A physician referral is required. Our team can guide you through the process.
Vestibular Migraine in Canada — By the Numbers
1% of Canadians affected by vestibular migraine
40% of migraine patients experience vestibular symptoms
5+ years average time to diagnosis without specialist care
80% of patients are women aged 20–50
What Is Vestibular Migraine?
When Migraine Makes the World Spin
Vestibular migraine — also called migraine-associated vertigo — is a neurological condition in which migraine attacks trigger dysfunction in the vestibular system: the part of the inner ear and brain responsible for balance, spatial orientation, and eye movement.
Unlike typical migraine, the defining symptom of vestibular migraine is not always head pain — it is vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance. Recognized by the International Headache Society and consistent with Canadian clinical practice guidelines, it responds well to targeted, specialist-delivered treatment.
Yet vestibular migraine remains significantly underdiagnosed — often misidentified as inner ear disease, anxiety, or unexplained dizziness — leaving patients without the care they need for years.
You should request a referral to a headache specialist if you experience:
- Recurrent vertigo or dizziness, especially with headache or migraine history
- Dizziness unexplained by ENT or cardiac evaluation
- A personal or family history of migraine with new vestibular symptoms
- Standard vestibular treatments that have not provided adequate relief
Symptoms of Vestibular Migraine
Head pain may or may not be present during every episode. Common symptoms include:
- Spontaneous vertigo — room spinning
- Positional vertigo triggered by head movement
- Dizziness and imbalance without spinning
- Sensitivity to motion and motion sickness
- Visual disturbances, flickering lights, or aura
- Pressure or fullness in the ears
- Noise and light sensitivity during attacks
- One-sided, throbbing headache
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neck stiffness preceding or during episodes
- Episodes lasting minutes to 72 hours
Common Triggers in Calgary Patients
Identifying your personal triggers is a core part of your treatment plan:
- Sleep disruption — too little, too much, or irregular schedules
- Hormonal changes — menstruation, perimenopause, hormonal contraceptives
- Dietary triggers — caffeine, alcohol, aged cheeses, processed foods
- Stress and anxiety — among the most commonly reported precipitating factors
- Calgary chinook events — rapid barometric pressure changes
- Bright or flickering lights and busy visual environments
- Dehydration and skipping meals
- Head movement and postural changes in susceptible individuals
Your Vestibular Migraine Assessment
What to expect at your specialist appointment — approximately 45–60 minutes
01
Comprehensive Assessment
Detailed review of your vestibular symptom history — episode frequency, duration, character, associated symptoms, triggers, and the full impact on your daily functioning. Your complete migraine and headache history is reviewed.
02
Diagnosis & Differential
- IHS criteria applied for vestibular migraine
- Differentiated from BPPV, Ménière’s disease, anxiety-related dizziness
- PPPD and cervicogenic dizziness screened
- Clear, accurate diagnosis established
03
Personalized Treatment Plan
- Medications, procedural treatments, and lifestyle recommendations
- Vestibular rehab referral coordinated where indicated
- Realistic timelines and follow-up milestones defined
- Written plan communicated to your referring physician
Why Choose Infiniti Medical for Vestibular Migraine Treatment
Vestibular migraine sits at the intersection of headache medicine and neuro-otology — a complexity that general practitioners and even many ENT specialists are not equipped to fully address. Patients choose our clinic for specialized vestibular migraine care in NW Calgary.
Specialist-led diagnosis — distinguishing VM from BPPV and Ménière's
Evidence-based care — Bárány Society & Canadian Headache Society criteria
Individualized plans — built around your symptom pattern and history
Collaborative care — coordinated with ENT, physio & your GP
NW Calgary — Symons Valley Rd · Free parking
Vestibular Migraine Treatment Options
Treatment targets both the underlying migraine disease and the vestibular dysfunction driving your dizziness and vertigo. Your specialist selects from a comprehensive, evidence-based menu of options.
Preventive Medications
Beta-blockers, antidepressants, CGRP inhibitors, and anticonvulsants — selected based on your specific vestibular migraine phenotype, comorbidities, and treatment history.
Botox Injections
Health Canada-approved for chronic migraine prevention every 12 weeks. Assessed for eligibility in vestibular migraine patients meeting chronic migraine criteria.
Nerve Blocks & Infusion Therapy
Occipital and trigeminal nerve blocks targeting vestibular pain pathways. IV infusion protocols for acute, refractory vestibular migraine episodes unresponsive to oral treatments.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Specialized physiotherapy (VRT) for patients with persistent balance difficulties between episodes. Coordinated with our collaborative care model — referrals integrated with your overall treatment strategy.
👉 Drug-free neuromodulation devices (Cefaly, gammaCore) are also available for eligible patients seeking non-pharmacological prevention and relief. View all treatment options.
How to Access Vestibular Migraine Treatment in Calgary
Step 1
Visit your family doctor — describe your vestibular migraine symptoms: dizziness, vertigo, headache pattern, frequency, and how they are affecting your daily life. Request a referral to Infiniti Medical.
Step 2
Referral submitted — your physician faxes the completed referral form to 403-460-4569. Please include relevant headache history, vestibular history, and current medications.
Step 3
Our team contacts you to schedule your specialist assessment, diagnosis, and personalized vestibular migraine treatment plan.
👉 We guide you through the entire process. Full referral information here.
FAQ
FAQ — Vestibular Migraine Treatment Calgary
What is vestibular migraine and how is it different from regular migraine?
Vestibular migraine is a form of migraine in which the primary symptoms are vestibular in nature — vertigo, dizziness, and balance disturbances — rather than head pain alone. While classic migraine typically presents with unilateral, throbbing headache, vestibular migraine can cause episodes of spinning vertigo, spatial disorientation, and motion sensitivity with or without significant head pain. It is diagnosed according to IHS and Bárány Society criteria and requires specialist evaluation to distinguish from other vestibular disorders such as BPPV or Ménière’s disease.
Do I need a referral to see a vestibular migraine specialist in Calgary?
Yes. Infiniti Medical Headache & Migraine Clinic requires a physician referral for all new patients. Please speak with your family doctor or a walk-in clinic physician about your symptoms and ask them to submit a referral. Referrals can be faxed to 403-460-4569. For full referral instructions and a downloadable form, visit infinitimedical.ca/headache-clinic/referral-information/
What treatments are available for vestibular migraine at your NW Calgary clinic?
Our clinic offers a comprehensive range of evidence-based treatments for vestibular migraine, including preventive medications (beta-blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and CGRP inhibitors), Botox injections (Health Canada-approved for chronic migraine), occipital and trigeminal nerve blocks, infusion therapy for refractory cases, trigger point injections, and non-invasive neuromodulation devices (Cefaly, gammaCore). For patients with persistent balance difficulties, vestibular rehabilitation therapy is recommended in coordination with a physiotherapy provider.
How long does it take for vestibular migraine treatment to work?
Treatment timelines vary depending on the approach selected. Some patients notice improvement in vestibular symptoms within weeks of starting preventive medication. Botox therapy is typically assessed after two full treatment cycles (approximately 6 months). Your specialist will establish realistic expectations and defined follow-up milestones at your first appointment — and your plan will be adjusted based on your response.
Can vestibular migraine be confused with other conditions?
Yes — vestibular migraine is frequently misdiagnosed. It can mimic BPPV, Ménière’s disease, panic disorder, cervicogenic dizziness, and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD). Accurate diagnosis requires a specialist familiar with both headache medicine and vestibular disorders. At Infiniti Medical, our physicians are trained to conduct this differential diagnosis and arrive at the correct diagnosis — which is the foundation of effective treatment.
Is vestibular migraine treatment covered by Alberta Health Care?
Physician consultations at Infiniti Medical may be billable under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) — please contact our clinic at 403-460-4502 to confirm details specific to your situation. Some medications may be covered under Alberta Blue Cross or private insurance plans. Botox injections may be covered by private plans with appropriate clinical documentation. We recommend confirming coverage with your insurer prior to treatment.
Take the First Step
Find Relief from Vestibular Migraine in Calgary
You don’t have to keep managing dizziness, vertigo, and migraine attacks without specialist support. Our Calgary headache clinic is ready to help you find the answers — and the relief — you’ve been looking for.
⚕ Physician referral required · Fax: 403-460-4569 · Phone: 403-460-4502
Phone
Fax (Referrals)
403-460-4569
Location
#10 – 12432 Symons Valley Rd NW