Sick Note for Vertigo and Dizziness: Documentation Guide
Vertigo episodes can make driving, operating machinery, or even standing unsafe. Here's how to get proper documentation for vertigo-related absences.
## Vertigo and Work Safety
Vertigo — the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning — is more than just feeling dizzy. It's a medical condition that can make driving, operating machinery, climbing ladders, or even walking safely impossible.
### Types of Vertigo
| Type | Duration | Cause |
|------|----------|-------|
| BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) | Seconds to minutes per episode | Inner ear crystals displaced |
| Vestibular Neuritis | Days to weeks | Viral inflammation of vestibular nerve |
| Ménière's Disease | Hours per episode | Inner ear fluid imbalance |
| Labyrinthitis | Days to weeks | Inner ear infection |
### Why Vertigo Requires Time Off Work
Vertigo is particularly dangerous for:
- **Drivers** (truck drivers, delivery workers, bus operators) — cannot safely operate vehicles
- **Construction workers** — fall risk from heights
- **Healthcare workers** — cannot safely handle patients
- **Machine operators** — risk of injury
- **Office workers** — severe nausea and inability to focus on screens
Even "desk jobs" can be impossible during acute vertigo episodes due to nausea triggered by screen use and head movements.
### When You Need a Sick Note
Documentation is typically needed when:
- You miss more than 1-2 shifts due to vertigo
- You drive for work and cannot safely operate a vehicle
- You work at heights or with machinery
- Your employer requires medical clearance before returning to safety-sensitive duties
- You need workplace accommodation (e.g., no driving, no heights)
### Getting Documentation for Vertigo
Vertigo makes travelling to a clinic particularly difficult and potentially dangerous (you shouldn't drive). MedLetter provides a safe alternative:
1. Complete the online questionnaire from home — describe your symptoms, triggers, and work requirements
2. A licensed physician reviews your submission
3. Receive your documentation via email — no dangerous drive to a clinic
### Return to Work Considerations
For safety-sensitive roles, your employer may require:
- Confirmation that acute symptoms have resolved
- Medical clearance for driving or working at heights
- Workplace accommodation recommendations (temporary desk duties, no ladder work)
MedLetter can provide both absence documentation and return-to-work clearance when clinically appropriate.
### When to Seek Emergency Care
Visit an emergency room if vertigo is accompanied by:
- Sudden severe headache
- Slurred speech or facial drooping
- Numbness or weakness on one side
- Double vision or vision loss
- Difficulty walking or loss of coordination
- These could indicate a stroke or other neurological emergency
**Important:** MedLetter provides documentation for work absences only. If you are experiencing emergency symptoms, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room immediately.
[Get Your Documentation →](/get-started/sick_note)