I've struggled with fullness in my ears, subjective dizziness, vision problems, sores muscles in neck and shoulders, brain fog, as well as general fatigue for over 5 years. During that time I've been diagnosed with vestibular neuritis (Pittsburgh Eye and Ear), eustachian tube dysfunction (ENT through UPMC), and chronic fatigue syndrome (Rhematologist).
Over those years, I have from time to time played games of basketball with my friends. In almost all cases at some point during the game, when my heart really starts pumping and my breathing becomes heavy, I feel a sort of heaviness in my head, which worsens during the cool down period. It starts with a fullness in the ears and progresses to an almost altered state of consciousness. The world suddenly looks different and my awareness of myself changes (derealization). At times, this state will leave me after several days, and I can always tell when I'm back to myself. The brain fog lifts, the fatigue without end stops, and I concentrate better without struggling through a sort of dream world. I also experience a lot of soreness in my neck (at the base of my skull in the cervical area) and shoulders. At other times, these symptoms have persisted for months making life a struggle to say the least, and very depressing.
I'm wondering what about the vigorous aerobic exercise causes these symptoms? It doesn't just seem to be from the movement necessary to play basketball but rather from the aerobic exertion. I feel that if I can pinpoint the cause, I may be able to remedy the condition overall a bit better.
Please provide any wisdom based on your research and personal experiences. I appreciate your help.
Re: Aerobic exercise and fullness of ears, brain fog
Hi JP,
I have a total bilateral vestibular loss. I completely understand the feeling of fullness and brain fog. I live with it constantly. I have also recently been diagnosed with MS.
Because I have so little balance function, it is very difficult for me to do much aerobic exercise. With the vestibular loss comes oscillopscia (which, if you don't know, is "bouncing vision", my eyes do not lock on objects when I am moving. When I walk and try to focus on something, it moves up and down along with my gait). I can't really run because I basically can't see or focus on anything.
That being said, I find if I walk longer distances, get overly heated or exerted the fullness and throbbing inside my head gets worse. I don't have much of a remedy other then I need to take a lot of breaks before I reach that point or avoid it all together.
There are days when my brain slosh (as I like to call it) is worse then others. I have no real explanation, some days I wake up and can tell from the minute I open my eyes that it is not going to be a good day. A bad spell can sometimes last a few days or pass overnight. I really don't know if that is MS or the BVL, either way, it is uncomfortable.
Just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through and hope you find some ways to allow you to continue to do the things you enjoy.
Re: Aerobic exercise and fullness of ears, brain fog
Hi. You're symproms sound very similar to mine. I was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis in early February of this year. I was getting better, and then in April started having ear fullness a "foggy" feeling with ear ringing in both ears. I'm seeing a really good neurologist who has diagnosed me with daily chronis tension headaches. This is causing the fullness. Are you now experiencing ringing in both ears? My tinnitius (ringing) started to subside after 2-3 weeks, and is not probably 90-95% gone...can rarely notice it almost 3 months later. I have a question for you.....are your symptoms episodic or constant/chronic? Also, I doubt you had vestibular neuritis based on your comments. VN is devastating for about 2-4 weeks. First 2-3 weeks you can basely get out of bed and vision and balance is all screwed up. Good luck....again you might want to investigate chronic tension headaches. THe excercise can bring the headaches on, as I've been told by my neurologist.
