increasing neurological symptoms (tinnitus, burning, weakness)

[joeybubbles]

Hi
Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my question.

One day 14 months ago I woke up with bilateral high pitched ringing in my head.  Hasn't gone away since (not even for 5 minutes).  One year ago I had an episode where I woke up and couldn't walk.  I kept falling to my left side and that lasted about 18 hours. Past 6 months I've had on and off again burning sensation on my skin.  Mostly jaw and upper arms, but sometimes all over.  Most days I have a motion sickness type feeling in my head.  It's worse if I am around busy areas or go shopping (bummer). One week ago I thought my left leg would buckle under me.  Its felt weird since.  I get cold sores on my lip monthly and am taking valtrex 1000mg per day to prevent them.

mri of brain, ana, sed rate, serum immunoglobin electrophoresis normal.  b12 311, cholesterol 110, triglycerides 39.  It's been a year since I had a cbc anc cmp but they were normal at that time.  thyroid studies normal.

Any thoughts.  Should I have mri of spine, should I be checked for celiac disease or paraneoplastic syndrome.  My neurologist said my neuro exam is abnormal but he can't find out what is causing it.

thank you

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

I cannot give you a clinical diagnosis over the internet, unfortunately, and this post is not a formal medical opinion

One of the possibiliites is dysfunction of the middle or inner ear. This can cause tinninus, hearing loss, and episodic vertogo or loss of balance. More tarely it can be from central nervous system dysfunction such as an acoustic nerve tumor or other growths, stroke or demyelinating disease, but this is evaluated with MRI as you have done.

An oto-neurologist is an expert at differentiating and diagnosing peripheral and central hearing/balance disorder, with some specialized testing such as videonystagmogrpahy. An audiogram to check your hearing should be done if not already also. The sensory symptoms are not clear, other tests might include HIV, Lyme, thyroid, B6 levels, and perhaps some heavy metal screening. PAraneoplastc syndromes are rare, and the tests expensive. Choice of these tests needs to be made by your physicaina given your full clinical picture.

Good luck

[joeybubbles]

thank you for your answer.  One other question is if it was a demylinating disease like ms and I had a clear mri of the brain is it still necessary to have an mri of the cervical spine or would the mri of the brain cover enough of the spine to tell if there were lesions.
thank you

[patsy10]

I have just about all of your symptoms too, and more that you didn't mention.  I have had all sorts of tests, MRI's Brain, cervical spine, thoracic, lumbar spine, EMG.  They can't find out what's wrong with me either.

MS lesions are found in brain and cervical spine.  So, to rule it out the MRI isn't a bad idea.  At least for piece of mind, anyway.

There's a test called evoked potentials that looks for demyelinating problems too.  I'm having that one in a couple of weeks.

I agree with Carol regarding lyme.  It causes all sorts of weird neuro problems.  I think it might be my problem as well since I had 3 bullseye rashes back in the early 90'S.

Good Luck.  I definitely know what you are going through.

[MsBe]

Can you have Lyme and not be aware of being attached to a tick? I have pulled ticks off me in the past 12 months because I enjoy hunting in the woods, but have necer had a rash, only swelling like a generic bug bite.
I have so many symptons simmilar to what I am reading with the same results..no dx. maybe axiety. the vertigo is disabling.
I am empathetic to all

[patsy10]

Absolutely.  Many people with lyme never recall a tick bite or rash.  The nymph form of the tick is about the size of this period(.)  I would think it's more likely since you have actually pulled ticks off.  Check out canlyme.org and read and also look at the pictures of rashes.

[seven7]

I started having left ear problems many years ago.  Some doctors said it was Menier's Syndrome.   The ringing never has gone away, and I guess it never will.  But all the other noises,  crackling, roaring and twitching have stopped.

I still feel "out of balance" often.  The part about you going sideways instead of straight sure sounds like inner ear problems, and might be Menier's.  (I might be spelling this wrong)