headache and balance problem

Hi,

I'm having this lightheaded feeling since last year. It gets worse in the afternoon. There are instances while i'm walking that my balance get's disturb. I feel that i'm gonna fall but it doesn't happen. I just pause for a moment, slowly walk and continue walking. I also have a tendency to walk near a wall maybe because i'm afraid i'm gonna fall down.

I am consulting with my neuro. Here's my medical history:

Nov 2006
I had a stiff neck, left side. I'm not sure if this is related but i'll mention it as well.

Other symptoms:
I can hear a cracking sound at the left back side of the neck (sound similar when you slide your hand on your hair near the back of the neck)
I hear this sometimes when i move my neck. Sometimes i don't hear it.
This is still here even up to the time of writing this thead so i'm not mentioning it.

Feb 2007
I started noticing lightheadedness feeling with the balance problem.
The balance problem happens when i'm walking. When i'm sitting it feels like normal.

Other symptoms:
1. tinnitus (both ears but i usually hear from the right side)
The intensity is tolerable. I can only hear it when the environment is very quiet.
2. headache (none in the morning but it appears in the afternoon)

March - May 2007
Had a consultation with the ENT doctor. I had hearing test and ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response). Both were normal.
This ruled out Acoustic Neuroma. The doctor gave me vertilate for a week.
The medicine didn't help, i had the same symptoms.

Lightheaded and headache is worse in the afternoon. In a scale from 1-10 (10 being the worst headache) i have 4 accompanied by lightheadness.
Headache seems to disappear when i take a long walk in the malls.

June - July 2007
Same symptoms.

Tinnitus is still there. No change in intensity.

August 2007
I consulted a neurologist.
The following examination were done:
1. Knee jerk -- normal
2. Eye response -- normal
3. Blood pressure -- 120/80
4. Others
No feeling of numbness in the face.
No tingling.
No hearing loss.
5. CT scan -- normal.
The CT scan was a relief. This ruled out tumor and life threatening problems.

The doctor gave me piracetam for a week. It increases the blood flow and helps cognition. The doctor said that this could be a blood flow problem.

I think the medecine helped to some extent. But i'm still feeling the same symptoms. But less lightheaded this time.

Tinnitus is still there. No change in intensity.

September - October 2007
I'm taking no medecines.
Same symptoms. I think i was used to the lightheadedness. >_<

Tinnitus is still there. No change in intensity.

November 2007
Same symptoms. Less lightheaded (or was i used to being lightheaded already?)

Tinnitus is still there. No change in intensity.

December 2007 - January 2008
I feel no more lightheadedness. I can now walk without worrying i would fall. For the headache, i think it's gone, or it's already dull.

Tinnitus is still there. No change in intensity.

February 2008
The same feeling as of January 2008.

March 2008
I think the lightheaded feeling increased a little. When walking there are times my balance is disturb. I'm having headaches in the afternoon. The same intensity of the headache.

Tinnitus is still there. No change in intensity.

The same symptoms like before is going back.

April - May 2008
The symptoms are back. Balance is disturb when walking.

I had stiff neck at the left side. The same side like before.
The cracking sound symptoms is still there.

June 2008 - July 2008
I went back to the neuro.
The doctor said that i have tension headaches. I was told that there's no need to repeat the CT scan. The doctor suspected nerve compression.

When walking sometimes my balance is disturb again. I have the same symptoms i felt before.
The headache seems to worsen the lightheadedness when walking. And now when standing up i feel lightheaded when this headache is present.

The doctor gave me a muscle relaxant with paracetamol. Help a little but didn't take away the lighheaded feeling.

Other symptoms:
1. tingling at the top of the fingers and toe (i also feel weakness near my elbow and near the knees)
Right now the tingling in hands is no more. On my feet i feel a little tingling (like electricity).

I went to the ortho to see if this is a neck muscle problem.

Test conducted:
1. Spinal (near the neck) xray -- normal
2. EMG/NCV (hands and neck) -- normal
There's no nerve compression, or pinched nerve.

The doctor said the cracking sound i hear a muscle problem. I had PT but didn't help. Seems to worsen my lightheadedness. Tension headache is not worse anymore.

Same symptoms as before on lightheadedness, tinnitus.

Now i'm giving up. I don't know how to manage this lightheadedness.
I'm afraid to walk a long distance now because of this lightheadedness.
I will appreciate if you can give me any advice.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Have you been to an ophthalmologist? Poor eyesight, low blood sugar and dehydration can cause lightheadedness and headache.
Excessive stress, anxiety and fatigue can also cause dizziness and headache. Sometimes hyperacidity can present as dizziness and headache especially when there is gas formation.
Please discuss these possibilities with your treating doctor. Do keep us posted!

[neugier]

Hi DrNoopurMD,

Yes i went to the optha. Btw, i'm wearing contact lenses, sometimes eyeglasses.
The doctor said the grade is ok for my eyesight.

I had my blood test recently.  My blood sugar is normal.

About the headache, the neuro said that this is tension headache.  The other doctor who performed the EMG/NCV told me that this is just stress and tension headache.
I don't know about the lightheadedness thing though. And I don't really feel dizzy. The world is not spinning.  It's more of a balance problem to me and the lightheaded feeling is there.

What are the other possible cause of this lightheadedness?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Other causes of dizziness include inner ear diseases like Meniere’s disease, ear infections, labrynthitis, and orthostatic hypotension.
In Orthostatic hypotension there is a sudden fall in BP when standing from sitting posture due to peripheral pooling of blood which results in lightheadedness.
Limb elevation when lying down and maintaining hydration helps.

[neugier]

Although i have some of the symptoms, my ENT doctor already considered some of the inner ear diseases.  My neurologist also mentioned to me that this could be an inner ear problem. She told me to avoid salty food and alcohol intake. It's been months since I stayed away from those things.

I'll again discuss the the inner ear problem with my neurologist. I'll also go to my ENT.  I'll keep you posted.