Vertigo, and Movement Vertigo

Question

In 1977, while in the US Military I had an accidental fall from a boulder and struck the top of my head above my right ear. I was knocked out for at least 15 minutes. Since, that time I have had ringing in my ears 24 hours a day, every day since that time. I cannot ride on merry-go-rounds or other amusement rides without becoming disoriented, confusion, and nausa.  The last 15 years or so I cannot ride in cars, truck, airplanes, or buses due to their turning and going up and down hills suddenly.  My VA doctors had been treating me for Anxiety only not paying any attention to my vertigo situation at all. Now, a VA doctors comes out to my house and tells me that he now thinks that I have Vertigo and Movement Vertigo which is causing my Anxiety situation.  Can I be treated for vertigo and Tinnitus after all these years with success or is it too later for me now that 30 yrs have gone by without treatment of any kind? What can the neurologist and hearing doctors do for me now at this late stage in life and time?

dualdis3 · Answer

Since, I made the last post I have made some more discoveries. There are Neurological Exercises that can help me out. One involves the re-directional exercise. It involves titling the body upside down at an angle of 105 degree and turning my head to the right at a 45 degree angle for 3 minutes. Then come up slowly into a sitting position. Not moving your head but starring at a fixed object in front of you, without moving your head left or right, for another 3 minutes. When, you get hit over the top of the head sometimes these crystals break free and float around in the liquid of the inter ear causes problems like vertigo and so forth. I talk to my doctor over the phone, she thinks it has to be BPPV Vertigo. It only attacks me when riding in cars and when I spen in a circle while on amusement rides or my office chair. Yes, flashing lights do it also, if they are moving. Oh, by the way Vertigo does lead into Anxiety and sometimes the doctors will diagnose you with having just plan Generalize Anixety without finding out if there is a physical problem causing the Anxiety. What a terrible shame on them.

KMathurMD · Answer

Hi

Thanks for the post!

Vertigo with movement is due to problem in the internal ear. The ENT specialist run tests to see the function of the canals responsible for balance, hearing and tinnitus. Yes, after so many years the response to treatment will be slow. However there is no harm in trying. There is nothing to lose. If tinnitus alone is taken care of, life will be much better, isn’t it?

Many a times medication is directly put into the internal ear. Surgery is also an option.


I think you should discuss this with your doctor. It is difficult to comment beyond this without examining and results of various tests. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!