Vertigo From Cervical Spine Surgery?

tinypoms · #1 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 07:09 AM

I hope Diane never gets this again. It is so scary especially the first time. I also hope mine never comes back. I think I will go to the ENT because I also would like a CT scan to rule out the bad stuff.

Joanie

Diane · #2 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 04:51 AM

I read Mark's post on my vertigo and just wanted to add a few details. I thought that it was interesting that the night before and while sleeping I had upper back and neck pain at high levels. I woke several times and thought about taking some pain meds, but decided not. The vertigo was severe and I could barley walk. I had never experienced anything like this. I wasn't terribly concerned, but thought I'd feel really dumb if I ignored it. I had read recently in a nursing magazine that sudden onset of vertigo can be a sign of stroke and should not be ignored. If I had taken pain meds,I would have thought it a reaction to the meds. Even though the ER doc said it's not possible,I still wonder about the connection to my neck. The Antivert put me to sleep and I slept most of the day. After a day of rest my upper back and neck were fine and the vertigo gone.

Diane

tinypoms · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 06:37 AM

Hi Diane,

I am so happy that you are ok. I had my vertigo for 3 weeks. It was only one day of vertigo when I stood and laid down. The rest of the days was what they call BPPV, positional vertigo. It only happened when I would roll over in bed. It is such a scary thing especially the very first time. I hope I never get it again. I am going to the ENT tomorrow to hopefully find out why I got it. It is strange that it happened a couple of hours after I took a new pain medicine, but since it lasted so long, it could not be from that.

Joanie

mmglobal · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 04:31 PM

These types of situations are so difficult and confusing.... kind of like all things spine!

How do they know how many diagnostic tests are necessary, responsible, affordable, reasonable, etc...? You can have bppv AND have a stroke.

Mark

Maria · #5 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 12:30 AM

I've a friend who is around my age who has had some very severe episodes of vertigo, all testing done possible and unexplained to date. My 84 y.o. uncle has undergone the same thing in terms of severe (said he wished he was dead the vertigo was so severe) vertigo episodes and more recently lighter ones. He had all the recommended diagnostic testing done as well.

Of course it's prudent to rule out anything that is life threatening. I guess the doctors see a number of patients with vertigo in the ER and I've also read some recent articles in my nursing journal re vertigo and what it can mean, what to do, diagnostics to be performed.

Something has to be going on .. just think the testing isn't refined enough or the refined testing might be too sci fi for insurance to cover it. Wonder what diagnostics the President might undergo for severe vertigo episodes..

tinypoms · #6 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 06:32 AM

I went to the ENT today to find out what could have caused my 3 weeks of vertigo. I am still wondering why I had my 3 weeks of vertigo. The only thing I got was a lighter wallet. He said my ears are fine as is my hearing. He said I could have other tests done but if I am fine now, there is no need. He said I should come back if it happens again. I told him I had to wait 2 weeks to get an appointment. If it happens again, and I hope it never does, I can't wait another 2 weeks! I also asked for a CT Scan of my brain to make sure that is OK and he said I don't need it. I asked him if it could be from the spinal surgery and again he said, "I don't know". I am very disappointed.

Joanie