St. John man shares his take on treatment through Dizzy & Balance Therapy Services
A little over a year ago, Jim Schumann started feeling dizzy and couldn’t stay on his feet.
At 6 foot, 7 inches tall, falling proved to have serious consequences for the 82-year-old, including a brain bleed and a shoulder injury requiring surgery.
When Jim could no longer care for himself and his wife, he knew he needed help. He was referred by his cardiologist to Dizzy & Balance Therapy Services at the Community Hospital Outpatient Center in St. John.
“I was feeling a little rocky and a lot of things became difficult to do,” Jim said. “Within 15 minutes of my first visit, they knew what my problem was and started treatment. Son of a gun, about five minutes later, I started feeling better.”
Jim was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This condition, which usually presents in one ear at a time, is caused by tiny calcium crystals dislodging in the inner ear, creating a false sense of spinning dizziness or vertigo. Almost any movement made Jim dizzy.
In Jim’s case, the loose crystals were present in both ears, which explains a lot of his symptoms, his therapist, Lisa Sheehan, said.
“The older you are, most commonly 65-plus, the higher the likelihood of BPPV. Patients with chronic, systemic conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, tend to be at higher risk. A new study also has shown a correlation with low vitamin D levels,” said Lisa, a clinical specialist.
She explained the crystals have a specific function.
“They give your brain information about the position of your head and the speed at which you move. It only becomes a problem when they become loose in the semi-circular canals,” she said.
Vestibular therapy is a type of physical or occupational therapy that focuses on the system responsible for our sense of balance and spatial orientation. The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and is crucial for a wide range of activities, from walking and running to driving and playing sports.
When the vestibular system is damaged or not functioning properly, a wide range of symptoms may result, including dizziness, vertigo, nausea and balance problems. These symptoms are often debilitating and will significantly affect a person’s quality of life.
“Our staff recognizes that every patient has unique needs, and we perform specific testing to best determine the cause of his or her dizziness and balance issues,” said Veronica Cohen, a physical therapist and manager of Therapy Services for Powers Health. “We work with the patient’s goals to develop a cohesive plan of care that will treat the symptoms based on the latest research and standards of practice in our fields.”
The Dizzy & Balance Therapy Services team at the Community Hospital Outpatient Center in St. John incorporates advanced diagnostic and rehabilitative balance equipment to treat specific conditions and related symptoms.
Patients who may benefit include those who experience the following:
- Spinning or a sense of movement
- Feeling of floating
- Being woozy or feeling heavy-headed
- Feeling faint or light-headed
- Unsteadiness or loss of balance
- Falls
Jim continued treatment twice a week for six weeks.
“I was paired with Lisa during every appointment, and I really liked that consistency,” he said. “I’ve been going to therapists for 20 years, for many different reasons, but I have never had such immediate and satisfying results.”
His daughter, Cathy Tinsley, said Dizzy & Balance Therapy Services gave her dad his life back. “It was life-changing for him to go from being scared to take a few steps to being back on the golf course.”
Jim agrees. “My quality of life has improved a lot. I almost broke 90 the other day on the golf course and, at my age, that’s pretty good!”
If frequent dizziness and balance issues are a concern, talk with your healthcare provider. For more information about Therapy Services at Powers Health, click here.
