Hi Roosie, Im 10 years out from my strokes. My 3rd was an VAD. Among lots of symptoms left over was vertigo or dizziness. It was horrible. After nine years I woke one morning and it was gone. First time in all thAt time i was able to put my undies on without sitting down. Probably not much consolation, but recovery is a marathon not a sprint. Good luck.

Best to listen to your doctor , he will give you the simple answer , which is some fully recover and some dont , sorry but I cant say you will recover but hopes you will .It will depend on the amount of damage to you brain and the simple fact is they know so little on repairing the brain .