Progressing Symptoms. Been to 16 Doc's in the past year

[bmforem07]

First off I would put Unknown in the Topic Box because it is literally unknown as to what is going on with me.For the past year and 1 month, I have been seeking help for problems with lightheadedness and fatigue, accompanied by pressure headaches in the back right of my head, which make their way up to my face and right eye. In addition, a muffled feeling in my right ear has also been present.  I have so far been to 3 neurologists, 3 ENT's, 1 neuropsychologist (to rule out depression/anxiety/prob.'s with medications), 3 eye doctors, 2 general practitioners, 2 orthopedic specialists (for possibility of neck/head/shoulder trouble), and an orofacial/TMJ specialist. For an otherwise EXTREMELY healthy 21 year old, you can see how much trouble I have gone to to find this out. I have had an unnatural amount of tests done within the past year, done a lot of therapy, and taken many medications for months at a time but no tests have shown positive and nothing has worked thus far.  I am a college student, 21 years old, an athlete/scholarship football player (And yes yes before you ask I have had 2 MRIs and 2 CT scans on my head and neck to see if it is related to football-IT IS NOT, as well as 2-3 months of therapy on my head and neck muscles for stingers to see if that is what it is as well). I am ready to have this problem diagnosed and move on to get with my life. Not a day has gone by in the past year where I feel like I am walking around in a FOG of lightheadedness/dizziness/spacey feeling with my right ear having pressure throbs, my right eye being dry, and feeling fatigued.  For an extremely active 21 year old all conference college athlete, you could see how frustrating and debilitating this actually is. If there is anyone, a Medical Professional or someone experiencing the same thing, who can help PLEASE let me know what to do. If not, share this with someone else (a friend/colleague) in hopes that I can get my life back to where it was before November of 2009! Thanks

[hava]

Start doing this pranayam, and you will start to notice some benefit in a few weeks.The effect is very gradual, so allow a few months to feel greater benefit. The extra oxygen going into the blood, will build up your immune system and other body systems.Your feedback at some point will help very much.Continue the pranayam, once a day, after you feel better.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Kapalbhati pranayam -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 21  times.
January 10, 2011

[bmforem07]

You have told me what some other doctors have told me. So for about 5 months, I went the route of seeing if it was neuropsychological problems. The list of specialists above is actually a somewhat abbreviated one. I did a neuropsychological evaluation, I did about 10 weeks of neurofeedback, and I took an antidepressant for 3-4 months to test for improvements as well. So that route of treatment has proven to be ineffective thus far.

My last concussion was September of 2008. Before that, I had one in high school (2006). And that is all. I'm not sure if the symptoms from post concurring syndrome would lay dormant for a year. These were 2 routes of symptom treatment that I sought pretty early on in this whole thing. Currently I am on an antiviral medication seeing if it is shingles rooted in cranial nerves causing these symptoms. Trial and error with this. Do you have any other suggestions??

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

I am glad that you have had a complete workup including MRIs and “blood work”. There isa condition called post-concussive syndrome that can present with the symptoms you describe. The most common symptoms include headache, dizziness, memory changes, concentration difficulties, fatigue, anxiety, and changes in sleep patterns. These symptoms can persist for months to years after an injury.

I would recommend that you discuss with your neurologists the need for neuropsychological testing. This testing is an intense exercise that will identify circuits that may be disrupted causing the pscyhological/mental difficulties.

Lastly, I do have to mention that anxiety and depression can cause many of the symptoms that you describe as well. I would follow up with your primary physician if you have any signs/symptoms of either.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.