Considering Iām still undiagnosed and my only and most aggravating symptom is head motion sensitivity, will it be a good idea to go for a walk? From what Iāve read so far being outside and doing some exercise no matter how little helps. The community park is just a walk down the sidewalk from my house and the trail isnāt that big. Iām just tired of being stuck in the house
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Itās really repeating what has been said before. There are lots of existing Topics on this.
But absolutely yes. (caveat: obviously impossible if in the middle of a major migraine attack but irrelevant if you donāt suffer from those)
Youāve been staying in the house since this all started?! Thatās ok for weeks but definitely not ok for months.
Avoidance behaviour is common with this condition.
The more you avoid the bigger the trepidation, the more you lose social contact and normality, and the bigger the impact will be on your life and those close to you.
The only risk is being nauseous or at extremes falling over. It doesnāt seem many people are so bad as to have a significant risk of falling over (caveat: a small minority are, but some people take a stick, but imho thatās super controversial as you want to force your brain to compensate and walk normally). For most people itās just uncomfortable and that tends to improve the longer the walk. Itās a judgement call but donāt use it as an excuse not to challenge yourself (imho)
You really need to seek professional help before this overwhelms your life completely. You might find that simply taking some low level antidepressant is all the tweak you need to get rid of the worst of your symptoms. We covered that in another topic so letās not elaborate on that here.
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Iāve rephrased the title as a question. This generally works better and itās a better summary of what you are asking.
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A truer sentence was rarely written. The resultant mood alterations arising from VM can have far reaching consequences. Much better never to let it get that far advanced. Just the fact that by choosing to stay in you are, in a passive way, āavoidingā going outside and that can quickly escalate in the mind into an actual fear of leaving the house, agoraphobia. Providing you feel able to walk safely (take a cane, umbrella or other support if you think it necessary), pick the quietest time and get out in the fresh air for a short while each day. The fresh air is good for us all. Looking at a distance does works for the eyes by extending their focal reach. Walking outside is good for the spirit and a walk breaks up the day and should make for a better nightās sleep too. Go for it.
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Hi, I fully agree with James and Helens advice. I waited 2 years before I took action with meds, it has turned my life around. You donāt need any fancy walking stick, I picked up a hiking stick online for ā¬8 and I still use it to this day, best thing ever. I find it gives me the confidence to get out even when Iām having an off balance day. Take care and definitely get some medical intervention, donāt let the mav beast take over.
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@anon78635771, Here is a link to a walking poll you might find interesting:
WALKING PART TWO: How much would you RECOMMEND someone walked per day??
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Believe it or not I actually do have a walking/hiking stick (not due to my issues but for the snow we had back in February) and have tried walking with it in the living room (I have hardwood flooring) and it did keep me stable but not by a lot. Maybe I wasnāt using it right I donāt know. As to what @turnitaround and @Onandon03 have said about the risk of agoraphobia due to this I agree especially considering Iāve been agoraphobic for almost 6 years. My biggest issue is me being able to really enjoy myself. I just feel so disconnected from my environment all the time.
I walked arm in arm with someone so as not to feel that I was going to fall or that the earth swallowed me, it is scary and sometimes the depression does not leave you but the best thing is to go out a little
Iām back from my walk. Managed to last 3 hours. It did feel great to get out course I nearly cried a couple of times.
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Well done! Not so bad, huh?
Definitely not as bad. But it was annoying that I couldnāt really take in the scenery due to the dizziness.
This should improve. I made myself go on walk mostly every day at my worst. Look at a tree and keep focus on it as you walk past. This is a bit of VRT at its best. It gets better with time and should improve you overall.
Walking is simply the very best. Studies show that just being in nature improves your well-being. Iām assuming you have a nice walking track and not an inner city block.
Make it a priority. Hope it helps
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My community park has a very small trail with lots of trees and a playground. I think my main problem is just enjoying it as with anything else I do.
You probably start enjoying it once you get better. I find that the more I walk (within reason), the better I feel. Keep it up!
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This is what I did too. My only caveat is to avoid crossing roads where you have to look left and right quickly. On my walks now I take an interest in identifying the native birdlife and watching where they are flying to and what they are doing in the trees. So the walk becomes very good training for my balance. Added bonus is I have a greater appreciation of the variety of birdlife in the suburbs.
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I have been suffering from some vestibular migraine (dizziness, vertigo) for the past six weeks. Interestingly, about seven weeks ago I injured the ankle of my left foot and was advised by my physiotherapist to stop walking until my ankle feels better. I still did my strength exercises in the gym, but I did more upper body exercises and less leg exercises.
Today I went for my first long walk (about one hour) since the injury and my vertigo seems much better. Could it be that stopping to walk (due to the injury) has started my vestibular migraine? And that starting to walk again is going to reduce it?
I am very interested to hear your thoughts on this.
How interesting. When did the dizziness start? Was it when you hurt your ankle? Walking might maintain brain compensation.
I have avoided all types of exercise ā¦ until about 2 months ago. I have joined a womanās cricket side, and Iām apparently skilled so in a top grade. Iāve done pre- season and have started playing matches. So far so good.
I do think exercise is absolutely needed for some recoveryā¦ try to get back into it and let me know how it goes. Still on pizotifen .5mg?
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It started about a week after I hurt my ankle, so a week after I stopped walking. That is why I think that there might be a connection. Your suggestion of walking maintaining brain compensation is a great one!
Yes, I am still on 0.5 mg of Pizotifen. I was tempted to increase it, but did not.
Since my ankle is ok now, Iāll definitely continue with the walking and Iāll report back whether my dizziness/vertigo goes away completely.
Cricket - wow! It sounds like you are 100% recovered?
I agree with the point on compensation, though vertigo is an extreme sensation to compensate for?
Thereās also another input: anxiety.
Walking helps reduce anxiety levels and I think that may well play a significant part.
Finally thereās the whole randomness of these conditions: sometimes things just happen and itās hard to identify a specific cause.
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I love cooking and baking, I used to do them a lot as a kid but didnt bother much for a number of years due to the demands of work and raising my family. During our first covid lockdown i found I had more time on my hands and really got back into it again. When my VM episode stsrted in April it was one of the most difficult things to do. The fatigue, brain fog and dizziness/imbalance was really aggravated by being in the kitchen and the constant turning round. I used to do a bit, come and sit down, then do a bit more.
Its got easier as time has gone on and I dont notice it as much anymore. I was determined to do things I found difficult, walking being another, as I know avoidant behaviour is a hard habit to break. Its a bit like aversion therapy for phobias. Challenging yourself to do the things you find hard and building up your exposure to them until they become less of an issue. Im also quite bloody minded and didnt want this horrible condition to take away the things that I love doing.
My neurologist advised me to get out for a walk as often as possible, with a family member for support. Do you have someone who could go with you?
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