Vertigo

First off I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I have also been dealing with it. I would offer up some advice, with the caveat that I have yet to find a solution (going on a year now), though am hoping I’m getting closer. My suggestion is remember you know your body than anyone, yes even doctors! A little background, and I will keep it short, I suspected neck issues, for a long time as after my first surgery, my pain never went away, but my surgeon said he did everything right. So two years later, my PCP sent me on wild goose chase thru 2 ENTs, (multiple work ups), then a cardiologist as my symptoms were worse when working out, which concluded with a cardiac catheter, then on to a neurologist, who said I won’t find out what’s wrong just give you drug “just like we treat diabetes, drugs to help symptoms but no cure.” Needless to say after that statement, I demanded an MRI of the neck and lo and behold, my discs are degenerating with moderate stenosis etc. so what’s my point? Take control of your care, with this support group along with hours of research (and great people cheering me on) I have done that and believe now I’m on the right track. Will see but, I will tell you if I had demanded the MRI first, I believe I could have stopped some of the madness we call “the medical industrial complex”. Good luck, I will continue to post after my doc appt in Dec, but I will continue to read and monitor this site as it is the only thing that has kept me sane.

First off I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I have also been dealing with it. I would offer up some advice, with the caveat that I have yet to find a solution (going on a year now), though am hoping I’m getting closer. My suggestion is remember you know your body than anyone, yes even doctors! A little background, and I will keep it short, I suspected neck issues, for a long time as after my first surgery, my pain never went away, but my surgeon said he did everything right. So two years later, my PCP sent me on wild goose chase thru 2 ENTs, (multiple work ups), then a cardiologist as my symptoms were worse when working out, which concluded with a cardiac catheter, then on to a neurologist, who said I won’t find out what’s wrong just give you drug “just like we treat diabetes, drugs to help symptoms but no cure.” Needless to say after that statement, I demanded an MRI of the neck and lo and behold, my discs are degenerating with moderate stenosis etc. so what’s my point? Take control of your care, with this support group along with hours of research (and great people cheering me on) I have done that and believe now I’m on the right track. Will see but, I will tell you if I had demanded the MRI first, I believe I could have stopped some of the madness we call “the medical industrial complex”. Good luck, I will continue to post after my doc appt in Dec, but I will continue to read and monitor this site as it is the only thing that has kept me sane.

I had vertigo which was diagnosed as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). I did the physical therapy with a PT specializing in BPPV. It worked great! It came back two years later, had the successful PT with same result. All good news. About another two years later, although I did not have vertigo, an MRI revealed that I needed immediate Anterior Cervical Disc Fusion (ACDF) surgery to put four screws in my neck. I was very fortunate to find a great spine surgeon and that surgery was successful. I have had BPPV once since the surgery, which again was treated successfully with BPPV physical therapy.

All this to say, explore all vertigo issues with the appropriate specialists.

I use topicals on my neck like Ben Gay, Bio Freeze or patches with Bio Freeze, menthol , lidocaine, menthol.

Tai Chi helps me a lot over time. It aligns and stretches the neck, and also deals with balance.

I have baclofen on hand: it cuts communication between the spine and muscles. If I make a big mistake I will take 1/4 clonazepam but only at night and never more than two nights in a row, to minimize use and avoid dependence. It acts as a muscle relaxant. I could not tolerate most other meds: Flexeril, meloxicam, gabapentin, tramadol, codeine (mostly address pain, not dizziness, except for the Flexeril). Meclizine makes me sleepy and doesn't really address my vertigo.

PT and OT might help with learning how to move. For me they only do massage. Massaging shoulder blade can help neck, for me.

It is good to go to a PT who is an expert in vertigo. They can ascertain what other causes may be contributing such as BPPV, labyrythitis, Meniere's, vestibular neuritis etc. But cervical issues can cause vertigo as you well know.

I am permanently unable to look up and when I had surgery I brought a note from my neurologist. The surgeons had to deal with that. Dentist and eye doctor can be challenging!

I have had vertigo for about 3 years from Horner’s Syndrome which was caused by unavoidable ganglion insult during a microsurgical foraminotomy c6-c7 right side. The surgeon diagnosed it from the unequal pupil size and told me about it when I was awake after surgery. The diagnosis was later confirmed both my my eye doctor and GP.

The vertigo got catastrophically worse this summer after a laminectomy T1-T2 where the post surgical report included a diagnosis of “emerging Cauda Equina Syndrome” (arachnoiditis by another name). Well it is more than just emerging now. I am waiting for an MRI with gadolinium contrast to confirm that diagnosis so I can get the many nasty symptoms of that treated. Arachnoiditis apparently interferes with the circulation of CSF which allows toxic wastes to build up in the CSF which are toxic to the brain causing vertigo among its many other effects.