Fao Sqad (Or Anyone Else)

[237SJ]

Is it possible to get labyrinthitis without having a preceeding infection? Or Menieres that involves short duration dizzy spells rather than being completely floored for a few days?

[ubasses]

yes, friend has Labrynthitis at the moment,felt perfectly well up to the moment it came on.

[Sqad]

\\\Is it possible to get labyrinthitis without having a preceeding infection?\\

No......there is always a preceding infection which is often subclinical ( you don't know that you have got it)

\\\\\Or Menieres that involves short duration dizzy spells rather than being completely floored for a few days?\\\

Exremely unlikely...........short spells of debilitating vertigo is not typical of Menieres Disease.

If you are looking for a cause of transient attacks of vertigo, then look no further than Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

I hope that I have helped, but if not get back.

[237SJ]

Thanks ubasses. Sqad - I have looked at BPPV as well. My Mum has been getting spells of virtigo. With her history, I`m hoping that it isn`t something that has spread to the brain but she mainly gets them when she has just got up so I`m thinking it`s something to do with the neck or BPPV. She has been complaining tinnitus and a muffled ear though (and the eardrum is clear) which is why I wondered about Menieres.

[Sqad]

Secondary malignant deposits in the brain causing transient attack of vertigo..........extremely unlikely.

Meniere's Disease in a woman of 80+years of age..........very unlikely.

BPPV in a woman of 80+............likely.

Vertebro basilar insufficiency in a woman of 80+.....very LIKELY.
VBI is often associated with wear and tear arthritis in the cervical spine causing transient attacks of dizziness, particularly when looking up.

[237SJ]

Thanks Sqad. I was also thinking it is something "structural" - it seemed to come on after she had her hair cut so it might have been caused by bending the neck over the sink. It`s a bit of a worry though because there is a risk of falling and with her fragile bones, that`s not good.

[Sqad]

OK.

[237SJ]

VBI - that must be why I see stars when I look up after shaving under my arms in the shower :-)

[Clanad]

Thought I would share a similar experience with a co-worker, SJ… although I wouldn't deign modify the venerable Sqad's diagnosis.
The friend had experienced similar problems for quite some time but was especially subject to vertigo with any sudden head movement. He discussed the issue when visiting his chiropractor. The chiropractor preformed a simple test involving head positions and immediately suspected BPPV. The specialist then did a manipulation of friend's head best described as suddenly rotating his head (I guess you had to be there) but the relief was immediate. That was 6 months ago or so, and while he returned to the chiropractor for a check up no other treatment has been required. He is joyous, of course. Might be worth looking into.

More here about the crystals in the middle ear as the culprit:

http://www.michiganear.com/bppv-fact-sheet.html

[237SJ]

Thanks Clanad. I did think about an osteopath doing some gentle exercises but she has disease in her bones so we would have to be very careful. Happy Independence day BTW. I`m off to SFO at the end of the week for your sales - how`s that for perfect timing!

[Clanad]

Welcome back SJ! Enough layover to do Fisherman's Wharf?

[237SJ]

Yep. I might go down there to hire a bike and cycle over to Sausalito but then again I might not. Depends how tired I am and I don`t think the weather`s going to be that spectacular either.

[askyourgran]

I've been visiting my GP for months now complaining of dizzieness sometimes in bed just turning over resulted in the feeling of the room spinning. Or looking upwards made me lose my balance. I was offered BPPV but the GP didn't do it because the dizziness seemed to come and go. Checks on my BP were not to blame either. However in the past six months I have had several flare-ups of eczema, undergoing 2 courses of antibiotics and antihistimines and steriod creams. My scalp and ear seemed to be affected too. I'm now taking another antihistimine to take for the next 3 months, (Cetirizine) it has already cleared up the worst flare ups and my left ear which was itchy and sore at one point has now cleared up, along with the vertigo.