Permanent Migraine Aura

[rodymu]

Dear Doctor,

Since 8 years I have obscured vision in both eyes. I have a kind of double vision, even with one eye closed. Also high contrast such as characters on a white sheet of paper cause trouble just like patterns. It makes reading a difficult task. Moreover my vision doesn't seem to keep up with alterations of my head's position. It is as if the "images" are not updated quickly enough. Similar to migraine aura I sometimes miss part of the picture.Such periods can take days or weeks or even months. I also suffer from strong and long lasting after images from time to time.

The strange thing is that such periods are triggered by physical exercise, especially when it concerns the shoulders and upper back.

Dutch doctors have concluded that I have a conversion disorder but I have good reasons not to believe that. A doctor from Germany considered Migraine Aura Status and I have tried several anti-epileptic medication but without luck.

MS is ruled out and the visual field test was OK as was a VEP. But those tests were 8 years ago.

Any new and fresh opinions would be welcomed

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[rodymu]

Dear Larkenn,

Thanks a lot for your advice. I actually have had bad experiences with several chiropractors. It is not because of them. It just doesn't work in my case and actually makes things worse.

I will have a look on Irlen syndrome. I have read something about it in the past but I forgot.

When I was young I experienced monthly migraine attacks, the classic ones with aura and headache. Often those attacks were triggered by heavy exercise. This week I talked to someone who had the same experience.

My current attacks also follow heavy excercise but are also triggered by other events. My visions changes within a split second and the disturbed vision may take days or even weeks. It often leaves me with the same dull feeling in the head as I experienced with the classic migraines after the headaches subsided. It always took a couple of days after the headaches before I felt normal.

The disturbed vision is persistent but it changes. Besides I have other issues like periods of bad coordination, burning feet, tingling hands and feet, dizziness, brain fog, fatigue. etc.. Those are aggrevated by physical exercise and certain events. With events I mean unexpected things such as picking up the mail which seems to be light but turns out to be heavy.  Grabbing a sticky tape container at a shop to pack the goods you just bought but it turns out the container is nailed to the table. I know it sounds weird but it is unfortunately true.

[Larkenn]

You might want to consider seeing a chiropractor. I have read about people with vision problems and dizziness being helped by spinal adjustment.

Also you may want to research irlen syndrome ( scotopic sensitivity syndrome).  Its still highly controversial but it's worth checking out.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[rodymu]

I understand that such symptoms can be caused by psychological factors and perhaps some of the visual symptoms are indeed due to stress. However the symptom that showed up first (double vision, migranious vision) started after a hevay fitness exercise. This symptom lasted for half a year and returned after a heavy exercise again. This was repeated over and over so there is a definite relationship between loading certain muscles and this visual symptom. You can imagine that such a symptom induces a lot of stress because it impairs many daily tasks. It also sometimes feels like you are disconnected from the world around you but this is normal with such vision and known to people who have a migraine attack.

Possibly the secondary symptoms are caused by the stress. The reason why I discard conversion syndrom as a possible cause is that there is a clear relationship between physical "overload" of the shoulders and upper back and my vision. This is a repeatable thing.

Also, I followed many psychologic therapies such as group therapy, Gestalt, Hypno, Neuro Feedback etc.. None of those had any effect. Moreover, attacks may happen at periods I feel happy so it doesn't make sense to me. My GP who knows me better than the other specialists doubts conversion as well. Besides, the diagnosis "conversion" doesn't give any tool to the patient to dela with his problems. On the contrary it enhances anxiety.

Thanks for everyone contributing to my topic and this forum in general.

[justinstb]

the condition is known as palinopsia,if it even exists in my opinion many ppl who are on the internet complaining about 'symptoms' such as afterimages so called 'visual snow' and the like are just dealing with condriasis

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I would suggest you see a neuro ophthalmologist. I would also suggest you use the search feature and review the archives as there are others that have complained of slow vision. There is a name for the condition starts with "pal....."  but the name escapes me now.

JCH III MD