Brain Shakes and Dizziness

[mg409]

I have read multiple descriptions of "brain shakes" on this forum but none seem to describe my experience. I have gone to two different general practitioners and they tell me that I am suffering from vertigo but my symptoms do not seem to completely match vertigo either.

I am a 27-year-old, healthy and active woman. Several months ago, I began experiencing these random episodes of brain shakes that are followed by dizziness. The "brain shakes" feel like a jolt and vibration that last about a 1 second. These "brain shakes" are sometimes violent and because they are unexpected, I react by placing my hands to my head. But my head does not actually "shake", its is merely an internal sensation that I'm reacting to. The "brain shakes" are immediately followed by dizziness. I feel like the room is spinning and sometimes I become flushed and nauseous. The dizziness lasts less than a minute. The dizziness is initially severe and then it fades away and is completely gone in about a minute.

These episodes have occurred approximately 6 or so times. They appear to occur randomly and they are spaced out; sometimes a couple weeks and other times about a month apart. I am almost never moving when these occur. In other words, they don't seem to be caused by sudden movements or physical fatigue. Most times it has happens when I'm sitting at my desk working or in a car or at lunch with a friend. When they occur, I am immediately fine when the dizziness wears off as if nothing happened. They also occur one at a time; I've never had more than one per day. Also, these episodes to do not appear to be stress or mental health related. I am a mental health practitioner and was able to rule that out.

Although these episodes have not significantly impaired my life functioning, they are certainly scary and concerning. Any insight about what might be happening would be greatly appreciated!!

[LAC63]

What kind of 15 day treatment was it, if you don't me asking you? I have chronic dizziness and the shakes, too.

[xkittyxcatx]

I have this and had my third MRI and first EEG last week and they all came back clear. It's been suggested by my neuro that it's a silent migraine, so migraine with aura but without the headache.

It's interesting that a lot of people say it happens when they are sat down or at a computer. It only happens to me when sat down, never when I'm stood up.

[frusteratedblonde]

Did anyone get any answers????
I have had MRI, have an EEG next week... cant take it anymore!!!!!!!!!!!! it's been a year!!

[FlipFlopper76]

This has happened to me now about 3 or 4 times in the past 5 years...just recently it was today. I was sitting at lunch w/ my sister and we happened to be watching a video on her phone and all of a sudden my head had that brain shake feeling, followed by a weak feeling and a  little nauseousness. The first time it happened, I lost concentration and was struggling to find words for what I was saying when it happened. I brushed it off back then, but since then it's happened a few more times...I've not been to any type of Dr. yet, but I am strongly considering investigating this further....it's nice to know that I am not allow in this bizarre feeling!

[nanceyk82]

Hope you got it figured out.  Sounds like it was a min stroke.

[es_psalm328]

I have experienced these symptoms many times before.  My opthamologist has suggested it's a form of an optical migraine.  Similar to your typical migraine, but just with optical manifestations: seeing zigzag lines, eyes feel like they are shaking, sometimes a bad headache, nausea, dizziness, etc.  I can't think of any one thing that brings it on, though.  If your doctor just suggests vertigo, ask for another opinion.  Vertigo is a symptom, not a disease, and therefore you are not treating the real underlying cause with the vertigo meds.

I have also found out it may also be a side effect of an untreated astigmatism of the eyes.  Someone I know had their glasses prescription changed to better treat their astigmatism and she has been doing much better.  Maybe this helps.

[LilyChicken]

Hmmm very interesting. I just had one of these episode and I have had a handful of them, very spaced out and nothing seems to relate. It has happened while sitting usually. I feel a strong vibration in my head, like I am in a can and someone hit it from the outside. I even hear the vibration in my head, then I get vertigo, then a headache and may feel nauseous.  Now earlier today, I got my eyes checked. My contacts are old and the dr gave me a temporary pair of regular lens. I DO have a pretty good astigmatism. So there is some stress on my eyes today of wearing non-toric lenses (toric corrects the astigmatism). SO.... I am commenting because this COULD be a very possible cause... maybe so. I do suffer from migraines, though I now know I have a gene defect (and this one is common) so I can not process folic acid (man made folic acid is different than FOLATE which is natural). Wheat also makes me sick. So now I rarely have migraines, but my eyes are fair, so light sensitivity and ocular migraines can occur without the regular migraine pain.

[highninjapie]

This sounds like lhermittes sign, has anybody seen a neurologist? I'm having a brain and spinal cord MRI in a couple weeks, and finally have a referral to see a neurologist. They are trying to rule out MS. I have been experiencing this for years, and is so random when it happens. Nothing ever triggers it and it causes me to reach for my head, it almost feels like a shocking brain freeze. Good luck all.