Looking for answers to deal with vertigo and dizziness

Dear kathyjo,
I empathize with you as I, too, have had several episodes of BPPV. You have a number of complicating factors. I have found help with a physical therapist, though some positions are still troublesome. (72-year-old female).
My older sister had several COVID19 vaccinations/boosters (not sure what company) and then was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis (inflammation of the auditory nerve). It is not certain that her vaccinations had anything to do with it, but may have. Her main symptom was severe vertigo. She is much better than she was after months of rehab exercises at home. Still uses a cane at times.
There are several balance centers in the nation. There is probably no better place to go than to one of the Mayo Clinics! I surely pray you may find help! Barb

Hi Kathyjo,
Vertigo and dizziness are just awful to deal with. I have a similar situation. It happens if I move too fast or look up at something. My doctor said it was an inner ear problem. However, yours sounds like it's a little more involved as far as the cause. I handle it by sitting quietly when it occurs until it subsides which is usually quite soon. Although at the time, it seems like a long time. What does help me is drinking lots of water, eating healthy food on a regular schedule and prayer. All three work. You also might want to note the side effects of your medications to see if any of them cause dizziness.
I hope things work out for you! I'll remember you in my prayers.
PML

I would recommend that you have someone re-read your MRI's looking specifically for a high riding jugular bulb. I was just recently diagnosed with this after a year of walking with a drunk stagger and a round of vertigo that landed me in the hospital. I had an MRI done last September that the doctor missed the bulb. When in the hospital last month, they ran a second MRI. That doctor found the bulb. I am in the process of meeting with a specialist (4/25), so I don't have any further info.

Thanks for the info...was the MRI of your cervical neck?? I will look into this...it's so frustrating.

@kathyjo1369 Hello. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and I also have thoracic outlet syndrome. When you describe pain radiating into your shoulder, that is the same type of pain I get from TOS. TOS is more common in spine patients because it can happen alongside a spine injury. It causes one side of my neck to be tighter than the other, and it starts turning my vertebrae independently. If enough of that has happened, when it turns C1 & C2, that has caused vertigo for me. My physical therapist has worked with me and can feel if my vertebrae are getting twisted. She works on the muscle spasms to stretch out the tight areas. My surgical scar plays a little bit into the tightness, and I periodically stretch that out with my hands. My PT does myofacial release which helps a lot and it stops vertigo and neck pain and headaches.

I know the way I sleep has a lot to do with if my neck spasms or not. I need to have support from the pillow, so I don't get into a twisting neck position or bending it up or down. I sleep on my side, and I need to keep it straight, or it can start a muscle spasm and start turning vertebrae.

Perhaps this is an avenue to explore if you can find an MFR practitioner. There is a provider search at http://mfrtherapists.com/

There is a discussion that you may want to read through and meet other members who have used MFR — Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/.

Have you heard of myofascial release before?

@kathyjo1369, in addition to the helpful replies you've received here, I thought you might like to also review these related discussions:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: What has helped you? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-1/
- Post-Covid dizziness/off-balance, as most troubling symptom https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-covid-dizzinessoff-balance-as-most-troubling-symptom/
- Vertigo driving me nuts: worse after eating https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/vertigo-driving-me-nuts/

Suggest looking at Vestibular Migraine info also. It is a more recent diagnosis code and many Dr's are not familiar with it. It took 5 ENTS, a Neurologist and 2 GPS over 7 yrs to figure it out.

Hi Colleen. I've read all the above categories. I rarely get headaches. I also do not have nausea as a rule. I have Meclizine and it does not help , just makes me tired. I also have a antidepressant Celexa that also makes me feel terrible and does not help me at all. When I'm sitting, sleeping with some tossing and turning I'm not dizzy at all. I can drive without problems. I have had little relief for the past 17 months. I think my problem is cervicogentic dizziness. Those are my symptoms almost exactly. I think my problem comes from my neck. I have several bone spurs on the right side of my neck. I've been doing vestibular exercises faithfully for the last year. I've also walked 100 miles per month since the covid lockdown 3/11/21. The neurologist I saw a few months ago thinks I have some kind of virus and that it will just go away. I have had several tests with a vestibular physical therapist motor control, sensory organization tests and I have great balance. I've had 4 Pfizer vaccinations. Doctor's do not think it's a cause of my dizziness. When I'm at home trying to clean my house I really get dizzy with bending over, looking down, tucking my neck.....not sure what I can do at this point. I really appreciate the comments from other's that have dizziness, gives me some ideas to think about. I practice all the vestibular exercises daily with balance practice. While walking I do a lot of walking backwards, side to side neck/up and down....I live in Spokane, Washington and my next move is seeing a Neurologist in the Seattle or Portland area.

I was lucky enough to get the diagnosis with my first Neurologist, Dr. Wheeler at Mayo in Rochester, MN. I had been treated for vertigo by a physical therapist in Red Wing, MN after an extreme bout of vertigo. I had also been being treated by by an excellent Chiropractor in Cannon Falls, MN, Dr. Demel for my balance and vestibular issues. The 2 (balance/vertigo and migraine headache) weren't occurring enough together to connect them until I saw Dr. Wheeler after a 27 day long migraine. I ended up needing shots in the back of my head to break the cycle of the migraine and thankfully they worked. I have not had a full blown migraine since then, over a hear ago. I have face numbing and tingling and my newest and almost persistent trigger is the computer. Yay! NOT! Scrolling is the big one. Yesterday I tried to browse items on turning display (like postcards) and had to stop immediately. I believe my greatest help has come from my amazing chiropractor, Dr. Demel, but I also see now that I am probably going to have to see her on a regular and permanent basis to keep symptoms to a minimum. It's a treatment, not a cure. The physical therapist had special training and helped, but my Chiropractor gave me eye exercises that helped the most. Perhaps the information on her web page will give you information as to the kind of treatment she uses or the type of chiropractor or other practitioner that can help you. Otherwise, if others live close enough to Cannon Falls, MN for the treatment effect to outweigh the "damage" done by the drive, check out Dr. Demel of the body works clinic at https://www.bwclinic.com/

Thank you for the tips! It all helps! I am in Florida so MN a bit far for those practitioners. Mine is inflammation triggered by severe outdoor wet and dry mold and pollen allergies. Also eliminated coffee which was a year round trigger. Limit chocolate, water melon, tomatoes and peaches also really helps me.It was a process to figure out which foods I had eaten all my life were suddenly causing me issues. Take magnesium. Great website vestibular.org has helped alot, also joined free part of MigraineWorldSummit.com for drs speaking about latest developments. There is also alot of discussion on chronic sinusitis patients being misdiagnosed when they have migraine. Good Luck and Happy Easter 🐰