Spiraling into the Vertigo Danger Zone: Kim Radford's Story
March 10, 2025
By: WakeMed Rehab & Physical Therapy
Categories: Raleigh Campus, Stories, Physical Therapy, Emergency, Foundation
Tags: Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, Vertigo
Vertigo — that disorienting sensation of spinning or whirling — can be truly unsettling. It's more than just feeling dizzy; it's a false sense that one's body or surroundings are in motion. This can manifest as a tilting, swaying or spinning sensation, making even walking or standing feel precarious. While occasional dizziness is common, persistent or severe vertigo can significantly impact daily life, disrupting work, social activities and overall well-being. It's often a symptom of an underlying condition affecting the inner ear or brain — making proper diagnosis and treatment crucial for managing the condition and regaining a sense of balance and stability. Without effective treatment, a bout of vertigo can lead to other unfortunate outcomes, such as a serious fall. Unfortunately, Kim Radford experienced the domino effect of vertigo.
A Vacation Spun Out of Control
Kim and her husband, Gary, were on vacation, visiting friends and family in Raleigh, NC. On Saturday afternoon, January 18, the couple enjoyed a six-mile hike with a friend. By that evening, Kim was overcome with vertigo.
"I was sad that I'd missed a lunch date earlier with our son. I simply wasn't up to it."
Thinking something she'd eaten may have triggered the attack, she went to bed to sleep it off. Sunday, January 19, in the wee hours of the morning, Kim got up to use the restroom. Still feeling unsteady, she fell and hit her head.
EMS Steadies the Patient for Safe Transport to WakeMed
Alarmed, Gary immediately called 911. Emergency medical services (EMS) arrived swiftly and stabilized Kim's head, neck and spine, carefully transporting her to WakeMed Raleigh Campus Emergency Department. Upon arrival, the team sent Kim to imaging where she received a computed tomography (CT) scan. She was diagnosed with bilateral temporal skull fractures and bleeding between her skull and brain.
Kim was admitted as an inpatient in the neuro intensive care unit (Neuro ICU) and underwent more imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helped to rule out trauma to her neck. An additional CT scan and MRI of her head revealed she'd suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with brain swelling (cerebral edema). Kim was heavily sedated to allow her brain time to heal. After a period of rest and swelling reduction, WakeMed general surgeon Pascal Udekwu, MD, FACS, performed a tracheostomy on Kim to aid in long-term airway management, with hopes of a shorter time in the Neuro ICU with fewer complications.
Within days, her recovery had progressed enough that she was able to move to a stepdown unit. Her husband and children were vigilant to be with her around the clock, offering her comfort during her hospitalization.
A Stable Restart with WakeMed Rehabilitation
On February 14, Valentine's Day, Kim began therapy at the WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital to regain her strength following her TBI. She underwent therapy from 8:30 am to 3 pm Monday through Saturday.
Kim received the highest quality, most compassionate care from physical therapists Da'Rell M., Kelly S., Christina J. and Sam F; occupational therapists Hope C., Christy P. and Teresa K.; recreational therapist Kristyn Y.; and speech therapists Jen M., Liz H., Rachel C., Karen S., Jordan A. and Michelle R; as well as case manager Lindsey R. On February 25, after nearly two weeks of intensive therapy, Kim was discharged.
Sam F., PT, DPT, CBIS, her WakeMed vestibular specialist, notes, "Kim had multi-canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), which is frequently seen in rehab following head trauma. In BPPV, otoconia (calcium carbonate crystals) get dislodged in the inner ear, causing feelings of spinning, dizziness and loss of balance. Treatment consists of several sessions of repositioning maneuvers, which move the otoconia back where they belong in the inner ear. This improves symptoms of vertigo and imbalance in addition to significantly reducing the fall risk."
Kim recalls, "I am very grateful for my physical, occupational, recreational and speech therapies. These helped me resume a new normal. Physical therapy was especially helpful in getting my vertigo back to an equilibrium. My long-range goals are to be fully independent; get my hearing and vision back to a semblance of normality; recognize signs and symptoms of a vertigo flare, so I can prevent it or take appropriate action to prevent injury; and retain the progress I made through rehab. Although I currently live in Blacksburg, VA, I also hope to stay connected with my WakeMed care team."
Back in Balance: Kim's Life Today
Kim has returned to Blacksburg, where she works in workforce development and at various colleges as an adjunct marketing professor. Her hope is to continue to heal and return to her work as well as to her physically active lifestyle; her love of reading; and interest in holistic healing for care of her body, mind and spirit.
Of her time at WakeMed, Kim shares, "My physical and occupational therapy teams have been instrumental in my physical comeback to use exercise as part of my healing process. Additionally, the physical therapy team pinpointed that vertigo was a significant contributor to my accidental fall, leading to my TBI. Moreover, my speech therapy team put in considerable time explaining the healing journey and the impact of my TBI. Then, WakeMed nursing staff took excellent care of me from the moment I arrived in the emergency department to my time in the ICU, the step-down unit and rehab. They went above and beyond to ensure I was cared for and that my healing journey progressed."
About WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital
The WakeMed Rehabilitation team of accomplished professionals specialize in treating adults and children who have experienced a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, orthopaedic issue, trauma, or limb loss through CARF-accredited programs. They share your goal: to regain as much independence and mobility as possible. They use the latest rehab techniques and technology and educate both patients and their family members to restore quality of life. Our medical directors also maintain lifelong relationships with patients to ensure their needs are met as they age. The WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital, a 98-bed nationally recognized rehabilitation hospital, is located in Raleigh, NC and serves patients throughout the southeastern United States. Please call us at 919-350-7876 to speak with an Admissions representative or to schedule a tour.
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