You may recall on an older post, I talked about neuroplasticity and rewiring of the brain. I decided to research how dancers and ice skaters can spin round and round and resume a technical balancy move, where most lay persons would fall over. So it turns out this is a trick with 2 parts to it.
The first part is the trick achieved through spotting. Thanks to various people who have helped me out, I'm now practising this technique, and with a surprising realisation. I can spin one way without creating nystagmus, but another way results in immediate nystagmus after just one revolution. So it is likely I have a problem with the left side of my ear. This pairs well with my tendency to have blocked ears on the left side. Anyhow, I was able to use the spot to override the involuntary nystagmus, if only just!
The second part of this trick, is telling the mind, specifically the cerebral cortex, that I am not sick, that the world isn't falling apart. This part I do through mindfulness, together after the spinning exercises. It does help me understand the common feeling of impending doom when the spins take over, and the anxiety/panic attack overwhelms.
There are 2 forms of exercises that I am trying.
VOR Gaze exercise
The first is the simple VOR gaze exercise. So apparently there is a reflex which connects closely to the eye[1]. There are 2 dimension to this problem, the vertical and the horizontal plane. For me, it is clearly the horizontal plane which contributes to my vertigo. You should definitely pay attention to your nystagmus next time it happens so you can see. Anyway, the exercises aims to disconnect and override this tendency of your eyes to follow become enslaved to this reflex, and allow the cerebellum to control your gaze.
[3]I started off firstly with my thumb in front of me, then constantly moving my head side to side, one cycle every second for a minute. I found this really hard to do at first. After 20 seconds I felt nauseas and my eyes hurt. However, this is a good time to sit quietly and watch the sensations and emotions happening in the head - try and remain calm and watch, and reiterate that this is not impending doom, everything is under control.
It didn't take long before I am now moving my head and thumb in opposing directions, fairly quickly, and not have the feeling of motion sickness. Best of all, it's only been a week since I started the exercises.
Spin and spot
This is especially difficult for me. I pick an object on the wall and spin, basically in one direction and then spot the same object again. Then I spin the opposing direction and repeat the same. This is the second stage exercise and I'm only achieving one revolution so far, and already experiencing nystagmus. However, the trick is to stare at that one object no matter how difficult - overcoming the nystagmus.
This has the same effect, but much much more violent than the VOR gaze exercise above. I want to thank my friends (who I cannot name to protect their privacy) who have given me some insights into these techniques.
I hope I can achieve a point where, I can override all nystagmus on command - and be able to retrain my cerebral cortex against sending motion sickness signals that are so debilitating, even, in the next attack. Although I prefer not to have another attack anytime soon. Will update if this brings success.
1. http://www.neuroanatomy.wisc.edu/virtualbrain/BrainStem/13VNAN.html
2. http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s3/chapter08.html
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnGSQbDMMgA
