Need Help

Hi everyone,
My  question is 'How does vertigo and bppv relate to MS?" I am awaiting my first neuro visit on 3/11 and am rather anxious about the whole thing.  I have been experiencing dizziness, vertigo and bppv for the last eight months pretty much non stop along with a whole bunch of other symptoms from blurry vision (had a full eye exam and some optic nerve damage was detected after a visual field test???) to pins and needles, brain fog, arms and legs falling asleep to the point that i can't feel them. Just like to know what in the world is going on?

[essdipity]

Hi, Banjo. Vertigo may be related to MS, but also maybe not. It depends on the cause and the source. Vertigo arising from problems in the central nervous system is often seen in MS.

However, vertigo from BPPV is a peripheral nervous system problem, thus not MS. Your neuro and ENT will need to work together to figure this out for you. There are good treatments for BPPV. I suggest you read up on the work of Dr. Epley, who has helped many patients with BPPV.

Good luck with your appt. Let us know how things go.

ess

[Tiredofbeingnumb]

Hi Banjo! I thought I'd respond because unfortunately, I've had plenty of experience with BPPV, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. While I haven't had MS vertigo, my neuro explained the difference between the two, so I'll try to explain it here.

First of all, no matter what, vertigo stinks! It is a miserable experience! I've had a few episodes of BPPV. Basically, it is called "positional vertigo" because being in a certain position (for me, lying on my left side) brings about the vertigo. The times I've had it, I've woken up on my left side, with intense vertigo. When I get in a sitting position, after some time, the vertigo eases. The cause behind this type of vertigo is the loosening of calcium carbonate "rocks" in your inner ear, that come loose and start rolling around, and that in turn causes the really intense vertigo. During my vertigo episode, ANY movement of my head causes the vertigo to intensify. It feels like I'm on a madly spinning merry-go-round, except I am not moving. If I stay absolutely still and don't move, after about 2 hours, the rocks seem to quiet down. During this time I also get sick, because it is like REALLY bad motion sickness.

Now, I haven't had MS, or central nervous system vertigo, but from what I was told by my doctor, the difference is that the MS vertigo isn't as intense (I don't think people usually get sick, and can probably function) but it lasts for weeks. As bad as BPPV is, the "episode" only lasted a couple of hours. Even so, for about a week I can only move around as fast as a snail, and my balance is off (also due to the inner ear). Plus, MS vertigo isn't affected by your body position. If you notice your vertigo gets better depending whether you are sitting  or laying down, then it would most likely be BPPV.

You say that you've had this constantly for 8 months, so that doesn't really sound like BPPV. Like i said, it comes in "episodes" , but nervous system vertigo can be constant. I think working with your neuro and ENT would help figure out which was which. BUT, if it is BPPV, there is something you can do called the Epley maneuvers. I've had it done both by a doctor, and you can do the maneuvers at home as well. The idea is to get the "rocks" that are rolling around in your ear, back in the canal where they belong. It has do do with positioning your head, first in the "bad" direction (the direction that initiates the vertigo), then swiftly turning your head in the other direction, which helps shift the rocks. Doing it once or twice a day for like a week seems to keep the rocks in their place. But, that only works if BPPV is what you have. It doesn't work for MS vertigo.

I'm sorry that you aren't feeling well! Good luck with your neuro. May he be a good one!

[banjo67]

Thanks to everyone for your input.  i have had epleys by both ent's and physical therepy with no success.  I have also been told it is MAV but I am not a true believer.  My first attack was in June and it was intense.  Since then it has subsided and I can function but it is still there, everyday. I guess I need to look into this nervous system vertigo.  thanks again