If not MS then what?

[bartpacker]

Hello, about 2 years ago  I started having these episodes where I felt Spacey and lightheaded for 2 or 3 weeks at a time. About six months later I developed downbeat nystagmus which I have to this day. I went to a neurologist and had a battery of tests done. My MRI and my spinal tap was clean my blood was tested for a variety of antibodies, vitamin deficciciecies, thyroid, liver, etc. and all came back normal.  based on the above does anyone have any suggestions on what to test for next?

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

You might consider something like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) because that can go away on its own in a few weeks and it's also associated with Nystagmus, BPPV is caused by a problem in the inner ear so you could see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to see if its possibly the issue.

Down beat Nystagmus is associated with other medical conditions as well as demyelinating conditions like MS, i found a list but everything but 'idiopathic' should of been picked up in your test results and or history though so i don't know how helpful these conditions could be, a few alternative ideas though..

"The differential diagnosis of downbeat nystagmus includes

Arnold-Chiari type I malformation

tumors (meningioma, cerebellar hemangioma) at the foramen magnum

demyelination

stroke

cranial trauma

drugs (alcohol, lithium, anticonvulsants)

platybasia

basilar impression

spinocerebellar degenerations

syrinx of the brainstem or upper cervical spinal cord

brainstem encephalitis

paraneoplastic syndrome

nutrition (Wernicke encephalopathy, parenteral feeding, magnesium deficiency)

antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase

idiopathic"

https://www.aao.org/bcscsnippetdetail.aspx?id=a3f053df-d90e-45ea-9e44-5b95221ed356

Hope that helps.......JJ