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Possible MS or ????
Have had rather chronic dizziness since mid July 2010. GP sent me to an ENT who said it was BPPV and gave me exercises to do; go home take two aspirins and don't call me in the morning. At least hearing was perfect. Second visit to ENT who suggested going to a neurologist. Had my first visit to the neurologist on Dec. 3. Got a battery of tests.
Starting to feel like a run-around. Neurologist said it could be a pinched neck vertibrae or possible MS. Sent me home with two-a-day Daypro anti-inflammatory. Neurologist said it is most certainly NOT BPPV. Sigh, the big run-around is starting.
Have had increasing non-diabetic neuropathy in both feet for years. Comes and goes, but mostly stays. The dizziness is what really got my attention. First blast was in mid July. By August it was better but still had "residue" dizziness. In October I really got slammed with dizziness. I have started walking like I am in the drunk tank. Even that comes and goes. The last couple days have been pretty good and tonight I have gotten dizzy with the slightest provocation. No headaches, no leg/spine aches, nada. I did have major spinal reconstruction in 1994 and am fused T-12 to L-4 so I know what to look for with regards to spinal issues.
Now in December the dizziness has plateaued but is still very present. Friends have told me I have what I learned is called nystagmus. Once in a while I am aware of it. Left eye vision is "wierd." Comes and goes with clarity. Right eye is fine. I am now having problems with some sort of visual over-stimulous--I was stopped waiting for a train--the passing of the train made me so dizzy I felt like tossing my cookies. Now this is really strange--in 56 years, I have never been so much as sea/car/travel sick--ever.
Has anyone experienced dizziness, numbness, and visual problems as I have described above? Whether is it MS or not, I do not know, but something is certainly wrong. Thanks in advance.
Starting to feel like a run-around. Neurologist said it could be a pinched neck vertibrae or possible MS. Sent me home with two-a-day Daypro anti-inflammatory. Neurologist said it is most certainly NOT BPPV. Sigh, the big run-around is starting.
Have had increasing non-diabetic neuropathy in both feet for years. Comes and goes, but mostly stays. The dizziness is what really got my attention. First blast was in mid July. By August it was better but still had "residue" dizziness. In October I really got slammed with dizziness. I have started walking like I am in the drunk tank. Even that comes and goes. The last couple days have been pretty good and tonight I have gotten dizzy with the slightest provocation. No headaches, no leg/spine aches, nada. I did have major spinal reconstruction in 1994 and am fused T-12 to L-4 so I know what to look for with regards to spinal issues.
Now in December the dizziness has plateaued but is still very present. Friends have told me I have what I learned is called nystagmus. Once in a while I am aware of it. Left eye vision is "wierd." Comes and goes with clarity. Right eye is fine. I am now having problems with some sort of visual over-stimulous--I was stopped waiting for a train--the passing of the train made me so dizzy I felt like tossing my cookies. Now this is really strange--in 56 years, I have never been so much as sea/car/travel sick--ever.
Has anyone experienced dizziness, numbness, and visual problems as I have described above? Whether is it MS or not, I do not know, but something is certainly wrong. Thanks in advance.
My dizziness seems to strike when I do not seem to be able to process what I am seeing. I can place my head in any reasonable position, slowly, and nothing changes. However, if I look rapidly to the right or left as in driving to make a turn, everything I see goes into a wierd slow-motion/slow repsonse from my eye to the brain.
Yesterday I again had that fast stabbing pain in my left eye and my vision in that eye went nutso, the rest of the day and today as well. I can see out of it--no blindness thank God, just very fuzzy vision, but not blurry. And yes, the color perception in that eye is like a color TV with the contrast turned down. The other eye is fine. It usually takes a few days to a week to clear up. It comes and goes.
I heard about a Dizziness and Balance center in Fresno on a radio AD. I may make an appt. depending upon what happens with my next neuro visit on Jan. 6.
Yesterday I again had that fast stabbing pain in my left eye and my vision in that eye went nutso, the rest of the day and today as well. I can see out of it--no blindness thank God, just very fuzzy vision, but not blurry. And yes, the color perception in that eye is like a color TV with the contrast turned down. The other eye is fine. It usually takes a few days to a week to clear up. It comes and goes.
I heard about a Dizziness and Balance center in Fresno on a radio AD. I may make an appt. depending upon what happens with my next neuro visit on Jan. 6.
Hi and Welcome: You have found the best group of people on the web (not counting me of course.)
Note carefully: I am not a Dr. and I have not been diagnosed yet.
My dizziness comes from my eyes not tracking movement properly whether keeping my head still and trying to follow motion with my eyes, or trying to keep my eyes fixed and follow motion with my nose. I think that you all have used medical terms that I don't understand, but I'm not sure.
The physical therapist that was working with me doing the eye tracking exercises told me that when she is working with patients with vertigo, once they can identify which movements make them dizzy, then she can figure out what movement they should do to undo the dizziness.
Anyway, my point is, you know that complex motions, or sights, are just about guaranteed to make you dizzy. Figure out the simplest thing that causes the dizziness if you can; look for one simple little head movement or eye movement or some motion around you that gets it going. And yes, sometimes its those physical therapists that can really the Drs focus in on the right diagnosis.
Best wishes,
TimC
Note carefully: I am not a Dr. and I have not been diagnosed yet.
My dizziness comes from my eyes not tracking movement properly whether keeping my head still and trying to follow motion with my eyes, or trying to keep my eyes fixed and follow motion with my nose. I think that you all have used medical terms that I don't understand, but I'm not sure.
The physical therapist that was working with me doing the eye tracking exercises told me that when she is working with patients with vertigo, once they can identify which movements make them dizzy, then she can figure out what movement they should do to undo the dizziness.
Anyway, my point is, you know that complex motions, or sights, are just about guaranteed to make you dizzy. Figure out the simplest thing that causes the dizziness if you can; look for one simple little head movement or eye movement or some motion around you that gets it going. And yes, sometimes its those physical therapists that can really the Drs focus in on the right diagnosis.
Best wishes,
TimC
Hello and welcome!
Your symptoms mimic mine in so many ways. I was diagnosed with RRMS in April 2009 after a 4 1/2 year search for answers. I'm sorry but I am exhausted tonight after spending 3 hours in the dental chair today and I'm afraid I won't make sense.
Tomorrow I will finish the post. I did visit 5 neuros include one at a Dizziness and Balance Center, 2 ents, a neuro-ent, 2-4 neuros...dx offered: BPPV, virus, acephalic migraine and MS.
I will fill in the missing parts tomorrow.
Ren
Your symptoms mimic mine in so many ways. I was diagnosed with RRMS in April 2009 after a 4 1/2 year search for answers. I'm sorry but I am exhausted tonight after spending 3 hours in the dental chair today and I'm afraid I won't make sense.
Tomorrow I will finish the post. I did visit 5 neuros include one at a Dizziness and Balance Center, 2 ents, a neuro-ent, 2-4 neuros...dx offered: BPPV, virus, acephalic migraine and MS.
I will fill in the missing parts tomorrow.
Ren
Hi! I wanted to comment because I have unfortunate experiene with both MS and vertigo. My vertigo was ear based, though. I can see your confusion and frustration: your ENT is telling you BPPV (which is what I have/had) and your neuro is saying it is neuro. Heck, maybe you have both! Ok, so not wishing that for you, but it is possible.
I need to preface this in saying that in no way am I a doctor, but when I first read your posts, I thought it sounded like BPPV, especially when you said when you perform the maneuvers the doc gave you, it made the vertigo worse. And I am using the term vertigo loosely, does the world seem to spin around you, or are you just lightheaded? Does your vertigo get worse upon standing, turning your head, laying on your side? BPPV is based on your body position. Usually people get this vertigo laying down, especially when lying on a particular side. Little calcium rocks in the ear gets somehow tossed out of a particular canal and start bouncing around, creating horrible vertigo. The maneuvers are designed to send those rocks back where they belong, in a way. To do this, unforunately, you WILL bring about the vertigo. That in and of itself is typical of vestibular, or ear vertigo. From what I've been told by a neuro, neurological vertigo isn't as intense as BPPV, but most importantly is NOT based on body or head position.
Also, you can get nystygmus with vestibular vertigo as well, I did. BUT, what I find odd is that you only got it in one eye. THAT sounds neurological. That, and that you've had other neurological symptoms. The zap you feel when you tilt your head down is called L'hermitte's sign. In MS it signals a cervical spine lesion.
So, based on what you've written, it sounds like you have symptoms that are both vestibular based AND neurological, which I think is why one doc is saying one thing and one is saying the other. At first I wanted to suggest you get a second opinion, and I think that is still a viable option, BUT, maybe try to get the two docs to work together? Say, before your next neuro appt, bring in your records from your ENT and tell your neuro, "This is what the ENT thinks....do you agree or not, and why" Make them work for their money, LOL. Or vice versa if you're seeing the ENT guy first.
The only thing about the wait and see method that the neuro is suggesting is that it isn't going to tell him anything. BPPV and neuro vertigo can go away on their own. That holds absolutely no diagnostic information (as said by me, who like I said, is no doctor!). In the meantime, i would suggest the maneuvers the ENT guy told you about (Epley? Those where the ones I did). At worst, they couldn't hurt, and at best, they'll make the vertigo go away.
Regardless I hope the dizziness/vertigo goes away and that you feel better.
I need to preface this in saying that in no way am I a doctor, but when I first read your posts, I thought it sounded like BPPV, especially when you said when you perform the maneuvers the doc gave you, it made the vertigo worse. And I am using the term vertigo loosely, does the world seem to spin around you, or are you just lightheaded? Does your vertigo get worse upon standing, turning your head, laying on your side? BPPV is based on your body position. Usually people get this vertigo laying down, especially when lying on a particular side. Little calcium rocks in the ear gets somehow tossed out of a particular canal and start bouncing around, creating horrible vertigo. The maneuvers are designed to send those rocks back where they belong, in a way. To do this, unforunately, you WILL bring about the vertigo. That in and of itself is typical of vestibular, or ear vertigo. From what I've been told by a neuro, neurological vertigo isn't as intense as BPPV, but most importantly is NOT based on body or head position.
Also, you can get nystygmus with vestibular vertigo as well, I did. BUT, what I find odd is that you only got it in one eye. THAT sounds neurological. That, and that you've had other neurological symptoms. The zap you feel when you tilt your head down is called L'hermitte's sign. In MS it signals a cervical spine lesion.
So, based on what you've written, it sounds like you have symptoms that are both vestibular based AND neurological, which I think is why one doc is saying one thing and one is saying the other. At first I wanted to suggest you get a second opinion, and I think that is still a viable option, BUT, maybe try to get the two docs to work together? Say, before your next neuro appt, bring in your records from your ENT and tell your neuro, "This is what the ENT thinks....do you agree or not, and why" Make them work for their money, LOL. Or vice versa if you're seeing the ENT guy first.
The only thing about the wait and see method that the neuro is suggesting is that it isn't going to tell him anything. BPPV and neuro vertigo can go away on their own. That holds absolutely no diagnostic information (as said by me, who like I said, is no doctor!). In the meantime, i would suggest the maneuvers the ENT guy told you about (Epley? Those where the ones I did). At worst, they couldn't hurt, and at best, they'll make the vertigo go away.
Regardless I hope the dizziness/vertigo goes away and that you feel better.
well good- i wouldnt wish it on no one!! hopefully they get it figured out! hugs tick
Thanks for the response. The ENT was very certain that I do not have an acoustic neroma, sticking to his guns about BPPV. The thing is, those BPPV "exercises" make things instantly worse and I can now get dizzy just with things rapidly moving passed me. When the ENT first had me doing the exercises in August, it wasn't a big deal. Then I got slammed again in October with BIG dizziness. Now turning my head in the slightest makes me dizzy. The dizziness gets so bad I cannot walk without leaning on a wall. Crazy stuff. Trouble is, while driving, if I turn my head to the right and left, even very slow, I am dizzy. My biggest concern right now is that I have again sort of plateaued to an uneasy co-existence with the dizziness. If it comes back again worse than it did in October, I will be out of commission. I can't worry about what may and what if, but it is still a concern. So far, so good. The dizzier I get, then the nystagmus kicks into gear. Grrrr.
yes -ditto- with all the above! i was blessed with acoustic neroma- now you talk about dizzy-i couldnt stand- but im sure - well i doubt if thats it- but get checked out-
wish you the best!! hugs tickey
wish you the best!! hugs tickey
Thanks for the information. There is no doubt I have the nystagmus. People see my left eye fluttering back and forth and always ask me "Are YOU OK?" I was not even aware it was happening. Now I am vaguely aware of when it happens. My neurologist said he did not see it. Duh! It does not happen all the time. When I am stressed, sweating, or now when too much motion gets in my vision path, it starts.
I was suddenly aware that my vision was getting whacky earlier this year. It would come and go. Alway my left eye. I just assumed, "Yer gittin' old" and passed off on it. Every once in a while I will get a sharp pain in the corner of the eye by the nose that I can only describe as feeling like a needle is being jabbed in. Doesn't last long, but it sure gets my attention.
Same thing with the chin-to-chest or looking up. It does not happen all the time and right now I cannot make it happen at all. I guess that is darn good. But let me tell you, when it happens, zap. I have had major spinal issues all my life so yet another spinal issue tends to not get much attention from me. I have had some "zappings" that I feel all the way to my toes--at least before my toes went so numb! It was like I stuck my fingers into an electrical outlet. Again, does not happen all the time which is why I figured, "just another residule spinal issue." Because of life-long spinal issues, I have a fairly high tolerance for pain. Dizziness and strange gait from bad balance are another matter.
I can become dizzy almost by thinking about it.
I was suddenly aware that my vision was getting whacky earlier this year. It would come and go. Alway my left eye. I just assumed, "Yer gittin' old" and passed off on it. Every once in a while I will get a sharp pain in the corner of the eye by the nose that I can only describe as feeling like a needle is being jabbed in. Doesn't last long, but it sure gets my attention.
Same thing with the chin-to-chest or looking up. It does not happen all the time and right now I cannot make it happen at all. I guess that is darn good. But let me tell you, when it happens, zap. I have had major spinal issues all my life so yet another spinal issue tends to not get much attention from me. I have had some "zappings" that I feel all the way to my toes--at least before my toes went so numb! It was like I stuck my fingers into an electrical outlet. Again, does not happen all the time which is why I figured, "just another residule spinal issue." Because of life-long spinal issues, I have a fairly high tolerance for pain. Dizziness and strange gait from bad balance are another matter.
I can become dizzy almost by thinking about it.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hello and welcome from me too, whilst i was reading your post i started thinking about nystagmus, and then you mention it lol. Have you had this dx or is it a suspicion at the moment due to what your friend saw? If you haven't yet, get this dx before you see the neurologist, why because adult acquired Nystagmus is a clinical sign of a neurological condition, MS the most common cause or so i've read.
There are sight issues connected to MS (70% plus) Optic Nuritis, double vision and Nystagmus are the top 3, it would be well worth getting to an optomotrist or perferably and opthalmologist and get this checked out, adult acquired Nystagmus is neurological and can explain a lot!
Also when you put your chin to your chest do you get an electric shock or tingles anywhere? If you do thats another clinical sign called L..... ahhhhh word disapeared now i dont trust my brain lol anyway I would make sure you mention both these things to the neurologist if you havent already, a brain and full spinal MRI should be recommended.
Cheers...........JJ
There are sight issues connected to MS (70% plus) Optic Nuritis, double vision and Nystagmus are the top 3, it would be well worth getting to an optomotrist or perferably and opthalmologist and get this checked out, adult acquired Nystagmus is neurological and can explain a lot!
Also when you put your chin to your chest do you get an electric shock or tingles anywhere? If you do thats another clinical sign called L..... ahhhhh word disapeared now i dont trust my brain lol anyway I would make sure you mention both these things to the neurologist if you havent already, a brain and full spinal MRI should be recommended.
Cheers...........JJ
Interesting. The curious thing, I have no neck pain, no stiff neck. I have in the past had a very painful thing where I would look up and get a sharp zap up and down from my neck. Has not happened in some time/years now. But wow, when it did, ouch.
A friend of mine has almost exactly the same symptoms and it did turn out to be something in her neck. Perfectly clean MRI. So, don't give up hope yet.
Battery of tests--was overly dramatic--no MRI yet. Just in-office tests: Put one foot in front of the other--fall over, touch nose, reflexes. Thus a battery of usual in-office tests. I go back in 3 weeks to see what the anti-inflammatory has done (besides eating my stomach.) I doubt there is an MS specialist anywhere around here. A friend of mine has had ALS for 10 years and must go to San Francisco to the Forbes Norris clinic there. I guess my orthopedist at Stanford could direct me to a specialist.
Welcome. You said a battery of test? Would you like to elaborate. Dizziness is a hard thing to pinpoint. Neurologists specialize. If your GP thinks it might be MS they might send you to an MS Specialist.
Figuring out something Neurological can take a long time. It took me two years to be diagnosed with MS and they thought I had MS from the start. The way it usually works is they see you every six months and watch your symptoms over time to make a determination.
Mostly we are not Doctors just folks in different stages of diagnosis or having been diagnosed. We are happy to give you support through this frustrating and scary time.
Alex
Figuring out something Neurological can take a long time. It took me two years to be diagnosed with MS and they thought I had MS from the start. The way it usually works is they see you every six months and watch your symptoms over time to make a determination.
Mostly we are not Doctors just folks in different stages of diagnosis or having been diagnosed. We are happy to give you support through this frustrating and scary time.
Alex
I wanted to let you know that we welcome you here in our community. I read your story briefly and you seem to have many neurological symptoms that could fit with M.S. That being said, MS has many mimics, so the rule out period can be extremely long.
You need to find a neurologist who you trust and who believes you and wants to help. MRI's with and without contrast is very important. It's a long road---welcome to the community
Red
You need to find a neurologist who you trust and who believes you and wants to help. MRI's with and without contrast is very important. It's a long road---welcome to the community
Red
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