[Jingles1987]

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a difference between the different types of vertigo? In other words, are the symptoms any different from one type of vertigo to the other?

I've heard about a million different reasons for vertigo but I was curious to know if there was a difference between the symptoms or anything else.

I have noticed that my headache and vertigo seem to be connected somewhat. The worse the headache.... the worse the vertigo. I've been wondering if it's MAV (migraine associated vertigo) or if it's something else. I'm just trying to figure out how I can lessen the vertigo or even just... why I have it.

I think i could easily tolerate the other symptoms, but the vertigo.... is making me depressed.

[Mark in Idaho]

I think you are trying to get to analytical. The name and cause do not change how it makes you feel. Most doctors do not have an accurate way to further define most head ache or vertigo. They just knwo how to group two symptoms together. We can too. We call the group of symptoms, PCS. It is a vague term because there are so many symptoms that fit in the PCS group.

The medical establishment uses these grouping for diagnostic and billing purposes. The IDC and CPT codes are just to try and simplify the paperwork. With managed care, insurance companies limit the care for certain diagnostic codes. This helps them do that.

[Jingles1987]

That makes sense. I was just wondering if there was a way to tell whether it was from MAV, psychogenic vertigo, cervical, or one of the many other reasons for vertigo. I've already been checked out for ear stuff and it's definitely not that. My ears are 100%.

[Mark in Idaho]

Don't even think of the term psychogenic. It is the kiss of death once it makes it onto a medical record. Ignorant doctors like to use that term or more often somatoform to dismiss patients they can't help. The proper term for them to use is idiopathic. Doctors don't like this term because it means they do not know why the symptom occurs. They also don't like to go near the term idiot.

Your icon says STRESSED. This should be your primary focus. Avoiding stress and any thought processes that may cause stress.

My best to you.

[Dmom3005]

Do you have a neuro that handles the vertigo along with your migraines.
If not this is one of the first steps I would take to find answers.

Migraine vertigo for me was and is different than other kinds. But the
other kinds were worse. SO it honestly doesn't really sound like you
have the balance and vertigo issues I had. That lead my neuro-opthamalogist
to sending me to a Physical therapist. For vertigo and balance issues.

This is what helped me the most for my issues. But I believe one of the
things that helped my doctor determine the need was the fact that my
symptoms had always been there. Since I was a child, and it wasn't
associated with a accident. It at times was associated with migraines.

But not always.

Donna

[Jingles1987]

Originally Posted by Dmom3005

Do you have a neuro that handles the vertigo along with your migraines.
If not this is one of the first steps I would take to find answers.

Migraine vertigo for me was and is different than other kinds. But the
other kinds were worse. SO it honestly doesn't really sound like you
have the balance and vertigo issues I had. That lead my neuro-opthamalogist
to sending me to a Physical therapist. For vertigo and balance issues.

This is what helped me the most for my issues. But I believe one of the
things that helped my doctor determine the need was the fact that my
symptoms had always been there. Since I was a child, and it wasn't
associated with a accident. It at times was associated with migraines.

But not always.

Donna

Well, unfortunately my Neuro doesn't seem to really care too much about the vertigo. My first initial visit with him I told him about it and he said, "eh, just take some valium." Obviously I didn't. Then I called a month later to ask about valium and meclizine... and he refused and said I should not be on valium. I was fine with it because I was only asking his professional opinion about it, however, the fact that one minute he told me to take and the next to avoid it didn't exactly instill a whole lot of confidence in me.

Then during my last visit with him I asked him what he thought the vertigo might be from, and he said it was likely from the migraines. That being said, his lack of concern made me question if he just said yes because he didn't really know. Or, because of his profession, he's only going by what he knows. He won't examine the possibility that it's because of something else.

So my whole purpose of asking if there was a difference between the different types of vertigo was because I was curious to know if there was a way to tell which ones it could be and which one it definitely is not. For instance, I know some have the feeling that the room is spinning, others it's as though they are off balance.

[Mark in Idaho]

jingles.

As I mentioned before. the symptoms are treated individually. Trying to combine symptoms for treatment is a losing battle.

If you post using the PostReply button at the bottom left of the last post, it will not quote the last post. This will save screen space and make it easier to read replies.

You are starting to understand the problem with MD's. PCS is an unknown with 99% of MDs. If they can't image the problem or observe it with common exam room test, it is not very real to the doctor. Many of us have lived with this problem for years.

You might get more information from a hearing and balance clinic than a MD. Worth an inquiry, at least over the phone. Find them under hearing aids in the phone book.

[Jingles1987]

I'm actually going to be going to a clinic, at least I hope so, that's at the university of buffalo. It's about 1 1/2hr away from where I live, but according to their website they might actually help with travel expenses.

I plan on giving them a call as they seem to have some good knowledge with PCS and they have some tests for balance and a possible exercise program that they use to try and relieve some of the symptoms. They at least have people who are concerned with and have some knowledge about concussions and PCS, which is more then I can say for the other MD's I've seen.

[Dmom3005]

Jingles

Sounds like a good program. I hope you can get in there. And they
can help with travel expenses.

Donna