Nystagmus afflicts people who experience head trauma. Nystagmus is a series of fast, mostly uncontrollable movements of the eyes. It commonly occurs as a result of injury to the cerebellum. In some instances, it could herald inner ear disorders.
In this simple guide, we will examine why Nystagmus occurs following head injury and point out the tell-tale signs of it; further, we will discuss some useful exercises that can help alleviate Nystagmus in case it may involve the inner ear area.
What is Nystagmus?
Nystagmus is a medical condition that causes your eyes to move quickly and uncontrollably. Imagine your eyes moving from left to right, up and down, and even round in circles. Yep, as unsettling as it does sound! As one may expect, such a problem does result in blurry vision. It may happen in one eye or, at times, hit both!
Causes of Nystagmus Following a Head Blow
Medical ‘Dancing eyes,’ also known as Nystagmus, refers to an irregular, often uncontrollable movement of one or both eyes. It is an involuntary movement that may occur when the part of the brain controlling eye position doesn’t work as it should.
Normally, different parts of the brain serve to coordinate eye movements. However, damage responsible for Nystagmus usually involves either injury to the cerebellum or even the brainstem.
Damaging of the inner ear can also be a cause of Nystagmus. The inner ear is a part of the vestibular system. This very important part helps us maintain our bodily balance. Maintaining balance is also involved in keeping eye movements smooth and steady.
If the inner ear is damaged following a head injury, the brain loses its ability to decipher the position of the head. The result of this disruption is that the brain loses information on the position of the eyes. Eyes, therefore, appear to flit around rather a lot in a random fashion.
Nystagmus Following Head Trauma
Following head trauma, sometimes Nystagmus can cause the eyes to move quickly and involuntarily. This kind of eye movement is peculiar in every individual and may take one of the following three forms.
One pattern is horizontal Nystagmus, where the eyes swing from side to side. The second is vertical Nystagmus, in which the eyes flutter up and down. Then, there is rotary Nystagmus, with the eyes spinning in a circular path. These patterns may affect one or both eyes.
Although it has the potential to affect vision and even more so to cause feelings of dizziness, the majority of people are not crippled by severe visual handicaps.
Treatment Options for Nystagmus
While minor bumps on the head may relieve you from mild Nystagmus by using corrective eyewear or contact lenses, in serious situations, medications like Baclofen are provided to help one subdue the symptoms.
Bear in mind that these remedies are temporary at best, as they address the symptoms and not the root cause of Nystagmus. The best method of beating Nystagmus is by addressing the underlying issues sparking it.
Don’t worry; you are not alone in this. A vestibular specialist will be the person who can help you figure out the cause of your Nystagmus, whether it is an inner ear issue or damage to the brain. Vestibular therapy may be your solution in cases where it could be a fault in your inner ear.
Surprisingly, balancing exercises may also help improve one’s balance and quiet the Nystagmus following head trauma.
Brandt-Daroff Exercises
If you have been diagnosed with BPPV, treatments to realign the crystals in your ear are usually the order. Interestingly, unlike the Epley maneuver, there is a set of exercises called Brandt-Daroff that you can do right at home. Of course, it would still be wise for a vestibular specialist to guide you.
The following is a step-by-step process for performing the Brandt-Daroff exercises.
- Find a comfortable spot to sit at the edge of your bed.
- Quickly move your body to be on your left side, with the head thrown back and the root of the spine at a 45-degree angle.
- Remain in this position, keeping the head at 45-degree angles for half a minute.
- Sit up straight for an equal amount of time next.
- Finally, turn onto your right side with the repetition given. Do the cycle five repetitions on each side.
Gaze Stabilization Exercises
That fascinating linkage between the inner ear and eye movement is revealed in the vestibulo-ocular reflex. This specialized action lets your gaze stay fixed on an object even when your head is moving.
A shock to the head may send this reflex into a tizzy, causing confusion, an inability to focus, vertigo-like sensations, and, in extreme cases, a condition called Nystagmus.
These gaze stabilization exercises were designed to repair this reflex, which may reduce Nystagmus. These are just a set of progressively challenging exercises. A small example is as follows:
- Sit up in a chair.
- Draw an X precisely in the middle of a piece of paper.
- Hold the paper out in front of you at eye level with your arm fully extended.
- Keep your eyes on the X, and shake your head back and forth as far as you can to either side. Do this as quickly as you can and without making the X blur.
- Continue this for a minute or more if possible.
These exercises should be repeated several times a day to see noticeable improvements. The more you exercise, the more you are stimulating neuroplasticity, enabling your brain to reform this link with the balance system of your inner ear.
Exercise of Epley
The next time you bump your head and suddenly feel dizzy, it’s because of those tiny crystals in the inner ear that have moved out of place and into areas where they shouldn’t be, causing violent vertigo or even a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV. Well, there’s a solution to this now called the Epley maneuver; getting those unruly crystals back to where they belong is very easy.
Just think of it as yoga for your inner ear. With the Epley maneuver, you turn your head gently into four different positions, staying in each position for about half a minute. You can’t do this yourself. It’s a job for a vestibular specialist. So, if your dizzy sensations started after a knock on the head, get to a specialist and ask about the Epley maneuver.
Neuroplasticity and Recovery
Neuroplasticity is the phenomenal capability of the brain to change and transform by making new neural connections. This is an important capability in recovery after a head injury, in that once an injury to the brain has occurred, neuroplasticity allows the brain to compensate by assuming responsibilities previously handled by the now damaged area of the brain.
With these kinds of exercises, as mentioned earlier, done regularly and with attention to the condition, neuroplasticity can be positively leveraged to help regain function or to improve in managing symptoms such as Nystagmus or vertigo.
Such rehabilitation methodologies should be used routinely to exploit neuroplasticity’s full potential. These may include tasks related to balance, exercises related to vision, and vestibular rehabilitation therapy tailored according to the needs of the individual.
These are efforts put forth over time and might result in substantial gains in stability, coordination, and the overall quality of one’s life, which is very reflective of the resilience of the brain and its ability to heal.
Consideration of a Holistic Approach
Certain exercises and maneuvers, including the Brandt-Daroff exercises for gaze stabilization and the Epley maneuver, are effective treatments against Nystagmus and its related symptoms of dizziness or vertigo. However, the key to rounding out a recovery would be an overall more holistic approach.
It may involve lifestyle modification: having a proper diet full of healthy nutrients to help keep one’s neurons healthy, enough water, meditation, or indulging in yoga to discourage stress.
It is further supported that regular check-ups with professional care services, such as neuro-otologists or vestibular specialists, will monitor the progress and allow for treatment adjustments. One can optimize his/her prospects for recovery by addressing specific therapeutic exercises in concert with holistic lifestyle changes.
Bottom Line
You can directly influence the body’s natural processes and enhance general well-being. This is such a broad approach that emphasizes undertaking both physical and psychological attitudes toward recovery for the best results.