Vertigo

[cheesecake978]

I have a history in vertigo comes and goes, recently episode I had the dizziness and falling spell, which did number on me with bruises and bumps.  This went on for a good two weeks. I went to the emergency room twice, the first time they hooked me up with a IV salt water and Valium. The doctor told me that he was going to try this and if it doesn't help then there's nothing he can do. He sent me home with a script of medication for valium I tried that for a couple days that didn't help, for that fact nothing worked. I got some relief for a day or two then dizziness returned this time fullblown I was falling the slightest I moved I fell.  I have a powerchair I used that.  

I have a history in migraine headaches for years I have them under control with the care of my neurologist a beta-blocker and triclic antidepressant medication with the combination work.  I have been doing research and some mention about vertigo and migraine headaches.  I don't seem to have a headache when I have the dizziness.  Could there be a connection? I have a history of a stroke, caused by AVM (arteriovenous malformation) cerebral aneurysm. The AVM if gone has been for 23 years. I also suffer from anxiety, depression, sciatica, and fibromyalgia.

If you can help I will be very thankful.

If you could help me to sort all of this out

[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 not sure what you mean by the term dizziness. When some people use the term dizziness, they often mean vertigo, or room-spinning. Others mean a light-headed, whoozy feeling.

If by dizziness you mean vertigo (room-spinning), the causes could be either the inner ear or the brain. Inner ear causes of vertigo most commonly include benign positional vertigo (BPPV), which is due to small particle in the inner ear that moves out of place, and can be repositioned with simple head maneuvers. The symptoms often include vertigo that occurs with turning of the head, often while turning over in bed. Another cause, if your symptoms are associated with tinnitus (ear ringing) and hearing loss is called Meniere’s disease and can be treated with medications and sometimes surgery. And so on, several other causes from inner ear problems exist.

Vertigo can also be due to problems in the brain. The most common is a benign tumor called a schwanoma (also called acoustic neuroma). This is diagnosed by MRI of the brain. Multiple sclerosis can cause vertigo, but often, other symptoms are present as well. A normal MRI of the brain excludes multiple sclerosis. Thyroid problems can also lead to vertigo.

Your symptoms may be consistent with a variant of migraine called basilar migraine. Basically this is marked by several hours of vertigo associated with nausea, light-sensitivity, and sometimes other symptoms. Headache may or may not be present. The treatment is different from that used to treat other migraine types; the treatment in this case is a type of medication called calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, which is actually used to treat blood pressure but works in type of basilar migraine as well.

If by dizziness you mean light-headedness, causes could include low blood pressure such as due to dehydration or autonomic dysfunction, cardiac problems, and several other non-neurologic causes. Anemia can cause light-headedness as well.

You have multiple reasons to have “dizziness” (which may also include the medications you are taking, AVM, etc). I suggest that you follow up with your neurologist to discuss your symptoms. He/she may wish to obtain an MRI of your brain. You may also benefit from physical therapy.

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

[cheesecake978]

Thank you for the reply.  I forgot to add more information about the vertigo.  I was in the hospital (emergency room) altogether it was three times in 2 weeks I was put me on Valium and Antivert. The first times the attending physican hooked me up with a IV with salt water and Valium the doctor told me that he was going to try this and if this doesn't work then there's nothing he can do, basically "live with it." I felt helpless, because when they discharged me I was still unsteady.

I was put on Antivert started me on it seems to help I take it everyday daily. I have been doing a research on the vertigo. Here is what I discovered. Nystagmus (abnormal movements of the eyes.), the findings seems to fit the symptoms, unsteadiness in standing, walking, inability to see everything seemed to be swaying my eyesight my pupils was big. What is up with that? I mean does that mean that I needed to get my eye examined?

In the past four years that I have been experiencing the vertigo I have had numerous tests; c-scans, MRIs, my hearing tests, my ear, nose, and throat doctor ordered a test VNG. With all these tests everything back normal. Then why am I still going through the vertigo?

I suffer from, neurology conditions: Migraines, history in stroke. Behaviorial problems, such as, mood disorders, panic and anxiety disorders that may be causing the vertigo.  I suffer from all of them I'm on medication that treats the psychological and neurogical disorders.

The last time that I was in the emergency room the doctors didn't do a thing they dismissed me, they could have done a "little" research like I AM. I haven't had a episodes ever since the 25th of January. I have been taking the Antivert everyday.

Thank you again.

[cheesecake978]

Thank you for the reply.  I forgot to add more information about the vertigo.  I was in the hospital (emergency room) altogether it was three times in 2 weeks I was put me on Valium and Antivert. The first times the attending physican hooked me up with a IV with salt water and Valium the doctor told me that he was going to try this and if this doesn't work then there's nothing he can do, basically "live with it." I felt helpless, because when they discharged me I was still unsteady.

I was put on Antivert started me on it seems to help I take it everyday daily. I have been doing a research on the vertigo. Here is what I discovered. Nystagmus (abnormal movements of the eyes.), the findings seems to fit the symptoms, unsteadiness in standing, walking, inability to see everything seemed to be swaying my eyesight my pupils was big. What is up with that? I mean does that mean that I needed to get my eye examined?

In the past four years that I have been experiencing the vertigo I have had numerous tests; c-scans, MRIs, my hearing tests, my ear, nose, and throat doctor ordered a test VNG. With all these tests everything back normal. Then why am I still going through the vertigo?

I suffer from, neurology conditions: Migraines, history in stroke. Behaviorial problems, such as, mood disorders, panic and anxiety disorders that may be causing the vertigo.  I suffer from all of them I'm on medication that treats the psychological and neurogical disorders.

The last time that I was in the emergency room the doctors didn't do a thing they dismissed me, they could have done a "little" research like I AM. I haven't had a episodes ever since the 25th of January. I have been taking the Antivert everyday.

Thank you again.