Light Headed with Headache

[cute_cow]

For the last week and a half I have been feeling light headed and dizzy.  This is also accompanied by a headache, but not very painful.
I have no other syptoms, maybe just a bit more tired than usual.
I did have sinusitis back in January and not sure if this is the same.
Anyone else feel the same or any advice?

[ImSimplyMe]

You could be suffering from a migraine. Migraines can be very complicated. I have a friend who had migraine-associated-vertigo, but her headaches were never that painful. She just got dizzy and light headed every time she had a headache. Chiropractic care resolved her migraines, and thus, her dizziness.

Good luck to you. I suffer with veritgo (mine is likely related to my TMJ) and it's a terrible feeling to be dizzy. Keep us posted.

[cute_cow]

I went to my MD and turns out that I have BVVP ( BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO). I have been given medication for 2 weeks to get me over the holidays and hopefully I will feel a bit better.
Thanks for your help ImSimplyMe

[sirjoseph]

how did your doctor determine it was bvvp?

[Enoch Choi, MD]

to diagnose BPV in my patients I perform a positional nystagmus test where i look for twitching of eyes when they lie down with head turned

did they do that test?

[Nancy T]

OK, what kind of MD did you see? If they gave you medication for BPPV, that wasn't a doctor who knows anythign about dizziness. Most regular doctors know little or nothing about dizziness, although they can try some initial things to try to see if it's caused by inner ear, cardiac, anxiety, or whatever.

For one thing, BPPV is overdiagnosed--Dr. Choi is right that BPPV is diagnosed with the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, although even if it doesn't show BPPV, it can be treated on the basis of symptoms. Because the treatment for BPPV is the simple, fast (few minutes), noninvasive Epley manuever (of which there are variations depending on which canal is involved), NOT medications!

ImSimplyMe is right too, that dizziness with headache is highly suspect for migraine-associated vertigo. The treatment for that is not chiropractic adjustment, but rather migraine medications (there are many to try) and/or avoidance of personal migraine triggers.

If your symptoms do not improve, go see a real inner-ear dizziness specialist (once your regular MD has ruled out anything like cardiac or anxiety causes of dizziness), namely a neuro-otologist, also spelled neurotologist. You can find them at the American Neurotology Society Web site. Neurologists, especially an oto-neurologist, would be the ones to deal with migraines if your regular MD can't help you.

But again, you might want to give it time to go away on its own since it's only been such a short time.

Best of luck

Nancy T.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Nancy T is right, I was describing the Dix-Hallpike maneuver

I use Epley or Sermont maneuvers to make it better

how's it going now?

[Patriciad]

I also was diagnosed with BPPV. I also was diagnosed with TMJ. I was given a mouth guard to stop grinding my teeth. I do not have the spinning any longer but I do get a lightheaded feeling,mind not clear,headaches and constant stiff neck. My glands swell, I go on antiobiotics and they go away, but as soon as I am off antibiotics after 10 days the glands swell again. Blood work all normal. Been to so many doctors- Can BPPV cause the dizziness and glands. This has been going on for four months. I do the exercises for BPPV and I get a little dizzy at first but not like I used to. It just seems crazy- I have a different symptom every day.

[Audrey555]

I have the exact same symptoms as you.  Started with extreme dizziness and when I turn my head to the left (I'm guessing BVVP) and now my gland on the left goes up and down with swelling.  Sometimes it hurts so bad I can barely drink, then other days it is fine.  Have you heard anything??

[rich252]

Get checked for Lyme's disease