| Re: Inner ear questions and Viruses
Hello,
Just to say a couple of things. Firstly, I can't really add to Tess's answer, no hearing loss and no sign of a virus or a bacterial infection are all completely normal with an inner ear disorder. The virus tends to hit and run - there is no trace of it, only the damage it's caused.
I'm not on the board much these days but I've just taken a look at a couple of your posts. I am fairly amazed no one has suggested migraine as the cause of your troubles. I strongly suggest you read the section on the neck in a book called Heal Your Headache by David Bucholz. It explains how a neck problem doesn't directly cause the problem, but causes migraine, which could then cause all the problems you have described. I think you would find the neck section of this book a real eye opener. In fact the whole book is a real eye opener. Also read an article you can find on the net by Robert A Battista about migraine associated vertigo. If you search around a bit using his name you'll find it.
It is entirely possible to experience migraine without headache. It could be that your neck problems are triggering migraine which is manifesting as balance problems and nausea. It could also be that the neck has been misleading, namely you've been told it's not your neck causing the dizziness. in a way this may be true, it isn't the direct cause, but an indirect one - namely
neck problems - leads to - migraine - leads to - balance problems.
As opposed to
neck problems -- leads to - balance problems.
I have been diagnosed with atypical migraine - migraine associated vertigo. I have jaw clenching issues which have caused tmj - this is one of the triggers for my migraine which manifested initially only as dizziness for months and months, the headaches came much, much later on. They do no know if I also have vestibular damage, I might, but whatever, migraine is a big part of my problem.
I realise you have already tried numerous drugs, but it can often be hard to find the right one. Many people give up on migraine as a diagnosis as the drugs they try don't cure them, this is often misleading as many drugs simply don't work for certain individuals, it's trial and error. They type of nerve block injections you've had are used in the treatment of migraine where the neck is considered a major trigger for the migraine, (that's how recognised it is that the neck can lead to migraine, which is well documented to cause balance problems/vertigo/dizziness, often without a headache.) Of course the injections don't always work. I radically changed my diet which helped me.
When it comes to balance issues, in the vast majority of cases the problem is either inner ear or vestibular migraine. Neck and back issues can cause balance problems, but you're had this ruled out, so time to examine the other two options, I'd say.
One other thing I am not 100% clear on, but may be worth examining, is that it's possible that migraine pain can actually only manifest as neck pain. After all it's possible for migraine only to manifest as dizziness or as visual disturbance.
I'm not saying you don't have vestibular damage, you might. But generally, if you have different symptoms - neck pain+dizziness, which started at the same time, you would guess that they may all be bound up in one medical problem - and migraine could definitely explain your strange symptom history.
I strongly recommend you read the Buchholz book I suggested, especially the section on the neck. He explains what I am trying to explain much more clearly.
best,
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hbep
Last edited by hbep; 10-29-2005 at 06:12 AM.
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