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24/7 vertigo/dizziness, brain fog, and light sensitivity

Posted , 6 users are following.

mja1233
mja1233

Hi everyone. I have been struggling with 24/7 vertigo/dizziness, brain fog, and light sensitivity for almost two months now, and wondering if anyone has had any good solutions for this. I am a 25 year old female. One time last year while my head was down, I got a 30 second attack of spinning vertigo. The whole room was spinning and my eyes were almost criss-crossed it felt. This went away and never came back. I told my doctors and they weren't concerned and sent me on my way. I am a fairly healthy and active person, so I wasn't too worried about it.

In late December of last year, I suddenly woke up and could not turn my neck to the left. It hurt so bad that I went to a doctor again who said it was a pinch nerve and threw some meds at me. I then went to a chiropractor who adjusted my neck and it seems to help after 2-3 weeks. Then, the pain when into my upper back and down my arm. This scared me, so I stopped seeing the chiropractor and took the meds. On the morning of my vertigo, I had a bad night's sleep with an extrememly stressful night before this. I woke up with a horrible headache in the back of my head (which is weird because I usualy get them in my eyes/sinus area), and my neck ache was back. I took meds to function for the rest of the day, and about 2 hours after taking the meds, all of a sudden as I was sitting and texting, I got hit and I thought I was having a stroke. My brain felt like a fishbowl, the room felt like it was moving (although not spinning), brain fog, light sensitivity, everything. My mom took me to an urgent care and they told me it was anxiety. I went home to rest and it went away until the next day upon awakening.

I then went to another urgent care, and they said it was a sinus infection. After two days on antibiotics, and nothing happening, I went to the ER. They did blood tests, CT scan, and everything was clear including my sinuses. I then scheduled with my GP. I explained to him that I had been feeling like I was on a whobbly boat/kinda drunk feeling with brain fog and light sensitivity. I never experienced any spinning. He told me it was BPPV and sent me home. I was back in two days after researching BPPV and insisted on a physical therapy referral to get the epley maneuver done. Went to PT and they said it didn't seem like BPPV and to get another doctor. I went to another doctor and they didn't know what was wrong with me and sent me for an MRI. They then sent me to a neurologist and said I had some signs of past migraines on the MRI.

While waiting for the appointment, I have been seeing a NUCCA chiropractor who has seemed to help. My C1 was out of place (even the neurologist noticed this.) I have gone from a 9 (on 1-10 scaled) to a 5. The sense of motion around has subsided imesnely, however, I still have dizziness when I move around, brain fog, a bit of pressure in my ears, and light sensitivity.

After seeing the neurologist, he has suggested that I may have vestibular migraines because I was having pretty bad and freuent headaches last year, as well because there were some spots on my MRI that suggested past migraines. He wants to try me on amitriptyline. 

I'm not sure if I should stick with the NUCCA for a few more weeks or if I should try the medicine. I'm sacred to make anything worse, but I want my life back. I lost my new job because of this, and am living with my mom. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • drew87gn
    drew87gn mja1233

    Posted

    A bad night sleep for me will definately enhance any problem that you may have. Try to always get a good night sleep (sometimes easier said than done). With me it took a long time to get some answers, possibly from multiple doctors. One of my doctors found had extremely low vitamin D. I've been taking 5000 iu a day for a year now. I had the light sensitivity but knock on wood that has subsided. I understand the "anxiety" feeling. I think between the vitamin D and magnesium also has helped me tremendously with the "anxiety" feeling. I'm not sure if any doctor suggested a VNG test. This test will give you some answers one way or another. I feel the same way about meds. I feel meds mask the problem and not cure the problem. If your heart tells you that the answers you are getting are not correct, then listen to your heart until you do get answers that your heart feels correct.  Hope this helps a little...
    • mja1233
      mja1233 drew87gn

      Posted

      I have noticed that not over sleeping or under sleeping makes a big difference for me as well.

      I have not heard of the VNG test at all.

      Have you found any relief for the vertigo/dizziness?

    • drew87gn
      drew87gn mja1233

      Posted

      I have found relief. I have some bad days still however I feel I'm going in the right direction. Some days I feel great! I just started VPT just a few weeks ago and took a step back so they changed some of the exercises that I was doing. Reason for me trying the therapy is I'm trying to get to a point where I can get back on my motorcycle with confidence. Hopefully that day will come.
  • paula59
    paula59 mja1233

    Posted

    Hi - sorry to hear you have this.  I have the same symptoms as you and it took a year to get a diagnosis.  I have migraine associated vertigo.  I wouldnt bother with the chiropracter it could do harm.  Try the meds and see how you go. I have had migraines all my life but didnt really know it, I thought they were bad sinus headaches.  Turns out some stomach issues I had were abdominal migraine.  Now I had never heard of that before.  I started with dizziness and a splitting headache wich I put down to sinusitits.  I got diagnosed with vertigo and sinus infection,  Then labyrinthitis.  Had an MRI, saw endless ENT then neuro surgeon and finally two neurologists.  At first I didnt believe my diagnosis but now I do.  I have text book symptoms.  In fact its called silent migraine because I have all the weird head stuff all the time but actual migraines only every couple of weeks.  I am sensitive to light and sound and have jumpy eyes when in a store.  When my symptoms are bad my neck is stiff and creaky and cracky.  My ears feel full from time to time.  There are good websites on facebook MAV support might answer some questions for you.

     

    • mja1233
      mja1233 paula59

      Posted

      I am sorry you have had such a frustrating time as well. 

      Have you found any relief of your symptoms?

  • manda08392
    manda08392 mja1233

    Posted

    What you should do should really depend on what's wrong with you.There will be people on here who have BPPV and vestibular migraines who would tell you to stick with the neurologist.

    I can tell you that amitriptyline will make you very groggy and may elevate some of your symptoms as I took it for a long time for my fibromyalgia.

    I on the other hand do not have a neurological issue but a physical one and can tell you that it took weeks before I started seeing significant progress. Your C1 being out of place is a really big deal and has to be fixed with lots of minor adjustments or it would be dangerous otherwise. I would recommend you stick with the chiropractor from that set of information that you provided.

    However, if you choose to do both PLEASE communicate to both what is happening in your other appointments, that's very important.

    • mja1233
      mja1233 manda08392

      Posted

      That is why I am very afraid of any medications because I don't want it to get worse after the progress I've made.

      I do believe mine is a structural issue with my neck. I just don't see how having horrible neck and back pain all of a sudden and then vertigo isn't related. I am going to stick with the NUCCA for at least another month and if I don't feel anymore progress then I might consider a different route. If I do feel a bit of progress I will keep going with it.

      Thank you!

    • manda08392
      manda08392 mja1233

      Posted

      That sounds like a good idea. Communicate that to the neurologist so they can still have you on file if you want to try them in a month. Just know it will only be progress, not completly cured in a month.
    • mja1233
      mja1233 manda08392

      Posted

      I appreciate the solid advice. I think I've been a bit discouraged because of how slow everything moves, but it's a good reminder that it takes time to heal. Thank you.
    • manda08392
      manda08392 mja1233

      Posted

      You're very welcome, I hope you continue to make progress.
  • patty818
    patty818 mja1233

    Posted

    Hi

    I'm sorry your going through this.  I have been having dizziness, headaches and neck pain now for 9 months,  My dizziness is pretty much daily, I feel when I sit, lay, stand, walk.  It feels like I'm rocking on a boat, its making me nuts,  Also causing alot of anxiety.  

    You mentioned having the NUCCA, I have been having this done since December, I  honestly can't tell if it heps.  My lower back pain is gone, but my dizziness, neck and head still there.  The dizziness is better for a couple of days but then back.  Did you have any good from it?  How long have you benn going?

    I saw an ENT who did testing and says I have vestibular dysfunction, I'm not sure what that means, but he wants me to start VRT thismonth.  I'm alittle worried about it coz I've read it causes more dizziness, but some say it works.  

    Do you find you have headache pain in the back and front of the head?  And any neck pain in the upper shoulders?  

    My ENT also said my last MRI 5 yrs ago showed migraine lesions, but funny my neurologist never mentioned it.  

    Its really hard to tell whats causing what, expecially with anxiety, coz it causes alot of symptoms on its own.  

    Hope you feel better and find relief.

    • mja1233
      mja1233 patty818

      Posted

      Thanks, Patty.

      I have been going for about 4 weeks twice a week soemtimes three. I have noticed a difference for sure. My dizziness has gone from a 9 to a 4-5 depending on the day. I still have it everyday, but it isn't as bad.

      I would definitely start the PT if I were you. I have been thinking about it for myself as well. It can help retrain your brain basically and get you to a more normal state. My head ache was in the back of my head like near my neck. And I did have upper neck pain as well. Only on the right side though.

      My NUCCA said the neck can cause anxiety as well. I used to have to take an anti anxiety med every morning for 3 weeks. I haven't taken one for over 3 weeks. The anxiety is way better.

      I hope that same for you. Thanks!

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