Brain Jolt

[bean418]

What is the cause behind a jolt in the head before a migraine with vertigo "like" symptoms.  Also, the sensation of
inside your head dropping like an elevator dropping levels.

[bean418]

Thanks for the response.  I have acquired migraines after a whiplash like episode with my dog....lol.  Sounds strange I know but her leash was wrapped around my wrist and me watching my other dog with my child and husband, the dog with me took off after a bunny and it snapped my neck really really hard which left me with lots of problems after that.  

The drs. try to figure out if the migraines are migraines by themselves or caused by a "Chiari" that may have become activated due to the episode.  Nonetheless, the migraines are very strange with this latest round of symptoms as I described in the post.  Very scary actually.

Been having migraines for 3.5 years now and I was sitting watching softball event and got a horrible jolt in my head and felt the sensation of falling, thought I was nuts for second....then it came again and I grabbed onto the bench, felt like I was falling and of course....freaked out after that.  Went to leave and could not walk steady, needed help.  Went home and was really scared but decided to wait it out.  Went to ER 3 days later as dizziness was still there and they dx me with vertigo and migraine.

Went to a NS consultant and he said it is not vertigo as what I described was an unsteadiness not a spinning sensation, which would be like an instability issue within the neck perhaps.  Then about a week later is when the "elevator dropping" sensation started which was even more concerning than the jolt itself.

I was dx with silent migraines at a large Neuromuscular Center.

I never posted on a site about any of this before the big jolts came and scared the pants off me as I thought there is no way migraines can do all this.  

Would you mind telling me what other symptoms you get with your migraines.  This may help me understand more with this situation.  Also, do you take a preventative medication for them ?

Thanks again for your help and responding.  

[kelleyde]

I have had migraines now for almost 20 years (started when I was 29) and you are the first person that has described the same symptoms that I also experience before I get a migraine. Most doctors and people look at me like I am crazy when I try to explain what it feels like. So I am so glad I am not alone. However, I have a great neurologist and she said that the symptoms that you are describing are called aura. I hope that helps. I have been diagnosed with basilar migraines. You can look it up on WebMd if you want to know more about it. I hope this has helped you and if you have any more questions I would be happy to answer. This is the first time I have ever posted on any website, but I saw your question and had to write back.