I have read many of the letters from those of you who also experiencing dizziness. I have been dealing with this, along with hearing loss, tinnitis, and feeling somewhat "in a fog" for 5+ years. Along with these maladies, I have issues with my neck. I personally feel that neck problems are directly related to many of these problems. I had a sudden death in my family 10 years ago. Apparently I began clenching my teeth at night from stress. This led to TMJ, which in turn led to neck problems. When my neck gets very tight, the ringing in my ears gets pronounced. When that happens, my hearing is affected, and then I feel "off balance" and dizzy. At one point, I saw a physical therapist who told me that there was no way that I could possibly feel well - like I was being strangled from the neck pressure - and needed to relax the muscles. I do think that therapy helped. There is a book out called "the Neck Connection." The doctor who wrote it attributes many issues, including all that I mentioned, to neck problems. I think many people have neck and upper back stress today from sitting in front of computers for long hours. I would imagine that yoga would be helpful, but as of yet, haven't gone to try it.
I went in for testing for vestibular disease, and was told I didn't have it. One such disease is Meniere's disease, which has many of these symptoms. I do sympathize with all of you dealing with feeling dizzy, because it certainly does compromise our quality of life. I also experience migraines with aura occasionally. Those too seem to occur when my neck is sore and tight.
Hi Nancy, it is rubbish isn't it? Have you had neck mri's? I did and it's a mess! Quite possibly the root cause of everything. ..but still waiting the neuros to agree...a long frustrating wait...
Hi Nanci there are a lot on here who have neck problems who think there is a link. I think my neck/spine is related to my balance problems, although i have tinnitus and partial deafness which was caused by a head injury, i also have had episodes of BPPV. I think all the syptoms get confused and the neck problem gets overlooked by ENT or whoever else we get referred to.
Hi Chris. Yes, had the MRI on my neck. Shows that I have bulging discs and some stenosis. Was told to see a surgeon, which I didn't do. Not subjecting myself to that unless it's imperative..........
I do think neck issues are a major source of problems - like Grand Central station! On days that my neck is the tightest, my symptoms become more pronounced. Seems too logical huh?
Nanci, mine basically has severe stenosis in a number of places and some odd flares but I have no pain! Wouldn't have had the mri if not for the dizziness. Just annoying peripheral neuro issues now that could be myelopathy related so ms or stenosis, b12 etc. They can't decide. I wake up everyday, wiggle my toes and relax! Thankfully the dizziness has pretty much abated...I still think the vestibular neck exercises aggravated a previously benign (at my age, 52) c spine issue and brought if forward a decade...but wadda I know, I've only been telling the Dr's what to do for 7 months. .
Hi Anne. So sorry that you too are feeling less than stellar............
I so agree - really believe most of these problems are neck related. I have experienced vertigo in the past a few times. The last time it happened, I sort of hyperextended my neck and the spinning stopped. If that had been caused by an inner ear issue, I don't think that would have helped. Around 5 years ago, I had gotten the flu, and from congestion, my left eardrum ruptured. After seeing the ENT and being told it had healed fine, I began with the dizziness. I wonder if I suffered some sort of nerve damage - from a virus maybe - but again, the rest of my symptoms seem to be neck related.
Hello again. Well, I am happy for you that the dizziness has improved. I find that to be the most awful part of all of this - feeling in a fog and at times like I could pass out. Have you ever tried physical therapy? I consider surgery a last-ditch effort to treat neck problems. However, I have been told there are new, less invasive treatments involving neck decompression. Unless I was having difficulty with my arms or hands becoming numb, I wouldn't seek surgery. I think I was "damaged" by an over-zealous chiropractor a few years ago. I knew better than to let someone "crack" my neck, but let him go ahead.
Yes nanci, I agree the fog is the worst part, I suffered for months with it and grew increasing annoyed with Dr's telling me it was anxiety. My spinal cord definitely has some issues....I'm in a limbo while the neuros discuss. I don't really want a lumbar puncture....but nor surgery! I try and enjoy my good days and not worry too much. I hope yours resolves soon.
Hi Nanci all my problems started about a week after a physio did some back crunches on my spine, which winded me, and i can't help but think she damaged me and caused the dizziness. She did these back crunches because of my neck problems. If i never had these back crunches done then i would just accept my problems are from some other cause but i feel what she did was the trigger to all this as the timing of my dizziness starting a week later seems too much of a co-incidence. My GP said it was highly unlikely but I'm not convinced. It's pretty academic anyway cos' i can't undo the damage she did if that was the cause, but i am very reluctant to have any further manipulations to my neck or back in case i end up worse off. It's a hard one to know what to do for the best for fear of making it all worse. I can just about manage at this level to carry on working so don't want to take the chance that it will end me being able to work. I saw a consultant many years ago who saw the x-ray of my neck and she said 'that's going to cause you a problem'. I would only consider surgery as a very last option due to the high risks of ending up worse or no better.
Hello again Anne. Have you had an MRI recently to see the condition of your cervical spine? It may hold a clue to some of your issues. Obviously being dizzy can come from many issues, but I clearly feel a link to my neck. I was tested for Vestibular disease, and told I had none. I also know that when my neck becomes very tight, my ears ring and I feel "out of it." Another issue is being congested. I read some posts previously that people had said they were very congested, making their head feel like they were in a vacuum. I have that feeling at times - sort of like just getting out of the pool. I take an antihistamine everyday to try and relieve that. I live in the desert in AZ, so the dry air is better for this than being in humidity I believe. I do notice a difference when we have the monsoon season in July/Aug. that I feel worse.
But again, unless one is tested for vestibular disease, it can't be ruled out. Once it is, onward to considering allergies, neck issues, hormonal issues, etc. Hope you find relief............
thanks Nanci, i think my next request will be an MRI spine. I don't know if it is possible for a physio treatment to put your spine out of alighnment. I have found reading others comments on this problem though a great help because otherwise i would never have requested a referral to an otoneurologist who says i have silent migraines. It really is like looking for a needle in a haystack as there is not much on offer as far as a treatment that actually works. I have taken all kinds of meds over 2 years which haven't even made a dent to my symptoms apart from the nortriptyline which seemed to work well for nearly a month but i then had a surgery with general anaesthetic and appear to have gone backwards again. I will be seeing the otoneurologist again next month and may have to increase the dosage but that in turn increases my tinnitus i have noticed. I agree that weather very much affects this condition and my left ear is the most sensitive. Last winter i became so congested i could barely breath and started having a panic attack when i woke during the night because my nose, ears and throat were so blocked I was struggling to swallow. The only thing that really helped were Sudafed, the one they keep locked up behind the counter, as there are 2 formulas, and a steroid nasal spray. I also feel that kind of spaced out feeling, where my vision seems unable to focus, but the neurologist said this is part of the silent migraines. I really have reached a stage where i haven't got a clue what's going on really. He said that all the recent changes in age, the menopause and particular food triggers, stress are affecting me so that i am have cluster silent migraines that affect my balance and my vision, I'm 58 next week but in the past 2 years have gone from being reasonably okay when i went to bed one night to waking up and with all these problems with balance. I hope yourself and others with this eventually find something that helps, because there must be something we all have in common despite our differences/diagnosis that is affecting our balance system, whether thats vestibular, cervical arthritis or a combination. Onwards and upwards.
Funny that you mention being 58, because all of this stuff started with me at 58! Not so funny huh??
I wonder also if there is a hormonal issue involved, and definitely an allergy. I never had any allergies in the past, but that can change as we get older. Plus, God only knows what we're exposed to now that we weren't exposed to before. Don't want to sound paranoid, but ???
I experience migraines also - have been told I was the "classic Vestibular Migraine patient." I had an ocular migraine once - thought I was having a detached retina, but was not. Migraines and vertigo are related according to my neurologist.
Do you use hormone replacement? I have read where estrogen can cause problems in some women. Either that, or it can help. Helpful huh?
Interesting that you mentioned using the Sudafed. I will be trying a decongestant next if the Allergist agrees.
I definitely think that having a "as you say physio treatment" (is that the same as a chiropractic adjustment?) can cause problems with your neck. Gentle stretching is better than being "snapped" as I was, and like it sounds happened to you. I was told by MRI that I have a tear in a disc. Doctor asked me if I had ever been in an accident, causing a whiplash? Told him no - only "whiplashed" by the chiropractor. Can't undo that either.
Having major surgery is somewhat of a shock to your body, so that may have taken you back a little. I don't know - there seems to be so many things that can cause your equilibrium to get "off" that it's hard to pinpoint it. Try your best at relaxing your neck and shoulders. Also rule out disc issues, vestibular disease, check for allergies, and have an eye exam. I hope any of those things can and will help you.
thanks Nanci for all your suggestions. I am on HRT and now wondering if it is that. I am goind to set a date to come off all meds whilst on holiday next month, hrt, nortriptyline etc., see what happens. Thanks for all your support. Stay well. Best wishes. Anne.
Hello again Anne. I wanted to ask you about the HRT. What type do you use? I have been using bioidentical hormone pellets for at least 5 years. I would wonder if they were causing any of these issues, but it's been 9 1/2 mo. since my last pellet insertion, so highly unlikely. After a while, you just begin to suspect everything I guess. I wish you well in your journey towards health!
Hi Nanci i am on elleste duet, 1 mgs estrogen and progesterone of which i take only half a tablet a day so 0.5 mg which is effective, but i am considering reducing this even further and then seeing if i can stop. Are you on progesterone only? My doctor has suggested progesterone only but i was unsure.
Hello again Anne. I was not familiar with elleste duet, so I looked it up. I'm not sure if this is a med that is used in the United States. As I mentioned before, I use bioidentical hormone pellets. I am given both estradiol and testosterone pellets, which are implanted in my hip twice a year. They are made from soy, which is supposed to be the most comparable to hormones produced by our bodies. I do not need progersterone, because I had a hysterectomy in the past. Progesterone is necessary to prevent uterine cancer that can be triggered by estrogen thickening the uterine lining. Some side effects of the elleste duet include dizziness, but I think most medicine descriptions mention that as a possibility. Have you ever been offered the bioidenticals? I do think they are used in the UK? Bioidenticals are supposed to be safer than other forms of HRT. They've been around for many years, but many doctors don't use them. Both of my female gynecologists use them on themselves, so I guess that makes them seem safer to me. It's hard to know what to believe with our health.
Hello Nanci, no i haven't been offered them but i am going to mention them when i next visit my gp or see if i can get something similar elsewhere. I'm going to look up the side effects again on the one i'm taking as it would be bizarre to find after all this that it may be this med causing my problems, but i am doubtful, but i will stop taking it whilst on holiday and see if it makes any difference anyway. Do you feel better for having a hysterectomy? I hope so. I was going to have one as having irregular bleeding following menopause as have numerous fibroids, but have decided to wait a while to see if my body can adapt, this is why i would like to stop hrt as the estrogen is contributing to the fibroids.