Dizziness only when sitting down/lying down

also i have no pain any where, no headaches, nothing but this one symptom. This developed after getting the cold.

Hi Rich,

I've had a similar off balance sensation for about a year now. I've been told by 2 ENT's that they aren't convinced it's to do with my ears and are positive this isn't a neurological dosorder either.

My main symptoms are a general imbalance, usually better when in a moving vehicle. It appears to come on during meals and lingers. It's particularly noticeable when I'm standing still, like standing in a queue, or within a crowd.

Fortunately, I don't suffer with any nausea or committing but I do panic badly.

At times, my ears (and my head generally) feel stuffy, very slightly achy and my vision is distorted, a little blurred around the edges - like I can't focus properly. My eyes have been checked and my sight is almost perfect. Go figure!

Like you, I've managed to keep my appetite but my anxiety (through all of this) has other ideas!

I don't know how I manage to wake up every day feeling like this but I know I can't go on for much longer. The fatigue is enough to make me give up - I don't believe I've ever been so tired than I have these past 12 months!

Nobody seems to have any idea what this could be so if you have any ideas, I'd be grateful to know. Personally, muscle or joint problems just doesn't fit!

Hi Rich

It sounds as if you could have inner ear problems.  Have you had a cold or ear infection recently.   This can affect the ear resulting in vertigo.  Vertigo has different levels of sensation.  I suffer from vertigo, tinnitus and migraine and have the sensations you describe.  When my vertigo was at its worst the room was spinning and I would fall but now it has settled down with medication my symptoms are milder, although it can get bad at times. 

Vertigo can be worse when you lie down or relax the head but it does take time to recover or improve. My symptoms were so bad I had to retire early from work but after five years I am now able to have a good quality of life, although I am still on medication.

Hope you feel well soon.  

I have same problem had vertigo coming up a year ago, I am fine upright but laid in bed I can go dizzy without moving????

Hi Rich,  have you got better from this?  I've had similar problems for a few months now.  I keep feeling unbalanced especially when i sit down or when my head is down.  Thanks

It could be neck related. I've been having the same symptoms. I'm 25-30 yo, Male; 150 pounds; excercise regularly and eat very healthy. I have an office job and spend 80% of my active day in front of computer and cell phone. I have a very bad posture.

Dizziness started 3 months ago, sometimes with pain in eye. Sometimes the dizzyness turns into a bad vertigo and because of these episodes I went to the ER on 3 ocassions thinking the worst. I've been to the gp, infectologist, ent, cardio, hematologist, neurologist and did all the tests: everything came out optimal. However the neurologist did some check-up and when he touched a specific neck/head muscle I felt an excruciating pain. It results that I had damaged a nerve and had neck and head muscle spasms, which can cause dizzyness, headaches, pulsating temples, and other neurological symptoms.

Google: occipital neuralgia

I am in pretty much the same situation. Dizzy when i lay down, get up and sometimes when I'm walking. I been to the dentist and had my wisdoms pulled. I been treated for an ear infection and i am still dizzy. Doctors don't know what it is. It's horrible.

This started for me 2 months ago. I was under alot of stress on maternity leave. Was sittin downstairs one morning at 6am giving my baby a bottle while watching tv. Somethn clicked in my left side of brain and everything moved to the left and me with it. Shouted for my partner to come grab the baby. I calmed down and my eyes came round after a few minutes. Tried walking upstairs but was sliding to the left against the wall like i was drunk. Since that i have head pressure, odd headaches, vision problems and disorientation every day. Along with this i have had about 5 random extreme dizzy attacks like the first one since. Doc is sending me to ent after having a few checks neurological wise for stroke etc. He says i dont have any symptoms of tumours etc. Its rujning my life and has cauaed me to have bad bad anxiety and extreme panic attacks. One happened today in the hairdressers. Ive been given prochlorazine beta blockers and betahistrine but they make me worse along with my fear of taking tablets. My dizziness is somehow associated with my eyes. If im sitting still reading watching tv or anything my eyes go funny and boom dizzy galore. Eye test was fine. Bloods fine. Waiting for ent. Due back to work in an office to sit at a computer for 8 hours while on the phone in 3 weeks and my stomach feels sick thinking about it. Its ruining my life day to day and im always waiting for the next attack. I may get a few hours break here and there but its physically and emotionally drainjng my body. Please help anyone. Im so convinced that 1 of these attacks will eventually kill me.

Hello to Everybody, I found this discussion after searching on the internet and can lend my experiences (although unfortunately not a cure).

I have been suffering exactly the same issues, which started in 2012. This first manifested itself as severe headaches (one specialist suggested I was having cluster headaches). Gradually over several months these diminished but I have been left with the same sitting imbalance/dizziness occurences as descibed by fellow contributors. I have been scanned so many times they could probably build a replica. I have had balance tests, x-rays, neurological referrals, eye tests, vascular tests, mri scans, ENT, diagnosed with Labrinthitis, spinal disorder, this  that and the other. Injections in base of spine (actually my a**) with steroid based injection.

ALL scans, tests came back with no issues, in fact the senior neurologist said he would 'die for a spine like mine' after reveiwing the latest neck/head mri scan.

In short - nothing works.

I have been off work for 2 prolonged periods when the imbalance wouldn't calm down, but returned with reduced hours leading back to full time.

Echoing another contribution, I enjoy walking driving - any motion is good and relaxing. Sitting in front of a monitor (I have 2 in front of me) is the worst, watching TV not as bad.

Having more or less given up on finding the medical cause (let alone a solution) but I have found some things which help ME which I will share - but please don't take this a a recommendation - these are things which help ME,  and could well have the opposite effect on someone else.

Seating position - believe it or not slouched backwards (like a couch potato) works best for me - I tend to avoid sitting upright - my theory is that there is a compression somewhere which I am avoiding in this 'casual' position.

Stretch the whole body  - stand upright and try to make self taller and hold for while (had a read about the Alexander technique on self help).

Minimise rotation movement when seated  - for some reason this twisting of the spine/neck is not good for me whien sitting down.

Avoid rapid side to side eye movement - rotate chair (without twisting body) if I want to look to the sides.

I get up and walk around every hour (recommended by health sites), and use a foot rest.

My totally unproven theory is that there is an nerve compression somewhere, could be local to the head or even at base of spine (remember the giddy in head feeling if contacted at base of spine), but in association with this the optic nerve is somehow involved as well; whether this is a direct link, or something 'in the neurological loop' is a just a guess.

Anyway hope this experience is of use, or at least lets you know that you are not alone.

 

Ive had this for 10 years!! I can tell you ive had every test...mri...ctscan and all negative!! Its your inner ear. 3 weeks of sudafed PE and Gufassin syrup will fix it!