when i was eight, i fell off a horse and landed on pavement on the back
of my head. i lost my eyesight - meaning i could see but it registered
as a blackness in my mind. i was extremely dizzy for weeks and it
eventually subsided. at fifteen my left ear drum was punctured with a
pencil. no treatment other than the doctor's statements that it would
get better. since that time i have had over twenty whip lash injuries -
car accidents, snow mobile, horse riding, water skiing, snow skiing.
needless to say i never really had them treated, i just toughed it out.
i started law school in 1992. with all the studying, etc. i developed
migraines, inbalance, sporadic times of vertigo and ear fullness/popping
and what was appropriately diagnosed as a malaligned bit resulting in
tmj symptoms. i went into physical theraphy, obtained a mouth guard and
the symptoms got somewhat better but for the inbalance. if i am in a
room full of people, i get off balance. there are times that my eyes
see movement that is incidental, but my body reacts. like a phone cord
moving and i move with it. this results in motion sickness, etc. i
have read the comments and it appears to be an eustacian tube
dysfunction.
in march i got the wonderful flu and was down for a month - horrible
sore throat, pain in my ears, inbalance, fever, etc. i went to the
doctor and he did a throat culture - growing the first time nyseria
mennigitis, the second, hemophilus influenza (sp?). no treatment.
my ears are still popping, i am tired, motion sick and still inbalanced
which seems to be worse when i am fatiqued.
any thoughts?
Reply: -------------------------
Based upon what you have posted, it certainly is within the realm of possibility that you have experienced recent eustachian tube dysfunction following an upper respiratory illness like the flu. Eustachian tube dysfunction can be associated with dysequilibrium. However, your post suggests that dysequilibrium problems preceded your eustachian tube symptoms of "popping" in the ears. Therefore I suspect that the eustachian tube problems have merely aggravated a preexistent problem. Some individuals are highly susceptible to motion induced illness. Some individuals get sick regularly when riding in the back seat of a car, others do not. Some cannot even think of riding a carnival ride while others are not even slightly bothered by the rotary motion of even the wildest ride. Often there is a great deal of psychological overlay present contributing to the experience of one who is highly susceptible to motion induced illness. This is usually based upon past experiences and a strong desire to avoid the illness - anxiety and anticipation therefore can potentiate or aggravate the problem. Many times an individual can adapt to activities that in the past may have triggered motion illness if they set their mind to it. A large percentage of astronauts experience severe space illness during their initial experience but eventually they become adapted to the environment. Perhaps your problems with dysequilibrium have something to do with prior head traumas. If the symptoms you experience are sufficiently bothersome, I would suggest a formal consultation with an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
--
Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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