Vestibular Migraine

Vestibular Migraine Treatment and Vestibular Physiotherapy in Adelaide

Do you experience episodes of dizziness, vertigo or feeling off balance, with or without a headache? You may have vestibular migraine.

Vestibular migraine is one of the most common causes of recurrent dizziness and vertigo. Unlike a typical migraine, the main symptom may not be a headache. Instead, people often experience dizziness, motion sensitivity, imbalance or a sensation that the room is spinning.

Because the symptoms can closely resemble inner ear conditions such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) or Ménière’s disease, vestibular migraine is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

At Advanced Neuro Rehab, our Vestibular and Neurological Physiotherapists are experienced in assessing dizziness and balance disorders. We can help determine whether your symptoms are consistent with vestibular migraine and develop an individualised rehabilitation program to help you regain confidence and return to the activities you enjoy.

What is vestibular migraine?

Vestibular migraine is a neurological condition where migraine affects the brain’s balance (vestibular) system.

Rather than causing headache alone, migraine changes the way the brain processes information from the inner ear, eyes and body. This can lead to episodes of dizziness, vertigo and motion sensitivity that may occur with or without a headache.

Some people experience vestibular symptoms before a headache develops, while others never experience significant headaches at all.

Vestibular migraine is one of the leading causes of dizziness in adults and can affect people of all ages.

Common symptoms of vestibular migraine

Symptoms vary between individuals but may include:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo (a spinning sensation)
• Feeling off balance or unsteady
• Motion sensitivity
• Feeling worse in supermarkets or busy environments
• Difficulty focusing your vision while moving
• Sensitivity to head movements
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Headache or migraine
• Neck pain
• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Feeling disconnected, or ‘floating’

Episodes may last from a few minutes to several hours, and in some people symptoms can persist for days.

Between attacks, many people continue to experience mild dizziness, imbalance or sensitivity to movement.

What triggers vestibular migraine?

Triggers are different for everyone, but common triggers include:

• Stress
• Poor sleep
• Hormonal changes
• Bright lights
• Busy visual environments
• Long periods of screen time
• Strong smells
• Certain foods or drinks
• Dehydration
• Neck pain
• Illness or infection

Understanding your individual triggers is an important part of long-term symptom management.

How is vestibular migraine diagnosed?

Vestibular migraine is usually diagnosed by a GP, neurologist or Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist based on your symptoms and medical history. There is currently no single test that confirms vestibular migraine.

As Vestibular Physiotherapists, we perform a detailed assessment of your balance, eye movements, vestibular function and neck to determine whether your symptoms are consistent with vestibular migraine or another vestibular condition.

We also screen for other common causes of dizziness such as:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• Vestibular Neuritis
• Labyrinthitis
• Ménière’s Disease
• Cervicogenic Dizziness
• Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)

If appropriate, we communicate our findings with your GP or medical specialist to assist with diagnosis and ongoing management.

How can vestibular physiotherapy help?

Although physiotherapy does not treat the migraine itself, it is highly effective at addressing the dizziness, balance problems and movement sensitivity that often persist between migraine attacks.

Following a comprehensive assessment, your treatment program may include:

• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Gaze stabilisation exercises
• Balance retraining
• Habituation exercises to reduce motion sensitivity
• Visual motion training
• Neck assessment and treatment
• Deep neck muscle strengthening
• Walking and mobility training
• Gradual return to physical activity
• Education about symptom management
• Individualised home exercise programs

Every rehabilitation program is tailored to your symptoms, goals and level of function. Read more about vestibular physiotherapy.

Why choose Advanced Neuro Rehab?

Dizziness and vestibular disorders are one of our areas of expertise.

Our Vestibular Physiotherapists have extensive experience assessing and treating people with vestibular migraine, persistent dizziness and complex balance disorders.

We understand that dizziness can affect every aspect of life, from work and driving to shopping, exercise and social activities. Our goal is to help you understand your symptoms, improve your confidence and get you back to doing the things that matter most.

We also work closely with GPs, neurologists and ENT specialists to ensure your physiotherapy complements your overall migraine management.

Links

• Migraine & Headache Australia
• Migraine Australia

Frequently asked questions

Can vestibular migraine cause dizziness without a headache?

Yes. Many people experience dizziness, vertigo or imbalance without developing a significant headache. For some people, dizziness is the main symptom of vestibular migraine.

How is vestibular migraine different from vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom, a sensation that you or the room is spinning. Vestibular migraine is one condition that can cause vertigo. Other conditions, such as BPPV and Ménière’s disease, can also cause vertigo, which is why an accurate assessment is important.

Can physiotherapy help vestibular migraine?

Yes. Vestibular physiotherapy can improve dizziness, balance, motion sensitivity and confidence with movement. It is often recommended alongside medical management.

Is vestibular migraine an inner ear problem?

No. Vestibular migraine is a neurological condition affecting how the brain processes balance information. While the symptoms can feel similar to an inner ear disorder, the underlying cause is different.

Why do supermarkets or busy environments make me dizzy?

Many people with vestibular migraine become sensitive to busy visual environments, such as supermarkets, shopping centres or heavy traffic. Vestibular rehabilitation includes exercises that gradually improve your brain’s ability to process complex visual information.

Will vestibular migraine go away?

Symptoms vary from person to person. While vestibular migraine is often a long-term condition, many people successfully manage their symptoms through a combination of medical treatment, vestibular rehabilitation, regular exercise, lifestyle modifications and trigger management.

Contact us to discuss whether vestibular rehabilitation may be appropriate for you.