I know there have been lots of discussions on vertigo here, myself included. Mine was not the common BPPV as the ear doctor waved me off with. (no migraines) As I dealt with with for 3 years, I continued to search for answers, a cause and a remedy, I finally came across something that is 98% working.
A neurologist had me try a anti convulsive drug to see if it helped. It took almost 2 months but it has greatly stopped the vertigo. I only have a small amount of vertigo when turning over in bed, and only lasts for 6 seconds. No side effects! She had also had me get an MRI, which turned up a meningioma close to my ear. She said it could be pressing on a nerve that caused the vertigo. However she said if the rx works she would hesitate to do more. My oncologist said NO we go further and set me up with a neurosurgeon. Have not been to that dr. yet. I know surgeons tend to want to do surgery, but I will see what he has to say. It has been suggested I get a second opinion set up regardless at a well known hospital, since it takes months to get in.
I never thought there would be any change, so I would say vertigo people, âDonât give up!â
This is very interesting. Initially I had vertigo when I turned over in bed and my GP did blood tests and said I was folic acid anaemic. Skip to a few years later and the vertigo went ballistic and I was diagnosed by Dr Surenthiran as having Migraine Variant Balance Disorder - Pizotifen and diet improved things dramatically, but residue symptoms of ear and head fullness plus raging tinnitus remained. This year I had an MRI of my head and skull which incidentally found 2 x 2cm meningiomata in the left frontal and parietal region , so now I am wondering if the vertigo was also linked to this. However the Pizotifen clearly helped calm my head down so perhaps the menigiomata wasnât anything to do with any of the symptoms I had and have now! I was referred to a local neurologist and am currently on âWait and Watchâ and under the joint care of the local neurologist and Kings College. As the menigiomata are extra axial - outside the brain, and between the skull and the meninges - I am not expecting surgery, unless they get bigger, cause debilitating symptoms, or penetrate the brain.
Good luck with your neurologist appointment.
Did you not have an MRI straight away at onset of symptoms?
I would think the link is highly likely as they might have interfered with homeostasis of intracranial pressure which might affect the pressure communicated to the inner ear.
A friend of mine had a brain tumour removed and it gave him vertigo and dizziness for several years after.
Absolutely no MRI until 3 years later. Every professional said "âoh itâs just BPPVâ and that was the end of it. So glad I finally got MRI. And that my oncologist ( for abnormal breast tissue) said YES! And I want you to go to this neurosurgeon cause he is the best around our area. So Friday Sept 25 we will see what he wants to do.
James, I wish that I had been offered an MRI straight away, but my GP then seemed to think they had found the problem and prescribed Folic acid supplements. A few years later, when the vertigo got worse and I was unable to function, I found my way to Dr S , but he didnât suggest an MRI either as he was certain it was MVBD. The osteopath I am seeing for hip, back and neck issues suggested I should have an MRI and referred me to my GP who, having probed a bit more decided to ask for a head and spine MRI - he thought I had MS. The neurologist thinks I have had the meningiomata for about 10 years, so I am sure they will have contributed to the feelings of pressure, which never really went away despite coming off Pizotifen.
I have read that sometimes removing the tumours can cause as many problems as leaving them in situ, but it all depends upon where the tumour/s are and what symptoms you get. I hope your friend is vertigo and dizziness free now.
Jan do you know if these things ever go away on their own? Also, have you been told to follow any specific diet to help or any other conservative treatment?
Also, out of interest how easy were they to identify on your scan? Maybe 10 years ago they wouldnât have shown up anyway?
Hello James- I donât think meningioma go away, but some people with a low grade, benign tumour often donât know they have them - like me, until they are discovered incidentally via an MRI scan for other things.
I have had no advice re diet, and anything I have found out about Meningioma has been from my own research - Support for people with a meningioma - Brainstrust, brain tumour charity and a support group on Facebook. From my research it seems that for women being on HRT could feed grade 2 & 3 meningioma. I think because my tumours are benign and seemingly slow growing medics are less concerned, which is fair enough , but from reading posts on the Fb support group it seems as if many people are told by their neurologists that their symptoms are not related to their meningioma. This indicates that I might be stuck with the tinnitus and ear and head pressure if the meningiomata are not responsible!
I think it was relatively easy for the professionals to identify the meningiomata on the scan, but I must admit when i was shown the scan, I couldnât see where they were and they havenât sent me a copy of the scan. You are probably right that the scans might not have shown up 10 years ago, but I wonder if they would have done back in 2018 when I first saw Dr S.
I have a telephone appointment with my neurologist about now, so might find out more, but I think it is just to check how I am and to arrange another MRI!