Migraine aura or other neuro symptoms?

perlina · 05-07-2009, 11:10 PM

Hi, I'm new here and bring a myriad of medical diagnoses with me including migraines (with/without aura, with/without headache, persistent aura), SLE, hypothyroid, high cholesterol, asthma, Gastric reflux, etc., etc.. I want to share an experience I've had.
Not to go into my entire history, suffice to say, I've had double horizontal double vision for several years. My vision is corrected by a prism in the lens of one of my eyeglasses.

About a year ago, I suddenly began having brief periods of vertigo and would fall to the side if i didn't have something to cling to or someone didn't hold me. These episodes occurred without warning every few months. Then several months later I developed brief periods of "vertical" double vision even with my glasses on. These episodes occurred less frequently than the vertigo. During all this time eye aura (flashing arc of light) occurred almost daily, sometimes many times a day.

After a new neurological exam and testing, it was decided that these problems were migraine related. Before I began taking prophylactic medicines for migraines many years ago, I was having persistent aura without headache lasting 5-7 days and occurring every 2-3 weeks. The meds helped by decreasing the frequency as well as the intensity. I've been taking the meds, with some changes, for about 12 years so I didn't find it difficult to believe that these new symptoms were migraine related.

Here's the kicker - last fall I developed back pain that settled in my buttocks and radiated down the backs of both legs to my knees and walking became difficult. An MRI demonstrated degenerative discs L3-4-5 as well as a cyst pushing on the spinal cord causing spinal stenosis at L4. Had laminectomy with fusion of same and removal of cyst on Jan 6, 2009. Wore brace for 3 months and currently doing pretty well.
It has now been more than 4 months since I last had the vertical double vision or vertigo. I'm beginning to believe that those symptoms were not migraine related, but related to the pressure on the cord from below. I've never heard of this happening before. Has anyone else had this type of thing happen?

FranksAngel · 05-08-2009, 12:05 AM

welcome to neurotalk ... there are lots of friendly and supportive people here... here is an excellent starting point for finding the answers you seek
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html ... spinal disorders and back pain ...
so jump right in and start posting ... should you need help, don't hesitate to ask someone ... we are here to help

Darlene · 05-08-2009, 01:54 AM

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. We are all here to assist each other as possible.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

azoyizes · 05-08-2009, 09:48 AM

Hello perlina, and welcome to NeuroTalk! There are a lot of interesting forums and topics here, as well as bunches of nice, friendly, and caring people.

I'm glad you found us!

(Broken Wings) · 05-09-2009, 03:18 AM

Hi,

Seems you've been through quite a bit.

I've never experienced what you have. I do believe we're wired up like that, though. It could happen. I'm glad you don't have the visual things anymore. I hope your surgery was a success.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by perlina

Hi, I'm new here and bring a myriad of medical diagnoses with me including migraines (with/without aura, with/without headache, persistent aura), SLE, hypothyroid, high cholesterol, asthma, Gastric reflux, etc., etc.. I want to share an experience I've had.
Not to go into my entire history, suffice to say, I've had double horizontal double vision for several years. My vision is corrected by a prism in the lens of one of my eyeglasses.

About a year ago, I suddenly began having brief periods of vertigo and would fall to the side if i didn't have something to cling to or someone didn't hold me. These episodes occurred without warning every few months. Then several months later I developed brief periods of "vertical" double vision even with my glasses on. These episodes occurred less frequently than the vertigo. During all this time eye aura (flashing arc of light) occurred almost daily, sometimes many times a day.

After a new neurological exam and testing, it was decided that these problems were migraine related. Before I began taking prophylactic medicines for migraines many years ago, I was having persistent aura without headache lasting 5-7 days and occurring every 2-3 weeks. The meds helped by decreasing the frequency as well as the intensity. I've been taking the meds, with some changes, for about 12 years so I didn't find it difficult to believe that these new symptoms were migraine related.

Here's the kicker - last fall I developed back pain that settled in my buttocks and radiated down the backs of both legs to my knees and walking became difficult. An MRI demonstrated degenerative discs L3-4-5 as well as a cyst pushing on the spinal cord causing spinal stenosis at L4. Had laminectomy with fusion of same and removal of cyst on Jan 6, 2009. Wore brace for 3 months and currently doing pretty well.
It has now been more than 4 months since I last had the vertical double vision or vertigo. I'm beginning to believe that those symptoms were not migraine related, but related to the pressure on the cord from below. I've never heard of this happening before. Has anyone else had this type of thing happen?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Shunt blockage migraine symptoms?	cazzie	Hydrocephalus	1	01-28-2009 05:11 AM
aura-migraine vs partial seizures	lucyobee	Epilepsy	11	06-09-2008 06:24 PM
aura-migraine vs partial seizures	lucyobee	Headache	2	05-29-2008 10:11 AM
aura- migraine vs partial seizures	lucyobee	New Member Introductions	8	05-27-2008 01:34 PM

Site Navigation

NeuroTalk Online Support Groups

Migraine aura or other neuro symptoms?

NeuroTalk Forums