Chronic dizziness when walking

One of my symptoms is head throbbing/dizzy sensations especially in the morning. It came out a year after my anxiety kicked into full gear 2.5 yrs ago. It can really excacerbate anxiety so I truly know how you feel. Try some breathing exercises especially for headaches/dizziness.

Good luck

HT,

I am sorry to read of your issues.  I have had the same issues and mine was caused by an inner ear problem.

Have any of your Drs. mentioned Meniere's disease ?  Just a thought that you may want to ask your Dr. about.

Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes spontaneous episodes of vertigo — a sensation of a spinning motion — along with fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and sometimes a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear. In many cases, Meniere's disease affects only one ear.

I am sorry you have to go through this and please know I support you.

Hi HT,

I am sorry that you have been struggling with the awful dizziness. I have had this on and off as a result of anxiety, and it is miserable.

Since yours seems to be a combination of both anxiety and as a result of your neck issues, why not try a combination of treaments.

As mentioned before by groverpower, breathing exercises can effectively help with the anxiety part of the problem...

...and has physical therapy for the spine issues been discussed by your doctor...is it an option?

I hope that you find relief for this soon. We are here to support in any way that we can, so keep posting.

Scaredy Cat

We are a close group.;)...and always excited to have new members to get to know! Stick with us and you will always have friends and support.

S.C.

It is a transient symptom for me...comes and goes. When I was having panic attacks, then definitely it was acute.

Now that I no longer have attacks...it is just a random symptom that can pop up from time to time.

I have a favorite breathing exercise that I will post for you if you like...it is the only one that really has helped me.

Dizzyness can be completely eliminated for me with proper breathing. I must be one of those people who subconsciously hyperventilates when stressed!

I would say that if your dizzyness is constant/only when you are walking, then you may be dealing with it more from the physical aspect/as a result of your neck...but a breathing tool certainly couldn't hurt.:)

BTW...have you seen a chiropractor? (with your doctor's approval)

S.C.

I completely do the same thing....I can be 'calmly' (what I think is calmly) doing any mundane task, and suddenly I realize that my shoulders are up by my ears...and I am holding my breath, or breathing shallowly...both not good!

Here is a copy of instructions for my favorite breathing exercise:

'The Divided Breath' allows you to feel in control of your breathing, because you consciously have to divide each breath into three parts...it forces you to make sure each breath happens this certain way, rather than just helplessly experiencing your breathing as feeling out of control. Here are the steps.

The Divided Breath:

Imagine your lungs as having 3 parts. The bottom third, the middle, and top third. On the inhale fill the bottom third first, then the middle and finally the top third. Make sure that this is one continuous breath, but divided, with a slight pause in between each third. Hold the breath in for 3-5 seconds if possible. Exhale in reverse. First blow out the top third, then the middle, and finally the bottom third of your lungs until all air is expelled. (remember the pauses) Repeat several rounds for a toatal of about 10 minutes. Practicing this every day will not only give you control and structure to your breathing, it will strengthen and loosen the thoractic muscles, allowing better, more productive breathing, and relieving the chest tightness!

You will probably need to practice this several times a day for awhile until you can finish one round. I did and that is okay, it is hard to do at first, but keep trying, it will get easier and then begin to help.

 

Give this a try and see how it goes.  Oh, and I mentioned the chiro, not for cracking...but for PT ideas...often they have great restorative exercises that docs may not offer.

S.C.

HT, You got that right, SC on one side and StKit on the other!!

I might try to get on a quiz show!

Larry ***

Hi Hard Time, I have had chronic dizziness when walking for about twelve months now. My life, too, has come to a standstill. I drive to work (i do not feel dizzy in the car or on my bicycle - only when walking) and come straight home. I have stopped making plans with friends and have basically lost all my independence.

I have seen an ENT, neurologist and had every test possible. They cannot find anything although I am now going to a Vestibular Therapy Unit at NYU Langone. Even though they do not know whats causing my dizziness, they are trying to teach me ways to cope with it. I am not sure where you live but I would look into your closest Vestibular Therapy Facility.

I am also trying a homeopathic medicine called VertigoHeel. I have been taking it for only a week so far but others I know that take it swear by it so I am willing to try...

I have also done tons of research lately around Gluten Allergies and Agorophobia which I feel like are my last two alternatives for a diagnosis.

Anyway, needless to say, I hope some of this helps! I never heard of anyone else with my exact symptoms which is to say it only comes on when I am walking so I feel happy to connect with you. I get mine mostly when I have to cross roads but its pretty constant and very rehabilitating. Do you feel yours all the time? How do you manage?

Shadieeie,

You can post informational links anytime...

I even made it active for you.:)

S.C.

Have the same issues. My neuro rx'd me some steroids and meclizine b/c of inner ear problems. It isn't clearing it up so I am probably going to have to re take my MRI. Do you hear any whooshing noises? My left ear has a whoosh in it sometimes and if I walk fast, I want to tip over, literally.

Christina I had the same symptoms for years doctors said it was chronic, the noise and tipping same stuff.
My balance is still not good some days I look like a tap dancer trying to keep my feet under me, but one
thing helped more than all other meds, benadryl at bed time, I would wake up and the full head and problems
walking would not bother me until late afternoon, I hope you find an answer but it's not a fatal condition.

Larry ***

I have the same problem, when I walk I feel woozy. However now I don't have to be walking at all, I just have to think of something that makes me anxious.
If I focus on the wooziness it makes my anxiety worse then cause im more anxous, it makes the wooziness worse.
It is horrible and I know how you feel.
I find that benzodiazapines work best to deal with the anxiety and drugs such as stemetil or stemzine (prochlorperazine maleate) deal with the wooziness.
Do u get a wave of anxiety or a fearful feeling with it?
Hope you get on top of this thing and recover.