Tinley Park Woman Treated For Vertigo Due To Hospital Partnership

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Tinley Park woman is recovering from vertigo after receiving treatment from Silver Cross Hospital's latest partnership with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, officials said.

Last summer, Chris Burtner told doctors she couldn't stand upright without hanging onto a wall or chair. For the Tinley Park resident, it felt like her world was spinning.

After a multitude of tests, a spokeswoman told Patch Burtner was referred to the AbilityLab location in New Lenox for rehabilitation services. The newest department, which began in 2018, was introduced to the south suburbs in order to expand physical medicine and rehab services in Will County.

There, it was determined Burtner was suffering from vertigo. As a former nurse's aide and school bus driver, Burtner told Patch she hadn't suffered from any conditions before vertigo, which causes a false sense of spinning.

"When I went outside to the garden, I brought my cane so I could keep my balance," said Burtner. "It just sort of came on."

After diagnosis, Burtner worked with a therapist at the AbilityLab who explained a group of crystals embedded inside of the woman's ear became dislodged and causes her discomfort. In order to get the crystals back to the correct ear canal, the therapist had to move Burtners head from side to side and monitor her eye movements in response.

"I felt better even before I left," Burtner said. "I went back for a follow-up and still felt great."

While Burtner began experiencing vertigo symptoms again a few months later, she was able to go right back to the AbilityLab for treatment.

A spokeswoman for Silver Cross said the partnership between both care centers made it so Burtner could receive treatment at the only place in the south suburbs which was equipped to treat vertigo.