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Question about MAV and head movements

Posted , 7 users are following.

patty818
patty818

I have a question about MAV, I want to know if you get neck pain with a headache and then a few hours after that you'll start to get dizziness? I also want to know if your dizziness you notice when you move your head from side to side up-and-down looking up sideways that you feel like you're going to fall maybe or like the room is moving like you're on a boat? With the neck and head pain do you find the pain is coming from the back of your neck. To the front only and on the top or maybe the back only and that it last for hours and then the dizziness begins? Does your head sometimes feel that you have to have us with the neck pain down one side? Does this sound like MAV? I am having a hard time figuring out if this is migraine or tension I'm also having anxiety and just trying to figure this out. Thanks for any help

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • marie43202
    marie43202 patty818

    Posted

    Hi Patty,

    Yes, I get the same symptoms as you. Severe headaches, neck pain and then dizziness. After visiting many various specialists, I have been diagnosed with MAV. I was a bit skeptical but after seeing a headache specialist and well respected acupuncturist, they clearly explained the mechanics of a migraine and it makes sense. After several nerve block injections into the head and neck area (basically same as local anesthetic that you receive in dental treatments), and in addition to several acupuncture treatments, I can now say I have headache free days and what a relief! I had been suffering with 24/7 headaches and dizziness since July of last year. Has it eliminated my dizziness? No, I still get bouts of it, some days good and some not so good but I am seeing improvement. I have also learned how our sternocleiodomastoid muscle, located either side of our neck, can wreak havoc on us if it is tight. And with me, this is a big problem as I am always tensing up my neck and jaw muscles. Computer work is a definite irritant. Do you have any jaw pain (TMJ)? If you are not aware of the mechanics of this muscle, please read up on it, explains a lot of aches and pains for me. With regards to acupuncture success, this was my second attempt with different acupuncturist and it was like night and day. This acupuncturist I saw, provided relief in one treatment, albeit short relief, next day it returned but after several treatments, I can now sail through days without pain. So don't give up on one try. Do your research. Best of luck Patty, I hope you feel better soon.

  • eleftherio33095
    eleftherio33095 patty818

    Posted

    Clearly not migraine, as headache does not involve half the head (as the origin of the word "migraine" leads from).  For MAV, the symptoms should primarily be vertigo, and not the other way around. 

    As your primary complaint is neck pain, together the development of other symptoms, I am afraid that you have no choice but to initially see a GP to rule out cervical vertebral or other local conditions.

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

    • judyan20
      judyan20 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      I havee been diagnosed with MAV

      Which I put down to neck tension and I am having treatment from a cranial osteopath. I have permanent dizziness , sometimes better but always there. My balance is good

      but my eyes pull andy head feels bouncy. I tried acupuncture and it got bettet so I am resuming treatment.

      I am doing gaze stabilization exercises four times a day and it helps but doesnt stop it coming back.I am happy to share experiences with others and would love to hear something positive. Living in some hope of improvement.

    • dee50000
      dee50000 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      "Not the other way around"? I am not sure what you mean. I have MAV and the only vertigo I ever had was a month before I started having migraine-associated vertigo, when I had BPPV.

      I was told that my oscillopsia, palinopsia, and feeling of off-balance can all be a result of the MAV, all of the symptoms being brain-related and set off by the migraines, whether they be felt, or silent.

    • judyan20
      judyan20 dee50000

      Posted

      That sounds much like my experience. Have you been referred to physiotherapist? Gaze stabilization helped me lot and tai chi improved my balance. The neurologist recommended propanalol which I think helps my tension amd anxiety.

      I am resigned to this condition but remain determined to lead a nearly normal life but mot easy.

    • dee50000
      dee50000 judyan20

      Posted

      I did PT at our local Balance Center, practiced at home for 13 months now (gaze stabilization, moving head from side to side while standing in a corner, on a pillow, etc.). 'Did ansolutely nothing. I went there last year (20 visits) and this year (10 visits). Mine neuro recommended Tai Chi for balance, but cannot do it now (really wanted to) because I tore my Achilles tendon and doctor says no, not under any circumstances can you do that now.  Also ping pong, but having trouble finding a place that has it regularly. 

      He also told me to try magnesium in case it is MAV (I am sure it is). I have constant auras, but only pain about once or twice a wekk, so he said it may or may not be MAV. Going back to him in 3 weeks.

      Not easy at all.

    • marie43202
      marie43202 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      Migraine is a syndrome with a collection of neurological symptoms. The reason why migraine is often misdiagnosed is due to the variety of symptoms. Typically one feels pain on one side of their head but there are about 1/3 of us with pain felt on both sides of the head.
    • patty818
      patty818 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      What is cervical vertebral?  From what i can find about it, its the joints in the neck.  I'm currently seeing a chiropractor who is adjusting the atlas and spine, I'm alway doing traction to put some curve back into my neck. My neuro otologist does think it could be MAV, and I;m doing VRT which is helping.  I also have GAD and all my docs, to include endocrinologist, ENT neuro otologist, GP and neurologist have told me the anxiety is making things much worse.  Yes I have neck pain that comes with the headache, which i believe is more tension headache.  I have these when I'm stressed or anxious.  So please tell me what you are speaking about. 

      Thanks

  • anne05147
    anne05147 patty818

    Posted

    I have been diagnosed with MAV caused by silent migraines, and BPPV.  I also get neck pain and have a bulging neck disc. 

    I have improved by over 80% since seeing the neurologist who prescribed me nortriptyline and also not eating chocolate and don't have neck pain as bad as i use too as also suffered with shoulder pain in the back of my shoulder.  My dizziness was so severe that sometimes i could barely walk in a straight line for 2 years until i got a proper diagnosis and treatment.

    Hope you get some answers soon.  All best wishes.

    • dee50000
      dee50000 anne05147

      Posted

      The Nortriptyline helped with your balance by taking away the migraines? How long did it take for it to work? That's encouraging...
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