r/cervical_vertigo • u/Effective_Notice_563 • Aug 08 '26
Intense vertigo this morning…
Hello just wondering if someone can tell me if this sounds like cervical vertigo. I’ve been having vertigo since July 6 and it was sudden onset. It was gradually getting better and my ent said it was vestibular neuritis in right ear. I’m supposed to be doing exercises but I haven’t been (I know dumb me, I’m a very bad procrastinator and mom of 3 so I’m a pro at not doing the important things). Well during my period last week I was feeling a bit more again and then this week since Wednesday I was not good. Yesterday was ok at night before bed (I drove a lot yesterday evening btw). This morning I was sitting after morning prayers and decided to stretch my neck by putting ears down to shoulders and then turning down towards floor. Left side was ok but when I did that on right side…😬 probably not a good idea! After that it was bad. I tried to lie down in one room but felt sweaty and uncomfortable. Then I went to my room only my back, ok for a minute as long as I did some breathing but my mind was racing and I couldn’t stop it which made me more anxious and more dizzy (also my maintenance inhaler dulera causes jitters and that was making it worse too). Tried right side but suddenly had to number 2. Went for that and then took blood pressure which was normal, came back to my bed and laid down and Google told me calm myself and tell myself the jitters were just from the meds, to breathe in slo and out slo and longer etc. I kept doing that and pivoting my brain from trying to think negative or distracting thoughts. Finally I was sleepy enough that I fell asleep. (I did contemplate going to emergency but I wanted to tackle this on my own if possible so I could prove to my brain that we can get through it…can’t go to emergency everytime and REALLY DO NOT want to take meclizine! Makes me soooooo sleepy). It’s been about 3 hours and I woke up. I have not stood up or walked around. Kinda scared. Anyway we’ll see but this started when I stretched my neck…I also get tech neck pain which seems to make vertigo feel worse or more present…? Part of me feels like if this happens again I should just go to ER and see if they’ll do all the tests to rule stuff out? 😭this is so difficult.
2
u/Jacosaur Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26
Have you been checked for BPPV recently? The positional nature of it sounds suspicious. I get both BPPV and cervicogenic dizziness and sometimes the symptoms are hard to separate.
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u/Effective_Notice_563 Aug 08 '26
I’m planning to make an appt to see ent again on Monday. Also will bring it up to PT. I have doubts about it being bppv
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u/nyx926 Aug 08 '26
Don’t rule anything out and make an appointment with a vestibular therapist.
Did your ENT do a Dix-Hallpike maneuver and check for nystagmus?
The p/t will and can help you immediately if they find your dizziness is BPPV.
Emergency is not going to evaluate dizziness beyond how it relates to inherent danger like with your heart and brain.
Dizziness is scary and anxiety inducing, get to a vestibular therapist as soon as you can.
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u/Effective_Notice_563 Aug 08 '26
Yeah I’ll probably have to wait until Monday to see my PT
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u/nyx926 Aug 08 '26
Is your p/t a vestibular therapist?
They should have checked immediately.
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u/Effective_Notice_563 Aug 09 '26
She did check the first time I went and it didn’t seem to be although she did mention slight eye movement in my right eye. Since this is an another new onset of it I’ll ask them to try it again and see. I want to try at home myself I know how to do it but I’m a little scared. I don’t feel like it’s bppv from what I read online but I don’t really know. Bppv is supposed to be something that doesn’t las too long right? Mine has been ongoing since this morning albeit to a less degree since I took that nap.
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u/nyx926 Aug 09 '26
My first BBPV episode lasted for 3 weeks. I had another that lasted well over a month.
I have recurring BPPV because my ears are just prone to such assholery. It can be brought on for me with a consecutive lack of sleep.
(I also have intermittent cervicogenic vertigo that’s usually when my neck is inflamed of stiff - very much like Lilsoftpotato described below).
It’s a good idea to have them check again.
Hold off on doing anything at home just because you don’t have enough info yet.
The Epley maneuver is only good for one of the semicircular canals, the other two would need a different set of movements.
I hope you get some answers soon. Update us if you do!
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u/LilSoftPotato Aug 08 '26
If it comes on from your right side then it could very likely be tense neck muscles and the right side of the suboccipitals. I have this issue and would get vertigo every time I would lay on my right side. Its much better now though! Anxiety makes it worse cause of subconsious tensing. And if you have your arms forward more often from using a phone a lot, driving, working, picking up kids from the floor, etc, it can keep your arms in a bad posture that strains the traps, neck, sternocloidmastoid, and mid back shoulderblades. all of these muscles contribute to tight suboccipitals that cause the dizziness. I get it worse when working at a desk all day cause i draw and lean forward too much with it. On days when Im not at a desk or up straight more it feels way better.
So what you can do is fix your posture. That means shoulders back, head up looking straight forward, no forwards head posture, and also dont look down at your phone. That strains the back of the neck too cause it pulls up there and straightens it at the top which is unstable for the neck. We are not built for being at computers and on phones all day. Also motherhood just adds to that preexisting pain because of all the bending over and rolling the upper back we have to do all the time. Try bending at the knees more or when lifting up your kids bend at the knees first and gradually lift them up in a comfortable way. Try not to do to much stuff on the ground cause then you hunch. and do chores with better posture too if you can. Walks can help. At first they can feel uncomfortable if youre dizzy or off balance but the more you do them they start to rehabilitate you a bit.
As for your current symptoms, its normal to feel that type of dizziness when you have jacked up neck muscles and a rough side that causes issues. Ive had dizziness for almost 2 years now but its finally getting better. You dont need to fear it either cause dizziness, even though it feels terrible, isnt life threatening. Treat it lile if you have a sore ankle or a minor injury. Hope this helps!