Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Vertigo

Jnyptn
Jnyptn

I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced vertigo. It showed up suddenly last week and hasn't gone away.  It gets better througout the day but every morning it is back.  I feel spacey for half the day.  I have talked to my rheumy who sent me to my PCP who gave me a steroid shot and told me to take meclizine for motion sickness.  It has been a week now and I don't feel my doctors will be able to do anything about it.  Any sugguestions?  

californialynn
californialynn
Vertigo or dizziness? There's a difference.

What did your PCP say the cause was.....or was it just dismissed? I'd see an ENT specialist.
californialynn
californialynn
Normally I'd be thinking BPPD, but since your symptoms come and go......that doesn't seem to fit.
Kimhurts
Kimhurts
Yes, this can happen. I would start with an ENT like Lynn said and hope for that. Otherwise, you may need a neuro. RA can RARELY effect your autonomic nervous system. It is VERY rare, so don't worry about that. It is more likely something else, but still no fun.
MarleneJ
MarleneJ
A;lways remember not everything is RA. I had extremely bad dizziness about 9 years before RA. They thought it was MS, but it turned out, after testing to be an inner ear infection. I lost my balance totally and had to relearn to balance with my eyes, which is still how I walk and ride my bicycle. That ends up in more than one crash, and broken bone.

Do see an ENT, and find out what it is.
SusieG
SusieG
I've had it a few times in my life. Ranging from a week or so to close to a year. Try the Epley Maneuver. I did it daily for a while, then weekly and eventually it worked.
californialynn
californialynn
If it's vertigo [not dizziness] caused by "ear rocks" then Epley maneuver is a godsend. I have had it done twice. ER docs usually know this maneuver.
Jnyptn
Jnyptn
So, just a follow up...several months later. Life got busy and I hadn't been on. PCP didn't say what he thought other than a possible inner ear issue. Told me to take Meclezine which I did and it got better. It has come back since then but not as bad. I take the meclezine when it happens again and it seems to get better. I thought about seeing an ENT but just tired of doctors, ya know. I did try the thing where I kneel on the floor and flip my head back...whatever that is called....didn't help. It seems to get worse when I let myself get too run down...not sure if that is the connection but it seems to happen then. Thank you for the support!! I really appreciate it.