I have constant lateral vertigo, that has lasted for almost three years. Any suggestions?

I was diagnosed with Vertigo in March 2005, almost three years ago. I saw a nurology specialist who conducted CAT scans, EKG's, MRI on the brain etc, all of which were negative. Spent a week in hospital. He then referred me to an ENT specialist who conducted a hearing test (my hearing was fine), also a EKG was showed very little wrong, test on my TMJ joint were also fine. I was prescribed over the years, duirtects (which had little effect) reduction in salt in my diet (didn't work), serc (didn't work), bonamine (a type of meclizine- didn't work). I have now been dealing with this- as I said for almost three years. I have had lateral vertigo constantly, it feels like i am on a boat. I do not get any spinning motion, thank god! However, my day to day life is affected, I have problems standing, sitting, laying down. The only relief is in the car, as the car is moving. Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations.?? I can provide more details if necessary. thanks

in response to your post: I have had coloric testing done, I have a 6% caloric weaskness to the left, and a 18% directional preponderance to the right. The ENT specialist believed the linear motion was caused by hydrops in the otolithic orgon region of the inner ear. I have had chronic sinus problems, and had a really bad flu before developing vertigo. Also, I have suffered with nasal polyps previously.

When you went to the ENT, did they do CALORIC TESTING??

Did you EVER have ANY NOISE trauma, or PHYSICAL trauma to you head or ear?

Do you swim or dive?

Any sinus problems BEFORE this happened? like REALLY bad sinus infection?

(I really am going somewhere with all of this)

I had similar problem after a head injury....i had a perilymph fistula on ONE ear. you can get them spontaneous as well, and there is also a possibility of it developing from a problem with the bone...but very rare. if you had sneezed or blew your nose "the wrong way" it could have had enough pressure to damage the membrane that I had the whole in from my head injury.

very hard for me to explain it tonight---i have a wicked migraine...but, what you described sounds like what I had.

caloric testing they do water into your ear canal while your eyes are monitored by a camera for nystagmus (twitchy motions) and you are in the dark.

UPDATE---ok, since the caloric testing actually showed there was something possibly going on, I would recommend going BACK for another round of CALORIC TESTING, and see about discussion of perilymph fistula surgery.

My first ENT blew me off....told me there was NO WAY that could happen, and he is the ONLY one to determine IF that happens......he was an egotistical pompous donkey. I left, and dealt with it for 3 more months before I agreed to go see another ENT---I was not optomistic when it wasn't even going to be a full fledged doctor, but, a PA when I got seen. She found it I found out later on within 10 seconds of walking in the door with me. she used the otoscope with the funny little pressure devise on the end---and her assistant watched my eyes. They saw the change, sent me for the caloric testing. confirmed it more. WELL, they dont do the surgery, as it is a special procedure---SKULL BASED surgery, most docs aren't experienced in it. so, she sent me back to the pompous donkey, and I screamed NO, but, gave in.

The donkey, told me when I went back to him, that it was up to HIM to determine that I had it, agreed to do surgery, and TaDA!! what a difference!! I was walking like a drunk before, but, better now. unfortunately, pompous donkey chissled through a nerve in my ear that controlled my tongue, and didn't tell me---it took 3 months for it to repair....but, glad I had it done. when I went back to the pompous donkey, he thought I was there for a follow up on TONSIL surgery and tried to say he CURED my head injury....never mind my 20 + migraines a month, and my memory/word finding problems, and that I take care of patients and dispense/prescribe medications alone, and drive a car at high rates of speed.....

I still get some vertigo, but, it is from nystagmus from damage to my brain (occipital area)_and currently from fluid in my ears.

The reason I asked about if you had been SICK BEFORE this started, was if you had sneezed HARD, it could have ruptured the membrane.....and, if the membrane doesn't fix itself in 3-6 months, it probably WONT,.....

You may need to go see a different doc---not all docs believe in the surgery or that it exists.

BPPV does NOT happen at rest, while laying or sitting in one position for a while---like what you are describing (this is the vertigo caused by the little tiny crystals touching the tiny hairs in the inner ear that detects direction--they do the positional exercises for this, which will NOT fix perilymph fistula). also, the fact that you mentioned you have hydrops, further supports my suspicion you have a leak of the inner ear fluid---that is what hydrops are.

Good luck to you

Go to different Neurologists. I had vertigo for almost 5 years and didn't get any relief until one of them did a specific treatment to me.

The trouble is that you have all of these (pardon the technical terms here) floaty hairs in your ears and they are lodged and not moving around as they should.

The doctor had me lie down on an inverted table (head down) positioning my head at different intervals and holding that position for however long. Once he worked it from the left to the right........I had to wear a neckbrace for 3-4 days, 24 hours a day. Whatever it did, it worked really well.

I have only had one episode of vertigo since then. .... and that's been about 4 years now.

I doubt this will help, but there is a phenomenon where vertigo develops due to a temporary problem (like an ear infection or nerve inflammation), but the vertigo continues after the initial cause is gone. Some docs theorize that the initial attack of vertigo causes so much disorientation that it scares people, and the anxiety itself can then perpetuate the vertigo. This tends to happen only in people that have previously experienced depression, panic attacks, or other anxiety-related disorders. If you think you fit this type of patient, you might find some relief getting treated for anxiety.

When vertigo is caused by allergic inflammation, a product like Claritin-D might help. You have nothing to lose by trying a box, even though this is really a long-shot.

so weird. i have had vertigo a few times and i have all neg test from scans and such, but i smoke weed and im a hodgkin's lymphoma survivor. but i havent experienced it in almost 8 months so. i think it will just off and on type of thing. (i also have perm hearing lost in my righ ear.)
and i got an rx for nausea, vomiting, and(dizziness)sea sickness and it works after i lay down for about 30 mins or take a nap. so see what the doctor says if u ask for that

I cannot help you. But I feel for you. Have a nasty case of vertigo right now. Out of town for the holidays, and will not see a doctor hear. Small poor town, do not trust the doctors. But had a steroid from doctor for ear, in case needed. So I filled that. Have been taking it for 3 days and no such luck... I am having the spinning motion... it is terrible. I fly back home in 3 days and am dreading the plane ride... just want to feel in control again. Losing it, do not want to feel like I am spinning anymore... Sorry about your vertigo....
My Dad was saying something about essential oils helping. Frankincense, myrrh, lavendar, and citrus oil. I just hope I do not have 3 years of this to come...