VERTIGO, quite frequent now

About 5 years ago I had a couple dizzy spells and went to an ENT specialist who diagnosed it as Vertigo.  Over the past couple years, it has become much more frequent.  It was like once or twice a year, now it's very common...like weekly, and it seems to go in spurts -- when it happens, it happens several times a day for days in a row.  It gets to the point where I think I will fall over, or pass out.   I also have been getting severe headaches, not sure if it's related.  Could it be an inner ear infection?  Or does vertigo get this frequent?  Should I be re-evaluated?  I hate to go to the doctor's again, especially for no big deal.

[mbl607]

Hello, I would make an appt to see the doctor. They should do a MRI of the brain and make sure there is nothing pushing on a nerve or causing pressure in your head.  Good luck and I know how horrible vertigo is, so I wish you the best.

[momanddad]

thanks for the input!
did you ever a experience vertigo while driving? I get nervous about that, especially with my kids in the car!

[phoxey1]

Anyone suffering from Vertigo might want to check out this website:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/central/cervical.html

I had to search for then give this information to my doctor.  Doctors are not perfect.  Sometimes YOU have to take the initiative and tell them what to look for and let them take it from there.

[rosebody]

I hope you find relief and find out what is causing this.  I have had the problem for years.  I have had many falls and injuries, and I just had a procedure for one fall and will have my second operation next month.  

One caution is that some of the balance problems can be caused by medications or toxins, even salt in the diet.  I am not on medications for the balance disorders I have - mine can't be "cured."  If I were to have an ear flare-up that needed medication, I would be prescribed some.  Other medications I am given for other problems can be very dangerous for my balance disorders because of the possible toxicity they present to me.  One of my bad falls last year was caused by that.

I went to a neuro-otologist that is considered one of the world experts on balance.  I lucked out, the ER doctor that saw me after one of my bad falls realized what my problem was and sent me to him.  That is after seeing countless of neurologists and other doctors who gave me a lot of mixed answers and confusion.  I ended up having 3 different forms of balance disorders - one is ear related, one is brain related, one is body related.  There are specific names for each disorder.  I ended up getting certified vestibular therapy and that helped, exercise helps, but I will never be "cured" of the problems because of the complexity of the disorders.  One of the disorders seems to be inherited by the females in my family.