Help, Please!?!?!? Is Vertigo common with MS?

[thester6474]

For the last three years I have been living with multiple symptoms, with multiple diagnoses, some that I question more and more on a daily basis.  

My symptoms include:
a burning pain in muscles, numbness in extremities, loss of sensation in parts of bodies, stiffness, major fatigue, depression, major headaches, spasticity, spasms, myoclonus, restless leg, tingling in head and extremities, vibration sensations, buzzing sensations when moving head from time to time, anxiety, major cognitive dysfunction, sleeping dysfunctions, inability to feel and recognize touches unless they are visual, muscle weakness – especially in extremities, extra tension in arms and legs with usage, chronic indigestion, walking (I have a gait), constant state of tiredness – inability to complete most tasks – moving or lifting items, exercising, walking, carrying grocery, brushing hair, etc.

To make the situation worse on October 28th I woke up and the room was spinning and has been since.  As soon as my Neurologist's office opened I called and informed them of the fact that I was unable to walk with out running into items or falling completely down.  The nurse told me to lie down immediately and to do nothing until she called back.  When she called back, she told me to either go straight to the ER or come there.  I was told that I was suffering from Vertigo.  Unfortunately he has refused to do any testing, just take me off of medication the last few months, which has not helped.

My Rheumatologist last month looked in my ear and noticed that my eardrum was swollen remarkably on the right side so decided to send me to my ENT.  He also decided before the appointment to prescribe two weeks of high dose prednisone 4 5mg tablets in the am, and 4 at night as well as two 600 mg antibiotics daily for two weeks.  This helped the eardrum go down as well as the apparent ear infection I had at the time.  The ENT said that it could have made the Vertigo worse, but was not the main cause, and in turn sent me for an MRI with and w/o contrast and well as Vestibular PT.  I had already done the Vestibular PT eval just 6 weeks in advance.

This time the results were much worse she said, she didn't give me the results from the first time.  This time though when she scored me standing still and doing a few different exercises I scored only 13 out of 24.  When she scored me for gait it was 8 out of 24, so both are pretty poor.  She said that she hasn't seen it get that bad that quickly.

I do have my a copy of my MRI results and just had a question as to, should there be any white areas on the scan?  I do see several white spots on the back lobe upper area, as well as the middle lower area.  I see a few others, what scares me is the last time I had scans two years ago I had no white ares.  What are some causes of white ares on MRIs?  What are some causes of Vertigo?  Could it get to the point where I no longer have any balance?

[starryeyes1]

Lu is right. The intravenous steroid is what they give for inflammation.. I haven't had to do that yet. When I first saw my neuro, I thought that if he put me on steroids that would "fix" whatever was causing the balance problem.

He said that maybe it would have helped if it was done when I first became dizzy, but because it went untreated for so long, it was permanent. That really upset me because I blamed the last neuro for waiting and brushing me off.

He made me feel like I was crazy, that I needed counseling and all along he could have been trying to help me. When I got my dx, I had the MS spec send copies of the notes to the other neuro I guess to prove to him that I was right and he was wrong.

That Copaxone is not bad and does help people with the relapses and lesion growth. I want to slow this down as much as possible.

Good Luck and I will include you in my prayers!

Kristi

[Lulu54]

Ordinary oral steroids won't normally help this type of inflammation.  They can't be given in the potency that is required here.

What you might want to request is IV solumedrol - it is given several days in a row and then you use an oral steroid to taper off.  You might call and ask the doctor if that could be an option for you.

Lu

[thester6474]

I was on steroids for two whole weeks and it didn't help at all.

[starryeyes1]

I have 4 lesions. Apparently, the lesion on the pons is the one causing dizziness. I was diagnosed with MS last June after having symptoms such as tingling/numbness in my legs, blurry vision in left eye, balance trouble,numb tongue..

I had been to 2 different neuro's in Tucson and finally got so fed up with idiots that I took a chance on visiting an MS center where the specialist diagnosed me within 10 min.

I know without a doubt that if I hadn't left the state to see a specialist, I would still be undiagnosed and not  on any DMD. My Vertigo is if I look up and sometimes side to side..Also, in bed when I turn over the room spins but Its my balance that is the worst.

I have friends who have had vertigo and stroids helped them. Not sure if this is an option or not when not diagnosed. Take care and keep us posted.

Kristi

[thester6474]

Where was the lesion located?  And what was the final diagnosis?  I cannot even stand upright with her help, I still either fall to the left or to the back.  How is the vertigo now?

[starryeyes1]

I just read your post. I have had severe balance problems since my first real symptom. I have been in PT which helps in learning how to balance because its a lesion that is causing this problem. My dizziness never goes away.

Its been about 2 yrs since it started and I am now ready to try a cane. I honestly didn't think it would help me if I got dizzy. I use the shopping carts at the stores which really mask that I have a problem.It keeps me balanced.

Did your Dr say that you absolutely need a walker? That is a hard pill to swallow. Someone suggested it to me and I just wasn't ready. I completely understand how you feel. If there is a way to try a cane first, do try. It may not be enough, but its worth a try.

Good Luck and we are all here for you!

Hugs
Kristi