Vertigo, Nausea, Dizziness, etc. etc. HELP

[C_Biscuit2011]

Hi - Just had an MRI done this week to rule out acoustic neuroma.  Do not have it (good) however I now need to figure out what is wrong with me.  First symptoms started about 3 mos ago - pounding in my left ear (about 1-2 times per day, usually at work).  The pounding is random and feels like someone is tap dancing or a drumbeat (sounds muffled).  Then the pounding started occurring when I hear a noise - like a reverberation or feedback (think of a construction site when you first hear the pounding of a hammer and then hear the echo afterward).  I now feel the click/reverberation after I complete a sentence and it will still happen randomly on its own.  I also (for entire 3 months) have felt some random vertigo (maybe once a day, not frequent).  Feels like my whole body freezes up and if I take another step I will fall off a cliff, like I am floating...this is a split second type of feeling and it is scary.  Feels like my sight "jumps" when this happens too.  Now as I sit at my desk I feel my head kind of leaning towards the left (my bad ear), like I am floating.  I have also been nauseous fairly frequently and have tinnitus all day (but MUCH worse at night b/c there is no background sounds to block it).  My ear also feels full and is sometimes painful, but I still have good hearing (although I am finding that loud noises - i.e. my kids crying / listening to music will bother me - it doesn't hurt it's just uncomfortable, like nails on a chalkboard).  My right ear has some pain as well (no other symptoms with it).  There is no fluid in my ears (doctor already checked).  I am waiting to hear from the MD to tell me what is next (ENT appointment I guess).  But does anyone have an idea of what could be wrong?  Sounds like some kind of inner ear issue I guess...there are so many common symptoms.  I am worried that I could lose my hearing if this continues much longer especially since the symptoms have progressed so quickly....any insight would help.  I hate how I feel right now. THANK YOU!!!

[Nancy T]

Sounds like you are on the right track, having the inner-ear tests done and then (most likely) seeing a neurologist. I am NOT an expert but I wonder if the thumping you hear after finishing a sentence is a stapedial spasm somehow triggered by sound (or the ending of a sound). I used to get a burst of tinnitus in one ear and a big "whump" sensation in my head triggered by sudden sounds but also by the ENDING of a staticky sound, such as when I turned off running water or changed the radio station.

The jumping vision with those dizziness episodes--I think that would be some kind of nystagmus? but I'm really not sure. My (uneducated) guess is that you might have some kind of "crossed wires" in the brainstem.

Good luck getting it sorted out. Presumably the ENT will refer you to a neurologist who specializes in dizziness (if one is available in your area). There is also a specialist called a neuro-otologist, an ENT with extra training in the ear and its connections to the brain. If your ENT does not specialize in the INNER EAR, you might want to look for a neuro-otologist (Also spelled neurotologist). See the American Neurotology Society Web site's membership list. But see the neurologist first if your ENT or PCP recommends it.

At least it's a comfort that your MRI is normal!

[C_Biscuit2011]

Hi - Thanks.  Saw an ENT today and his initial reaction was that it was NOT inner ear (not sure why).  My main complaints are dizziness (feel like I am floating all the time, imbalance when I walk), nausea, ear thumping (from time to time) and tinnitus.  The worst symptom is the imbalance - when I walk and put pressure on each leg, it's like my body is going in the opposite direction, like I have no middle ground.  They did hearing tests today and everything normal.  Doing some balance tests on Tues.  ENT did mention I may need to go to a neurologist, but we'll see how these tests go next week.  I had an MRI this week to rule out acoustic neuroma (normal).  The MRI was done with AND without contrast.  Thanks again.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

You are experiencing repeated episodes of altered hearing, tinnitus and a sense of disassociation. These symptoms could occur with problems in the inner ear, the brain and the cranial nerves. Please consult your primary care physician who will do an initial clinical assessment and then may refer you to a neurologist or ENT specialist. Investigations like X rays and MRI will help to arrive at a diagnosis for appropriate therapy.  

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.