Dizzy/Lightheaded all the time..
 

Hi everyone.

I've just been diagnosed with PCS after over a year of my first concussion. which was followed by two others in the same year.

I've been reading a lot of posts on here and noticed not many people post about dizziness. This is my main issue, as I experience it almost all day everyday, and find it really impacts on my ability to do most things.

Is this normal or should I be looking into something more serious?

I've had nearly every test I can imagine MRI, multiple CT scans, Vestibular function testing and every heart test known to man.

Thanks for taking time to read and if anyone has ANY suggestions please share them.

Zac,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Has anybody tried the Epley Maneuver on you ? You can see YouTube videos of how to do it yourself but it is best with the help of a therapist.

Also, how is your upper neck ? Do you have any neck symptoms in the slightest ? Subtle upper neck injuries can be asymptomatic except for symptoms that appear to be unrelated to the neck.

My best to you.

Hi Mark.

I can't really think of any problems I have with my neck besides its very stiff, I also get a lot of back pain which sometimes goes into my neck.

Hi Zac,

welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

There are probably better explanations but I'm tired so just posting here a brief explanation of the Epley manoeuvre that Mark mentioned.

Just scroll down the page until you get to

Office Treatment of BPPV: The Epley and Semont Maneuvers
http://www.brainline.org/content/201...y_pageall.html

It might help explain a little more.
A lot of people who have dizziness or vertigo have found it helpful.

If you search Epley in the Forum search feature here, you'll bring up older posts.

Here's just one of them.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread166884.html

A couple of questions:
1. How did you get your concussion? It's hard to get one without some neck involvement and Mark is right about being VERY attentive to that issue.
2. Is your dizziness connected to some activity? For example, some PCS patients find they get dizzy when their heart rate increases during exercise/exertion. I get "the spins" if I'm overtired or overdoing it.

I've had a few concussions the most recent was from a a few punches to the side of my head.

And I'm pretty much constantly lightheaded, but it tends to get a lot worse when I'm doing anything physical. I've had to completely stop exercising because of it.

A stiff neck is a strong sign of a neck injury. Finding someone who can help you gently treat your stiff neck will be a help. It is also good to work on good neck/head posture while sleeping or resting so they your neck can heal.

First thing I would do is look for an upper cervical chiropractor.. if that alignment is off it can cause all sorts of problems..
A good multi modality chiropractor can help get all in alignment and possibly work on the neck muscles too. using ultrasound, IF stim, even perhaps some low level laser therapy..
The chiro I found did all of that and was very helpful

How is overall head/neck posture forward of the body , hunched?

Jo*mar,

Although you know I agree with the need for upper cervical chiro work, I believe you found a very rare chiro who was able to help with the multi-modality approach. I have seen 18 different chiros over 32 years and finding that good upper cervical help has been difficult. Most were just too aggressive. Of the 18, only a few were helpful. The rest were too generic and narrow in their scope. One of my favorites that took a long time to find and who had helped with almost every other issue I had, actually admitted that his treatments were not resolving the problem.

As again, I agree with the need, I wish everybody good luck at finding that special person who can truly help. Be careful to not get sucked into an 'I can fix this. Just keep paying for treatments.' chiro office. If you don't start to see subtle improvements in the first few weeks, keep looking.

Hi Zac- does your dizziness feel like the room is spinning?
If so, I can relate- that is one of my worst side-effects. Search for someone versed in BPPV and they should be able to help you. My understanding is that chiro therapy would require resolution of the vertigo beforehand.
Keep us posted...