Vestibular Neuritis

It is inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which carries balance information from the inner ear to the brain, causing sudden, severe, and often prolonged vertigo.

It's thought to most often result from a viral infection affecting the vestibular nerve, though the exact trigger isn't always clear.

Sudden onset of severe, continuous vertigo, often with nausea and vomiting, and difficulty with balance, typically without hearing loss, lasting days before gradually improving.

It isn't dangerous itself, but the sudden severe vertigo increases fall risk and can be very disabling in the acute phase, and it's important to distinguish it from more serious causes of sudden vertigo, particularly stroke.

Yes, acute symptoms can be managed with medication to reduce nausea and dizziness in the short term, and vestibular rehabilitation exercises help speed up and complete the brain's compensation for the affected balance nerve.

Initial treatment focuses on symptom relief with anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medication for the first few days, followed by vestibular rehabilitation physiotherapy to help the brain adapt and improve balance recovery.

The most severe symptoms often improve within a few days to a week, though complete recovery of balance function, aided by vestibular rehabilitation, can take several weeks to a few months.

Vestibular neuritis causes isolated, continuous vertigo without other neurological symptoms, while a stroke affecting balance can cause additional signs like limb weakness, slurred speech, or double vision; specific examination techniques and, if needed, brain imaging help distinguish urgently between the two, especially given how serious missing a stroke can be.

Sudden severe vertigo needs prompt medical assessment, particularly if there are any other neurological symptoms, via A&E to rule out more serious causes. For ongoing rehabilitation, private specialists in vestibular physiotherapy can often be seen within about one to two weeks.