After my concussion about a year ago, I had some problems with night driving, dizziness, painless migraines for almost a year. I went to an occupational therapist for a few visits. My eyes were not working together like they were supposed to and struggling to get over to the left. One day, I got the idea that my girls might enjoy watching and imitating gymnastic tumbling videos. So we put some couch cushions on the living room floor and turned on YouTube, somersaulting around, giggling like silly girls.
The next day I noticed I was a little sore from moving and bending my 30 year-old body in ways that I hadn't done for years! But, I noticed something else. My dizziness was gone. My night driving was better and I no longer get sick sitting in the back seat while someone else is driving!
In our inner ear we have crystals that help us know where we are in space. Sometimes if we hit our head, the crystals become dislodged and our balance is off, also known as vertigo. When I was working as a PTA, one of our specialties was working with people with vestibular problems (balance system). For certain vestibular dysfunction diagnoses, we would do a maneuver where the patient would sit on a mat table, we would turn their head a certain direction and swoop them back toward the table. This would realign the crystals and they would once again have their balance.
David's neuro optometrist is working with him on being more aware of his environment. He does spinning and "pin the tail on the donkey". He has been standing every day to shower with the help of the caregiver or I. He can stand on one leg for a few seconds while holding onto a rail. His neuro optometrist wants him to do somersaults. She wanted to have him do them under water but I'm scared to try because last time he tried to breathe underwater! I'll try land first!
