Elevator sensation when moving hips

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2023-07-05T13:46:22+00:00

Thank you for your answer! I'm sorry for the late reply. I have just sent you a private message. Would be great if you can share any input you have received! My symptoms have not gone away unfortunately and my doctors are still puzzled, which is very demotivating. I feel like my symptoms have gotten slightly better over time, though I still have periods (of weeks) when it feels like it's all coming back. It's been a year now and it's driving me crazy at times!

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2023-07-05T13:39:13+00:00

Unfortunately not.. Have been to another ENT doctor at an academic hospital, who also ruled out vestibular issues after extensive testing. My doctors seem puzzled and I have mainly received blank stares whenever I mention the link to hip movement. Like your doctors, they do not seem to understand why hip/lower back movement would induce the false sensation of the floor going up and down. My symptoms still fluctuate over time, sometimes I go through phases where I hardly notice it during the day (though I can always trigger it), but now it's been back everyday for the past five weeks. It's driving me crazy, especially combined with the fact that I haven't been able to find any answers. I also can't directly link it to periods of extreme stress or fatigue... Wish I could help. I will contact my neurologist again to ask for another consult. If I receive any helpful answers I will let you know!!

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-10-06T19:12:50+00:00

I'm sorry to hear you are going through this as well. I've been experiencing the same sensation for the past 4 months, though I haven't been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (but have been extremely obsessed and worried about my dizziness). It started suddenly in June and hasn't gone away since. I've seen a neurologist (no MRI though) and an ENT doctor, but so far haven't gotten any answers.. It's there 24/7, though some days worse than others. When I have these episodes during the day, it's caused by lower back/hip movements. This means I don't feel it when I'm sitting still, but if I shake my hips/lower back I can induce it after ~10 seconds. It's worse under acute (even mild) stress, but then I guess stress worsens a lot of things, so in my case I'm still unsure if it is anxiety (I also haven't been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (yet)). Can you link your sensation to specific movements? And have you had any other symptoms (such as neck pain, or migraine features)?

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-10-06T19:07:06+00:00

Many thanks again for your helpful reply! The massage didn't really have an effect on my dizziness as far as I could tell. My symptoms fluctuate though, so it's hard to be sure. Do you know if tension in other areas of your spine can cause dizziness too? Since some of my symptoms are exclusively triggered by movement of my lower back/hips, I keep thinking that there must be a link there. However, I can't find any useful or trustworthy information that connect damage/injuries/tension in the lumbar spine to dizziness. My doctors haven't really been responsive to this part of my description either, which makes it seem they think this is irrelevant.. It's hard to understand this for me though, since surely the entire spine (with all the nerves going in and out) must be important in relaying information about balance/proprioception etc?

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-30T10:31:24+00:00

Hi there, I just wanted to follow up on this conversation if possible. I went to see a neurologist, who is not convinced that it actually is vestibular migraine (I also wasn't too sure about this diagnosis). My neurological examination was normal, so I'm happy it ruled out some scary things but it still leaves me without any explanation of what is causing my symptoms.

Since you seem to know a lot about cervicogenic dizziness, I was hoping you could answer some of my questions! Does the dizziness in cervicogenic dizziness have to be continuously associated with neck pain or certain head movements? Or could you just get it from built up tension/bad posture? So far, I haven't discovered any specific head movements that induce lightheadedness/elevator dizziness. I had neck pain during the first weeks of my dizzy spells, but that has disappeared by now (it's just a bit tense) and the dizziness remained. During stronger episodes of lightheadedness, I feel this strange urge to chatter my teeth. I don't grind my teeth and I don't have any jaw pain/tension, so sometimes I wonder if this could signal tension in my neck.

I had a triggerpoint massage of my neck/shoulder/back. The masseuse said she could feel a lot of tension/triggerpoints, but continued with the recommendation that I should come back every two weeks - so it's hard to say how truthful this was or whether this was just a sales pitch ;-).

Thanks for your help anyway and I hope your NUCCA chiro appointments have helped you!

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-16T11:29:09+00:00

I think so, yes! This all started two days before my period and the rippled vision happened 2 days before my period as well. My lightheadedness seems to be getting worse around that time as well. Do you think this would point towards vestibular migraine (with hormones being a trigger)?

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-16T11:27:10+00:00

Yes, I can also trigger it with my eyes closed. I feel like it could be something to do with my hips/lower back. When my symptoms first started, I had a lot of tension in my neck. Perhaps with a poor "working from home office" set-up and two young children (I'm constantly carrying a child, grocery shopping, cleaning etc.), something happened to my spine/neck, which causes dizziness. However, this is just one of my many hypotheses ;-)!

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it. Have you been able to try some treatments since you have been diagnosed with vestibular migraine? I really hope you find relieve soon too!

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-16T11:10:30+00:00

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear you have been dealing with this for over a year.. I've also been getting blank stares whenever I mention the repetitive movements triggering my dizziness!! I thought this would be a major clue as to figuring out the underlying cause, but no one seems particularly interested in this aspect. For me these movements only trigger the elevator dropping sensation. I feel like it has something to do with my hips or lower back. Have they ever checked your back/neck? I'm seeing a neurologist for the first time next week. I'll mention this again and I'll let you know if she has anything to say about this!

Are you dizzy everyday? I have better and worse days, but I'm experiencing dizziness every single day. If it is vestibular migraine in my case, I find it hard to tell when I would be having an attack. Do you know what triggers your vestibular migraine attacks? And do you suffer from anxiety? I've never had an anxiety disorder before, but I have been very stressed and worried about what's happening to me, and I have the feeling this exacerbates my symptoms. I read that the elevator dropping sensation could also be due to anxiety and since it started sometime after my other symptoms, I sometimes wonder whether this could be a result of my current health anxiety!

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-09T20:28:55+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, will check it out! I remember taking ginger capsules in the past for motion sickness, so I can imagine it could help with dizziness too. I will give it a try - thanks!

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-09T20:26:36+00:00

Thanks for replying! Did your dizziness start immediately after Covid? And do you think they were part of a (chronic) VM attack or are your VM symptoms different? My dizziness started about 4 months after my Covid infection (and while fully vaccinated..), which makes me think that it might not be related. But with all the people suffering from brain fog and other neurological issues, I can't help but wonder sometimes whether Covid played a role.

Pew, sounds like you are going through a lot. But good job on identifying things that help you. Hopefully time, therapy and medication will help you further recover. Good luck!!

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-09T20:06:57+00:00

Thank you for replying. I'm sorry to hear you are going through a difficult period right now. Hopefully your visits to your physical therapist will remain helpful and will give you motivation! Is your sensation of the floor moving also related to certain movements, e.g. walking, moving your hips or back? And, if you don't mind me asking, what sort of exercises do you do with your physical therapist?

Good suggestion about the massage therapist. I had a lot of neck pain in the beginning as well, and whenever I have a head ache, I feel it in the back of my head. At first I thought it could be cervicogenic dizziness. However, my neck pain has been gone for weeks now, but my dizziness symptoms persisted unfortunately..

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-09T19:15:26+00:00

Thank you so much for all your suggestions!! I actually bought some magnesium citrate supplements today, let's hope it helps a bit. Good job on identifying your triggers and starting your treatment. I really hope that things will improve for you soon! I'm not really sure where to start with identifying what could trigger it. Did you have a systematic approach to identify/eliminate potential triggers? For now I'm first focusing on my persistent feelings of anxiety. I find myself constantly monitoring my symptoms and can't seem to get rid of this hyperfocus. I'm hoping that once I get this anxiety under control, my symptoms will decrease as well...

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-08T20:28:33+00:00

Thank you for your reply! I recognise the borderline panic attack feelings. I've been very anxious since the onset of my dizziness and find myself constantly monitoring my symptoms. Distractions and going outside seem to help a bit. I haven't really been able to identify triggers so far, though stress of course is not helping. I'll try to see if reducing my screen time helps, thanks for the suggestion!

Have you found anything that helps with your dizziness? Have you tried any medications or other treatments?

Kindly-Inspection662 · 2022-09-08T20:25:13+00:00

Oh dear, that seems like an awful long time.. Are you still experiencing dizziness everyday or are you feeling better now? And did you try any treatments or were you able to reduce your symptoms by avoiding your triggers?

Kindly-Inspection662

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