Dizziness coming from?

[pegdave]

Hello, I will try to get everything in. 10 years ago I had lyme disease with severe dizziness (room spinning around me). After months the severe dizziness changed to lightheadedness. After getting lyme disease, I was not able to watch motion with my eyes (any type of motion, cars, people talking with their hands, trees swaying, etc.). It is hard to type this letter without getting dizzy. Over the years the lightheadedness calmed down but never went away. Then three years ago I was in an accident (nothing severe, a few broken ribs) and the problems returned, and are worsening.  To me all of the problems appear to be coming from my eyes, but I know the balance system is more complex than that. I have been told that I have vestibular ocular reflex disorder.  I also have pain in my neck and a neurosurgeon told me that you can have dizziness coming from the neck. He has ordered a myelogram. It is all overwhelming, and frustrating. It seems to be that it should not be that hard to cure. Is everyone missing something? I have had my eyes checked and my ears examined. The only tests I fail are the balance tests. I do fall on all but one.  What else could be going on that the eyes have such a problem handling the motion around the. Please, does anyone have any advice. THank you.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

You are correct that the balance system is quite complex and involves the sensory receptors in the neck that tell the brain where the head and body is in space, to the innear ear which also plays a role in this, to the eyes which help th ebody orient itself, and the brain structure that process everyhting and puts it together. Problems with any one of these steps will result in dizziness.

The best thing is to identify the underlying cause - it could be neck muscle spasm, innear ear malfunction etc. Then specialist vestibular rehabiliation by a physucal therapist can target the cause, and help your system restore itself. Anti-dizzy medications liek meclizine usually make thing sworse in teh long run. The 'dizzy' neurologists (oto-neurologists) love to see patients like you and are very good at daignosing the right condtion.

Good luck

[pegdave]

Thanks, I have had testing done on my ears.  The test where they put the warm and cold water in your ears was normal, and the hearing tests were normal. The only tests I have failed have been the balance tests, such as, they have you stand on a machine and look at certain things and try and keep your balance, or they tell you to close your eyes with your feet together, etc. I have been told that the ears are fine. I was in vestibular rehab for almost a year. It help minorly. I will look up what you mentioned, I just think they are missing something. Thanks again.

[heart2heart]

You could have vestibular loss on one or both sides. Something, like an infection or certain medication (gentamycin) could have damaged your inner ear. Have you had a VEMP test or an ENG?  If you have damage to your inner ear there is not much they can do aside from physical therapy. You could also have other things going on like Menierres or BPPV (ear rocks that move out of place in your inner ear).  Look up vestibular loss or bilateral vestibular loss on the internet. It sounds like this may be whats troubling you.