dizzy with ear and head pain

Ive had wooziness/foggy head feeling with any head movement for the past 5 months. Ear, Nose & Throat specialists couldn't see any ear problems (I thought it might be ear related). Lately, my ears seem to feel like I am on an airplane a lot of the time, with temple headaches and other brief shooting pains all one one side of head... Also, my ears now constantly crackle/pop when swallow and yawn. General doc gave me Allegra-d, but this barely helps. No problems when lying down, only when moving. Grocery stores seem to me wooziness the worst. I don't know what to do next. An MRI is recommended to rule out brain tumor, but I can't afford this. Should I see an allergist, or a neurologist next.. Or should I just go get the expensive MRI, which seems like the only way to get my ENT to talk to me?

[Nancy T]

Fortunately, most dizzy-foggy problems like what you're describing do NOT have any cause that would show up on an MRI. (I say "fortunately" because those would be serious causes.)

UNfortunately, you are probably right that your ENT won't want to proceed without an MRI. It's their job to rule out life-threatening or serious causes when a patient comes to them with symptoms. An MRI in cases of continuing undiagnosed dizziness is standard, even though the chances of something serious are quite small.

You could try seeing a dizziness specialist: a neuro-otologist (also spelled neurotologist), which is an ENT with extra training in the inner ear; or an otoneurologist (neurologist specializing in dizziness). Neurotologists can be found in most large cities, but otoneurologists are more rare. See lists of dizziness specialists at the American Neurotology Society Web site or the Vestibular Disorders Association Web site.

Either of these doctors would also insist on an MRI, I'm sure. Sorry!

Nancy T.