Feeling Less Tilty
It’s been awhile since I wrote about my vestibular issues, hasn’t it? To recap, last year I went on an amazing trip to France with my cousin. When we returned, I had horrible jet lag, and didn’t sleep more than 2 hours a night for about a week. After that, I started feeling dizzy, like the ground wasn’t quite where I expected it to be. I saw my Primary Care Physician, who said it was likely jet lag, take a Benadryl before bed every night and call her if it didn’t get better. Then there was a period of it getting somewhat better and then much worse again, so I called her and she sent me to an ENT.
The ENT did some tests, and said he also thought it was probably jet lag, and sometimes our brains get out of synch and forget how to balance quite right. He gave me some eye motion exercises that helped a bit, and told me to continue with the Benadryl, and call him if it didn’t get better. So I waited a few months, and again, it got better, and then worse again. Frustrating. So he sent me for an MRI, which was thankfully normal. I was having visions of a brain tumor or something. (Why would I suspect cancer, with my dog going through chemo at the same time? Hmmm.)
After that, he sent me to a neurologist, who said she suspects I caught some kind of virus on my trip (I did have two separate days of symptoms there, which could have been a virus, or could have been city air quality and rich food) and it has settled into my spinal chord. Doesn’t that sound fun? In order to rule out more serious issues, she signed me up for 3 more tests, which took awhile to have scheduled. One was another MRI, for my cervical spine this time instead of my inner ear. Normal. Next was a Videonystagmography (VNG) test, which tests to see if you eyes and your brain are in synch. This test did have some answers. My eyes are a little out of synch with my brain. Why? No answer there. Virus? I don’t remember what she said about that anymore, so much information came at me at once. The third test was an EEG, which tests the electrical activity of your brain. This came back as normal ‘for my age’. Ahem.
In the meantime, you may remember that in early June, I tweaked my neck while blow drying my hair. Life can be really stupid, right? Well, I started seeing a chiropractor for that, but I won’t let him crack my neck since I read an article in the New York Times about how having your neck manipulated can (very rarely but very dangerously) lead to stroke. Ack! So he has to work around that. When I went for a follow up with my neurologist, I mentioned my neck, and she sent me back for ANOTHER MRI, to see if I had pinched a nerve or something. I said, “Why, won’t it just get better with time?” And she said, “Why would it get better with time? If it is a damaged nerve it will need treatment.” Hmm. The treatment for my eye/brain synching thing is thankfully pretty simple, and has me going to see a physical therapist. The neurologist gave me some muscle relaxants for my neck, which I do not like so am not taking, and something for my balance, which turns out to be Bonine, which you take for seasickness. I asked her if she thought going to the chiropractor at the same time as PT might counteract each other, and she said, “Only if you have a stroke.” ACK! So I was right! She said she has seen 2 patients have stroke within a day of having their neck manipulated, one of whom was a 30-something year old man who hadn’t been to a chiropractor, but used to crack his own neck several times a day and is now paralyzed on one side. Wow. The most recent MRI came back normal (thankfully).
Next up is a follow up with the ENT, who will test my hearing. Hearing loss and balance issues combined can be a symptom of Menier’s Disease. When I look that up, it doesn’t sound like what is happening with me, but I guess it can’t hurt to check.
For now, I am still seeing the chiropractor, and am doing a bit of yoga (20 – 30 minutes via Yoga with Adriene on YouTube – bonus, her dog Benji is adorable!) 4 to 5 days a week. I am seeing the Physical Therapist (who I really like) once a week, and doing the exercises she gives me every day. I have a cushion that I stand on, and do various head movements, with my eyes open and then closed. I feel like I have improved a lot in the last couple of weeks, both with my neck and with my balance, which is a big relief. I’ve been here before, thinking it is all better, and it has gotten worse again. I hope that this time, it is going to stay better. And the more I read about balance issues affecting us as we get older, the more I think it might be a good idea to stick with these exercises for the rest of my life, at least a couple of days a week.
22 Comments
Margaret
I’ve been reading so much lately about people (mostly women) in our general age group who have vertigo/dizziness issues. It’s frightening! You’ve had so many tests without any answers yet, but as long as something is working, that’s a positive. I hope the improvement continues!!
J
I think women are more prone to migraines, and I suspect there is a correlation there as well.
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
Gosh, having dizziness/vertigo would be so awful and debilitating! I can’t imagine. I hope that the symptoms go away completely soon! I know several people who had issues with vertigo but their PT exercises did the trick – it just took a lot of time or more time than anyone would like it to take!
My husband has always been extremely anti-chiro. If he saw that article he would feel SO VINDICATED!!
J
I’m so glad to hear that the PT exercises have helped the people you know with this issue. It does make me wonder why they didn’t just send me to PT months ago, instead of all of these tests. It’s only been 7 months. Then again, I took quite awhile before following up a few times, thinking I was getting better, and I suppose it’s good to have tests to make sure it isn’t anything scary. But maybe I could walk and chew gum at the same time? Do the PT AND have the diagnostic tests? To be fair, the ENT did give me exercises to do, they just weren’t as effective as the ones I am doing now, and I was never given any instruction on them either.
Elisabeth
I hope you find answers soon – or, better yet, fully recover with the existing treatment plan. This all sounds so frustrating, but I’m glad you’re staying on top of the situation and doing all these wonderful exercises.
I used to go to the chiropractor a lot; since we don’t have private coverage (in Canada, alternative medicine isn’t covered by our free health care), I stopped going, but I do really miss it. I will admit I got my neck adjusted at every visit and now I’m feeling a bit squeamish about that!
J
Elisabeth, I’ve had my neck cracked so many times! It feels good and is SO satisfying. He cracked it two or three times when I started going to him, back in early June. Then I read the article and decided it was too risky. Chances are very slim, but the consequences are too great, so I won’t do that again.
Nicole MacPherson
OMG J, I taught a Yoga for Stroke Survivors class for a few years, and many of my students were young stroke survivors, i.e., under 50. A HIGH PERCENTAGE HAD A STROKE FROM A CHIRO NECK ADJUSTMENT. One had a stroke from a dental mistake, and she was in her early 20s. It really opened my eyes as to how easily these things can happen. DO NOT MESS WITH THE NECK, PEOPLE!
Anyway, hope you are feeling better, this is a big mess for you and it must really affect your quality of life.
J
ACK! Nicole, thank you for affirming my decision! That’s horrible. I’m happy to say that aside from sometimes feeling like I am falling apart, I don’t feel like my quality of life is affected. My balance is MUCH better, and my neck is MUCH better.
nance
Gosh, I left a comment a long time ago. I wonder what happened to it?
Anyway, I’m glad you went to the doctor and had tests (and are having another one) to cover the bases. It’s important to be on top of your health concerns rather than wait them out and hope for the best.
I stopped seeing a chiropractor after I got a massive migraine after a treatment.
As far as the muscle relaxant, I wonder if you could ask for a different one. I have chronic cervical myofasciitis–a neck and shoulder issue. My neurologist prescribed methocarbomol (generic for Robaxin). It’s a muscle relaxer, but it doesn’t give me an odd feeling. I don’t get real sleepy or loopy, and can carry on with my day for the most part.
J
Nance, regarding your comment, I checked my ‘to be approved’ area, no comment there. Then I checked my spam folder, and it wound up there somehow. I never think to check there, it’s usually real spam. I’m deleting it since it’s pretty much the same as your 2nd attempt. Thank you for returning!
I doubt I will ask for a different muscle relaxant. I am improving enough with yoga, PT, and chiro, I don’t think I need it. The one I was given is Flexeril, and I took it at bedtime. Made me feel kind of weird, and I didn’t notice any difference in my neck pain or tightness. Good to know that I have options, though, in case I need something another time, because I didn’t like how this one made me feel.
Interesting on the migraine after treatment. Did you have your neck adjusted that time?
Ally Bean
“My eyes are a little out of synch with my brain.”
I’ve never heard of this and find it fascinating and frightening in equal measure. I like your exercise plan and happy that it’s working for you. I hope that by consistently doing it you’ll be less dizzy. Still, so sorry to read about all of this. Getting older can be a bother.
J
Ally, no, I had never heard of this either! Creepy, right? I am thankful that the solution is Physical Therapy, also that it seems to be working thus far, and that my insurance covers it, and that it is quick (only a few minutes a day). The best option for all of this would be for it to never have happened. Next would be for it to have resolved itself quickly. But since we are where we are, I’m glad it is improving and that no surgery or drugs are needed. Whew!
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Oh my goodness, just reading this has me feeling stressed out! I hate going to the doctor and I hate having an unresolved problem! I know I am probably preaching to the choir here, but man I really hope that one of these visits results in a solution/answer! It can be so frustrating to not know what to start doing to fix things. It sounds like some of the things (PT etc.) may be helping though, so that is good.
I have had some gastro issues and they are still unresolved, but I have been so discouraged by the appointments and the process and the medical profession in general. My last visit was about 3 minutes before the Dr. tried to get rid of me and I was like WAIT, we have not figured anything out and I have questions! She acted like it was not her job to figure it out. I was a little floored. I hope that you have had a better experience with your team of doctors!
J
Kyria, oh goodness, THAT is frustrating. It sounds like you need a different doctor! I have a good team of doctors, I think, they all take their time and listen to me. I don’t mind waiting a bit in the waiting room for a doctor if it means they are spending time with people and giving them their full attention.
These puzzles are indeed frustrating, but I am glad to say that the PT is really helping. We may never know exactly what set this off, but improving is what I really care about.
Stephany
OMG, I had never heard about the whole neck-cracking/stroke connection and that is terrifying (especially after reading Nicole’s comment, backing you up!) It must be so frustrating to have been dealing with these symptoms for so long and to not have any firm answers. I really hope your current treatment plan works! It’s scary to think how easily the body can get out of sync from the smallest thing!
J
Stephany, yes, I had never heard of this until I read the article, and then my neurologist warned me about it, and now Nicole too! I’ve had my neck cracked many times. Never again.
I’m happy to say that yes, the physical therapy, chiropractor, and yoga are definitely helping. 🙂
Zazzy
I hate when people do this, particularly when it sounds like it should quack and waddle, but have they mentioned benign paroxysmal positional vertigo? The short of it is that we have little crystals in our inner ears that can get out of alingnment and it’s treated with head movements and postional therapies with your PT. I had a PT recognize it after months of fighting nausea every time I got up or lay down and especially if I rolled over. Anyway, I do hope that you’ve found your answers and are feeling much better now.
J
I have heard of this! One of my coworkers had it and it was terrible. I was tested for it, and it was not my issue at all, thankfully.
San
Gosh, you’ve had the run-around. I am glad you’re pursuing answers and getting a bunch of tests done, but unfortunately, it feels like they’re all poking in the dark?! I don’t know… I’ve kinda lost my trust in doctors in the last few years because so much of it sounds like they never know what they’re looking for. Sigh. I do hope that something comes from your persistence and the vertigo will go away for goo.d
J
Thank you San! Between my Rheumatoid Arthritis and now this, I am really learning about how medicine seems to work. I used to think it was very cut and dried, and now I think we are all so different, and doctors are working with averages and what works for the most people, and of course that is based on studies which are often skewed. I’m not criticizing the doctors, just saying our system could be better. They are often hampered by insurance companies and state/federal regulations.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Oh this does not sound fun.
I am sorry you dont get any real answers. This is the first when you feel something is off but you can’t pinpoint.
It really could be all “just a migraine” symptoms are so different.
The neck cracking thing got me worried. My husband is doing that constantly. I hat ethe sound but he says it’s nice to relaxe/snapp back. I need to ell him about the stroke issue right away.
J
Yes, please, tell your husband about the stroke issue. It is VERY rare, but the complications are so severe that it scared me!