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The neurologist can stick this...
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 206334" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>Heather, your balance problem sounds very familiar. I don't know the full details of that test but if it says you have a problem with your vestibular system, there could be something worth trying. I had balance problems for years, I thought it was part of my neurological problems. Then just before we were due to head off to New Zealand last year, it got suddenly worse with nausea, dizziness etc. It was worse when I moved; if I closed my eyes and moved, I'd fall over. It was a worry, the thought of going on holidays in this state. </p><p></p><p>I've had some difficult neurologists in the past. Even competent neurologists can be arrogant. They also won't believe in anything they can't measure or touch. And I've had some great neurologists, especially one old professor. My current neurologist was taught by the old professor. </p><p></p><p>So I went to my neurologist, he got me squeezed in for an emergency consult. He lay me down on his couch, tipped me this way and that then chuckled. "You've got something every neurologist dreams of in a patient," he explained. It's something we can fix really easily, really quickly and it can be quite spectacular."</p><p>He explained how the vestibular system works - little hairs that are connected to nerve cells which tell us when we lean this way or that according to how the fluid in the semi-circular canals moves against those little hairs. He told me that sometimes little crystals break loose and get where they shouldn't and bump against those hairs. When that happens it sends a false signal that you've changed position, when you haven't. The treatment is a matter of an expert tipping you this way or that, depending on exactly where the problem is. No fancy tests needed to identify it, but it does need to be an expert. Now remember, I had been seen by many neurologists over the years and they never did a thing for my balance problem until it got bad enough for my current bloke to say, "OK, let's deal with it now."</p><p></p><p>The day I saw my neurologist, he explained all this while he did something called an Epley's Manouvre. Look it up on Google, you will find some useful info.</p><p></p><p>I needed a couple of sessions, he had me in three times over the ten day period before we left to go on holiday. After the first session I knew I'd be OK to travel. After the second the problem was better than it had been for 20 years. The third - it was just to see how I was going, he did one final Epley's to make sure. I've not needed another manouvre since.</p><p></p><p>I'm not saying that this is what is wrong with you; but this IS fairly common so the probability is high enough to at least ask your GP when you go for a referral to a new neurologist. Which reminds me - the condition I had was called benign positional nystagmus. </p><p></p><p>If this is what you have, and if your neurologist hasn't thought of it (maybe too simple) then that is another reason to go elsewhere. The ENG finding could be useful and from what I understand, could also be explained by this. But a doctor may want to make sure it's not something nastier. Although it is IS something nastier, the Epley's wouldn't work.</p><p></p><p>I hope you can get this sorted.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 206334, member: 1991"] Heather, your balance problem sounds very familiar. I don't know the full details of that test but if it says you have a problem with your vestibular system, there could be something worth trying. I had balance problems for years, I thought it was part of my neurological problems. Then just before we were due to head off to New Zealand last year, it got suddenly worse with nausea, dizziness etc. It was worse when I moved; if I closed my eyes and moved, I'd fall over. It was a worry, the thought of going on holidays in this state. I've had some difficult neurologists in the past. Even competent neurologists can be arrogant. They also won't believe in anything they can't measure or touch. And I've had some great neurologists, especially one old professor. My current neurologist was taught by the old professor. So I went to my neurologist, he got me squeezed in for an emergency consult. He lay me down on his couch, tipped me this way and that then chuckled. "You've got something every neurologist dreams of in a patient," he explained. It's something we can fix really easily, really quickly and it can be quite spectacular." He explained how the vestibular system works - little hairs that are connected to nerve cells which tell us when we lean this way or that according to how the fluid in the semi-circular canals moves against those little hairs. He told me that sometimes little crystals break loose and get where they shouldn't and bump against those hairs. When that happens it sends a false signal that you've changed position, when you haven't. The treatment is a matter of an expert tipping you this way or that, depending on exactly where the problem is. No fancy tests needed to identify it, but it does need to be an expert. Now remember, I had been seen by many neurologists over the years and they never did a thing for my balance problem until it got bad enough for my current bloke to say, "OK, let's deal with it now." The day I saw my neurologist, he explained all this while he did something called an Epley's Manouvre. Look it up on Google, you will find some useful info. I needed a couple of sessions, he had me in three times over the ten day period before we left to go on holiday. After the first session I knew I'd be OK to travel. After the second the problem was better than it had been for 20 years. The third - it was just to see how I was going, he did one final Epley's to make sure. I've not needed another manouvre since. I'm not saying that this is what is wrong with you; but this IS fairly common so the probability is high enough to at least ask your GP when you go for a referral to a new neurologist. Which reminds me - the condition I had was called benign positional nystagmus. If this is what you have, and if your neurologist hasn't thought of it (maybe too simple) then that is another reason to go elsewhere. The ENG finding could be useful and from what I understand, could also be explained by this. But a doctor may want to make sure it's not something nastier. Although it is IS something nastier, the Epley's wouldn't work. I hope you can get this sorted. Marg [/QUOTE]
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