[OT] Recalibrating a dodgy sensor
Tomás Ó hÉilidhe <toe_list <at> lavabit.com>
2008-08-01 13:11:03 GMT
Just thought I'd share something I find interesting: I went to see a
physiotherapist today because I've had vertigo for the last two years.
It first came about at a time when I was very sick, I had some sort of
viral infection, causing fatigue, high blood pressure, anxiety attacks,
sore throats, cold symptoms.
Anyway, as months and eventually a year or two went by, I got better and
I'm OK now. Whatever was wrong with me, most likely a viral infection,
it's gone away, but the only lasting symptom I have is vertigo. But
anyway, I went to see this physiotherapist dude today and he was saying
to me that, given my history and my symptoms, my vertigo's almost
certainly caused by "vestibular neuritis". Basically this means that my
vestibular nerve was caused to swell up, and that's what's after causing
permanent damage to the nerve.
We've got two vestibular nerves, one for the right side and one for the
left side. The one on my left side is damaged so it's giving a weaker
signal to my brain than it should.
The "vestibular system" can be thought of as the sensor, it keeps track
of your balance. The "vestibular nerve" is the wire that connects the
sensor to the processor (the processor being the brain).
So anyway, the damage is done now, my vestibular nerve will see little
or no improvement, but what's great is that the damage is complete and
that its effect is consistent. All my brain (the processor) has to do is
take in the signal from the left side, tweak the measurement (e.g. add 3
to it), and then process it.
(Continue reading)