Vertigo. left with constant dizziness

Hi Pete, it might not be what you want to hear but I'm 13 months in now. I've had every scan known to man and 6 or 7 different consultants who all diagnosed according to their specialism from vestibular neuritis to hypothyroid to possibe ms/transverse mylelitis to spinal stenosis.

I've had no medication nor treatment and now no one really wants to see me. I have had private bloods done to monitor the thyroid and am considering medication from online pharmacies to see if they help with a possible lyme infection. The neuro says come back in 6 months if nothing improves or new symptoms appear as have the others.

The key thing is not to get anxious or depressed. It's hard not to but if I had accepted that I'd be on the happy pills now and none the wiser about possibe causes.

Saying all this most people with a dizzy problem do slowly improve over a few months. My case may not be typical at all but I had to go down the investigation route rather than ignore it as my GP wanted me too.

It might be worth pushing for an mri of the head and cervical spine to eliminate the nasties but GPs are loathe to do this if they diagnose post viral or labrynthitis however it's your illness not theirs.

Wishing you a quick recovery, Chris.

This sounds awful. I had vertigo for 4 months. The final doc, ENT, diagnosed BPPV--benign paroxism vertigo (and one more word.) He tested me vigorously and also said I have the relapsing kind. I had it two times before this. All three times it came on at a time of grief and stress.

He sent me for vestibular therapy. While having it, I was often dizzy but that was necessary. I was given additional exercises (involving turning head while walking, etc.) which I did religiously during that time and afterwards for about a month or less. I eventually got rid of it. But now, many months later, I sometimes get dizzy when making a quick movement to the side, down to the floor, or up at the ceiling.

Because of the residual dizziness, I get out of bed, sitting up first and dangling my legs. Then I stand up after waiting a bit. Also I sleep on high pillows because laying down flat can bring it on again.

I hope you will keep looking for a good ENT, someone who knows about these ear-involved problems. And maybe google vestibular therapy. I think diagnosis is key.

I did do the Epley every day for weeks, and it helped a little. But the thing that got things back in place (in my ear) was the vestibular therapy.  Good luck. Keep on it.

Hi Pete.....I would right now make an appointment with an otologist/neuro ent....because you may need to wait 3 weeks to be seen....remember you can always cancel........i would go through all the testing..blood work, balance test gaze test...rotary chair....caloric...hearing  etc.....if all these tests are normal....see a nerologist.........a headache specialists....you dont need to have a headache...there is something know as migraines associated with vertigo....be prepared alot of trial and error with meds.......not going to lie  not pleasant...and its a long haul...hopefully you wont have it........Do  you live in the states

Hi Pete.        I was very surprised to see the words Transverse myelitis on your page. I also had a clinically isolated  Transverse myelitis that happened in the 1990's and I go to the UCLH in Queens square London. I have just been back to see if my unsteadiness and drunken swaying is connected to it, I have terrible balance and could not walk in a straight line if you payed me. I also have spinal problems. However like you they have not made an connection.  You don't have TN by any chance or a condition called SUNA do you.          I get bouts of being of balance and falling all over and it can last from 10 min to a couple of hours but once it goes then that's it I don't get anymore that day. Ive been like this on and of for about7years.  I am now being monitored, if that's the word for stress and anxiety.    

I hope you get a MRI scan soon as it might not tell them what is going on but it should tell them things that can be aluminated.      Take care.