I posted my question in the neurology section, but this is too weird that we have so many of the same symtoms, my problem has been ongoing for 10 months, with no answer in sight, at least we can comisserate together. By the way, my ears have always shown no signs of infection, although my left ear is constantly making a popping noise and I will get stabbing pain in it although it never lasts more than a minute.
Fyi, here's a copy of my question/post (sorry its soooo long)
hi all, well this is going to be a long post. Here's the deal... I am a 37 year old female having extreme difficulty in finding a doctor able to make a diagnosis or help with treatment. I have seen my family Dr. (an internist), who has referred me to an ent (appt. Is still two months out) and a neurologist. The following is a list of symptoms and know test and their results.
My symptoms began in early oct. Of 2004, the onset was a 24 hour episode of severe vertigo. Within a few days following the vertigo (with no incident or accident) my neck became stiff and sore with tingling and numbness in my head. After two months with no relief is when I began seeking medical attention, beginning with a chiropractor for the neck and tingling (assuming it was a pinched nerve). The chiropractor did not help after numerous visits over a two-month period. My Dr. Then sent me to the neurologist. He presumed the tingling, numbness and neck pain was not related to the vertigo. He was primarily interested in the vertigo. Additionally I have aura migraines occasionally with no onset of headaches. Symptoms he noted of interest include the following: vertigo, tinitus, aura migraines (prior, during and following vertigo) and bouts with diarrhea. He preformed nerve tests, mri's, hearing tests, balance and vertigo tests. All tests came back normal. He did prescribe a medication (sorry, I forgot the name) that is actually for epilepsy, but might help with the numbness, coldness and tingling. It did help, but after three weeks caused depression. I stopped the medication at that point. Here's where I am at to date. Although the head tingling, etc. Ceased for a month or so, it is back with a vengeance. It is an all day, every day thing, the only thing that comes and goes with it, is the intensity and the movement of the tingling. Sometimes it is only at the very top of my head (also sore spot there on occasion) other times it radiates into the left side of my cheek and slightly into my forehead.)
also to note, the vertigo is becoming severe in its frequency and duration. What started as a one to two hour episode happening once every six months or so over the last four years, easily treated with dramamine, has increased to the last episode three weeks ago lasting 10 days. (with two relatively good days within that time frame) no medication helped. Dramamine, advant(sp?), a 10-day steroid pack, the motion-sickness patch, or an anti-anxiety medication I can't recall the name of either.
There was initial hope that this was all due to something called benign positional vertigo, but the symptoms apparently didn't match and the positional treatments did not affect any change. They have also considered menerige's disease (spelling?) not to be confirmed or ruled out just unlikely at this time. Also probably not ms, no signs of that in mri.
Obviously, I am relieved that nothing appears to be life threading, no tumors, no lesions on the brain, etc. However, the symptoms of the neck soreness are still occurring, the tingling, coldness, numbness is both annoying and at times sore and the vertigo episodes have me on edge and concerned every time I feel even slightly off balance for fear of being bed ridden for another week. Please help, I know i've rambled and given you a lot of information to digest, but I am at a loss as to who to turn to or what to do. My family and my business (all of which I love) are suffering too. Any help or suggestion would be an enormous help!