Swinging out of balance - Vertigo

March 10, 2012 By Dr GM Aravinda

The word vertigo has been derived from the Latin word verto which means ‘spinning movement’. A person with vertigo experiences dizziness or feels that his surroundings are moving or spinning.

There are two kinds of vertigo one could possibly experience. When a person feels like he is moving, it is called subjective vertigo. When a person feels his surroundings are moving but he is stationary, the condition is called objective vertigo. However there are some clear-cut symptoms which are unique to vertigo like a sense of disorientation, nausea, sweating and abnormal eye movements.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/lifestyle/health/swinging-out-balance-696

When I was younger I frequently got vertigo during migraines. However, I was never objective enough to Analise whether it was me or my surroundings that appeared to be spinning. It always accompanied nausea and I wouldn't have cared less what was spinning.

These days nausea and vertigo are rare occurrences and when it does happen, it only happen when lying down. Sitting up cures both symptoms. The spinning sensation is like being on a slow moving swing that can swing in any direction and where the seat is free to rotate independent of the swinging motion. So you feel like you are moving in random left and right, and backwards and forwards, and rotating clockwise and anticlockwise all at the same time. I'm not aware of any up/down motion, nor of any tilt motion.

It a horrid experience - I have had mild vertigo before and often go dizzy (when I stand up a lot)......... but I have had one chronic vertigo migraine and I really do not want another one!.... It was triggered by multi chemical exposure and I ended up on my hands and knees on our drive holding on to the floor - I was spinning one way the earth another .... and I could not stop being sick...... it was like being on an out of control round about whilst watching the opening credits to the old Dr Who!!!!!

Hi Tee,
I have not known how to classify the dizzyness and disorientation that I suffer leading up to and during my migraines. Sometimes I am still and yet I see stationary things move-my eyes also feel as if they are moving back and forwards at a high speed.Other times I stand up or try to move across the room/office and feel so off balanced that I have to grab hold of something before I fall. I was walking home through a shopping centre when I had to sit down since everything around me was moving sideways and I could not walk in astraight line. I only got home by focusing on something ahead of me and gritting my teeth.
Tee I have just had a look at the link you provided and they mention unusual eye movments. I have had prblems with my right eyelid(HM usually left side of brain symptoms on right)not opening as fast as my left when I blink-a very odd sensation almost as if the lid is sticking. When I have examined it I have noticed that skin above my right eyelid droops and weighs down on the eyelid-rather disturbing-is this to do with the migraines? Any ideas anyone?

Hi Alice, the drooping eyelid is an autonomic symptom, I posted about autonomic symptoms earlier today I think in the Botox thread!

I too suffer from vertigo, dizziness and light headedness at times. My consultant asked me to do this physical test, which was positive and so now is considering an additional diagnosis of BPPV, which stands for Benign Paroxysmal Postural Vertigo. However my GP is not keen to send me for the tests just for a diagnosis as there is nothing they can do to treat it, and I can't have an MRI because of my ONSI, which is what they would also want to do!

I have problems with balance, for example I could be sat down and then stand up and fall to one side. I have had postural hypotension in the past but this is different. I can misjudge doorways and end up walking into the doorframe.

Michala
x

Walking into door frames is one of my "favourite" activities during migraines. Always my right side, never the left - I have the bruises to prove it

I often walk with a staggering gait during a migraine. One neurologist described it as "atypical ataxia" (why are all my symptoms described as "atypical ). Family members describe it as appearing to be very drunk. Apparently I also walk like I have just tripped and am trying to keep my balance. Don't know if it's vertigo as I don't recall such occasions. Possibly it;s just very poor coordination during the migraine episode.

I suffer from vertigo most days although thankfully not as extreme as others have mentioned. Mine is like the world is moving and I have to focus on a single point while walkling. Tracking my dogs run around the park sends me into a spin, I just have to hope they follow me! I also get it when I close my eyes and move my eye balls so no relief when I lie down either. My anti depressant pills help me tho....can't remember the name off hand but starts cit...will add later if anyone wants to try it.
I also get dizzy spells when I stand up but always assumed that was a blood pressure thing, had to hold on to the odd doorway to keep upright.