It sounds like yours was rather different, but I did have a period of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) where the motion was up and down instead of sideways whirling.

BPPV is a specific type of vertigo caused by out-of-place debris in one of the semicircular canals. I've heard that it can occur in MS, but mainly it occurs in older (otherwise normal) people, though anyone can get it, especially people with inner ear disease of some kind. BPPV is brought on by specific head-position changes.

What happened with my BPPV is that whenever I'd tip my head leftward, the ceiling would start jerking up and down rather fast. Simultaneously, I'd have a thumping/beating sound/feeling in my right ear. That second part was NOT normal for BPPV. Makes me think something is wrong with my brainstem. (Well, that and the abnormal auditory EPs.)

I don't know what significance, if any, your "vertical vertigo" would have. I would ask your neurologist at next visit (or sooner, if it continues and bothers you a lot). If by chance it's BPPV, that can be cured by simple positional maneuvers (Epley maneuver, aka canalith repositioning maneuvers) if the doctor knows how to do them.

Nancy T.