Post-Concussion Dizziness Treatment in Fishers, IN
Still dizzy, foggy, or off balance after a head injury, even though you were told you're cleared? Your symptoms are real, and it's not too late to feel better, whether the concussion was last month or years ago.
Schedule Your Free ConsultationThe Short Answer
Post-concussion dizziness is dizziness, imbalance, or motion sensitivity that lingers after a head injury, often because the vestibular system (the inner ear and brain networks for balance) got knocked out of sync. Vestibular physical therapy can help. It retrains balance, gaze, and how your brain handles motion, even years after the injury.
- Normal scans don't rule out a vestibular problem
- Rest alone doesn't retrain the balance system
- It's not too late, even 10 to 15 years later
- No medical diagnosis needed to get started
Sound Familiar?
If any of these sound like you, you're not imagining it, and you're not stuck.
- A constant "off" feeling, like you're walking on a boat
- Room spinning when you roll over, look up, or bend down
- Dizziness or nausea in busy places like grocery stores
- Motion sensitivity in cars, elevators, or when you scroll on your phone
- Blurry vision or words that bounce on the page when you move your head
- Headaches that get worse with movement
- Brain fog, trouble concentrating, or getting tired quickly
- Light and sound sensitivity
Why a concussion can leave you dizzy
A concussion happens when your brain gets shaken inside your skull. The force can also affect your vestibular system, the inner ear structures and nerve pathways that control your balance, spatial orientation, and eye movements.
Often more than one thing is going on. The impact can knock tiny calcium crystals loose in your inner ear, which causes BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), short spins with certain head movements. It can weaken the reflex that keeps your vision steady when your head moves. And your eyes and inner ear can fall out of sync, so busy stores and screens feel overwhelming.
Most people recover within a couple of weeks. When dizziness, headaches, and brain fog last more than three months, it's called post-concussion syndrome.
Why symptoms can linger or come back months or years later
Feeling better isn't the same as being fully healed. After a concussion, your brain compensates. You adapt, and that lets you get back to school, work, or sports. But the subtle changes in how your brain processes movement, balance, and sensory input may never have been addressed.
So years later, things stop adding up. Many people we see in their 30s and 40s had a head injury long ago. Now highway or night driving feels harder, travel wipes them out, and they tire faster. Pregnancy and postpartum can also unmask problems the brain used to cover for.
And the scans? An MRI or CT looks for structural damage, not how well your vestibular system works. Normal tests don't mean nothing is wrong. A vestibular evaluation can tell what is going on.
Why rest alone often doesn't fix post-concussion dizziness
Rest and give it time is standard advice, and for some symptoms it works. But vestibular problems don't always heal on their own. If loose crystals cause BPPV, they won't float back where they belong. They need specific repositioning maneuvers. If the inner ear or its nerve took a hit, your brain needs targeted exercises to learn to compensate.
Waiting can also make things harder. The longer symptoms go on, the more your brain leans on avoidance and unhelpful movement patterns, and those become habits. Even then, improvement is possible.
When to get urgent medical care first
A new head injury, or symptoms that get worse, needs a doctor before vestibular therapy. Go to the emergency room or call 911 for a severe or worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, or sudden severe symptoms. Once a doctor rules out a serious brain injury, a vestibular evaluation can look at the balance side of things.
Does This Sound Like You?
Book a free 15-minute call with Carly. You don't need a diagnosis to get started.
How Carly treats post-concussion dizziness
There's no pill that retrains your balance system. Carly starts with a thorough evaluation to find which parts of your system are affected, then builds a plan for you.
- Canalith repositioning maneuvers to move loose crystals back into place, if BPPV is present
- Gaze stabilization exercises so your vision stays steady when your head moves
- Habituation exercises that slowly expose you to your triggers, so your system calms down
- Balance and postural training to rebuild stability and confidence in everyday activities
- Neck treatment when needed, because many concussions come with a neck injury that adds to dizziness
- Strategies to manage fatigue, brain fog, and sensory overload, and a gradual return to activity
What to expect, from first call to recovery
- 1
A free 15-minute consultation call
Tell us what happened and how you feel now. You don't need a medical diagnosis to get started. We'll help you decide if vestibular therapy is a good fit.
- 2
A thorough vestibular evaluation
Carly listens to your story and tests your balance, eye movements, and positional triggers. You'll know what's going on and what the plan is.
- 3
Treatment that is paced for you
Post-concussion symptoms can fluctuate, so Carly adjusts the plan as you go. You're challenged without being overwhelmed.
- 4
Back to the things you love
Many people notice improvement within 2 to 4 weeks. Typical treatment is 4 to 8 weeks, once or twice a week. Some people need longer, especially when symptoms have been there for months or more than one issue is involved.
Common Questions
Why does my dizziness keep coming back after a concussion?
Dizziness after a concussion often comes back because the vestibular system, the inner ear and brain networks for balance, got knocked out of sync and never retrained. Your brain may have compensated for a while. Loose inner ear crystals, a weak gaze reflex, or eyes and inner ear that don't work together can all keep post-concussion dizziness going. A vestibular evaluation can tell which one it is.
Can a concussion cause vertigo?
Yes. A concussion can cause vertigo, and dizziness is one of the most common symptoms after a head injury. The impact can knock tiny calcium crystals loose in the inner ear, which causes BPPV, short spins when you roll over, look up, or bend down. BPPV after a concussion can be more stubborn than usual BPPV and may need several repositioning sessions.
Can an old concussion cause problems years later?
Yes. An old concussion can cause problems years later, even if you felt fine at the time. Your brain compensates, but changes in how it handles movement and balance can show up or get worse later. Busy stores, highway driving, travel, and fatigue are common triggers. It's not too late. Vestibular rehab can help even 10 to 15 years after a concussion.
Can I have vestibular problems after a concussion if my MRI was normal?
Yes. An MRI or CT looks for structural damage like bleeding or swelling. It doesn't show how well your vestibular system works. Many vestibular problems after a concussion are functional, which means they affect how the brain processes balance and motion, not how it looks on a scan. A vestibular evaluation uses hands-on testing to find these problems.
How long does vestibular therapy take after a concussion?
Vestibular therapy after a concussion often shows improvement within 2 to 4 weeks. Typical treatment lasts 4 to 8 weeks, with sessions once or twice a week. Some people need longer, especially if symptoms have been there for months, or if neck problems or migraines are also involved. Starting sooner usually means a faster recovery, but later is still worth it.
Will vestibular therapy make my post-concussion dizziness worse?
Vestibular therapy for post-concussion dizziness can briefly stir up symptoms during some exercises. That's part of how your brain learns to recalibrate. A good vestibular therapist watches your symptom levels closely and adjusts the exercises, so you're challenged without being overwhelmed. The goal is steady progress, not pushing through until you feel terrible.
About Your Therapist
Carly Clevenger, PT, DPT
Carly is a vestibular physical therapist in Fishers, Indiana. She helps people with dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems get back to feeling like themselves.
Meet CarlyYou don't have to keep waiting to feel like yourself
Told to rest and wait, or that everything looks normal? We're here to listen. Book a free 15-minute consultation call, and Carly will help you get steady, confident, and back in control.