Headaches & Vertigo

Hi I'm Ralph. I got Bells Palsy after having an ear infection in October last year. I think it was diagnosed fairly quick & I had prednisolone for a few weeks, after which I got severe pains & headaches along with dizziness. Saw another GP who prescribed some nerve pain killers (Gabapentin) which helped. I'm over the worse of the BP thankfully but am left with severe vertigo & almost constant headache. Anyone else experienced this or have any advise please?

I've been off work since this all began in October & am getting brassed off!

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[lorraine-t]

Hi Ralph. I would suggest that you go back to your GP if gabapentin is not helping, or you have completed the course and are still in pain. There are different pain killers that work in different ways and your GP may be able to suggest something else.

[Hidden in reply to lorraine-t]

Hi Lorraine, thanks for the reply.

Sorry, you've missed the point of my post. I'm now concerned about the vertigo combined with almost constant headache. The pains I experienced were nerve pains in & around the ear & down into my neck associated with the BP. As I said, I'm now over the worse of this and have finished with the gabapentin.

[claudine-g in reply to Hidden]

I took cinnarizine 30mg three times a day for the vertigo and it helped luckily that and the headache have gone now I had Ramsey hunt

[Hidden in reply to claudine-g]

Was that on prescription from your doctor?

I saw an ear, nose & throat specialist a few days ago who said nothing could be done for me until I had a balance test & then we go on from there

[claudine-g]

It was on prescription but I think you may be able to get it from a pharmacy over the counter

[claudine-g in reply to claudine-g]

It may affect the results of your balance test though i.e. Make it a bit better so you may want to wait til you have the test

[Hidden in reply to claudine-g]

Ok. Thanks for the input. I Haven't got an appointment date yet for that so I may just get advice from pharmacist

[Ktkat]

Ralph, I really wish I had good news for you but my husband also ended up with permanent vertigo. He too had Bell's Palsy after being diagnosed with an ear infection. Sorry to say but it was difficult for him but he gradually got where he could make the swaying and off kilter movements somewhat better. I've been researching if the shingles ear infection caused the vertigo and the possibility that the Bell's Palsy did it. If I find out, I'll come back here and tell you. Good luck, ktkat.

[Hidden in reply to Ktkat]

Thanks ktkat, my symptoms are getting so much reduced now that I'm hoping to return to work in 3-4 weeks time. The balance testing came up with the conclusion that the vestibular organ & nerve had suffered damage through the infection, and that is what was causing the vertigo. My consultant then referred me for vestibular rehabilitation therapy which has helped terrifically. The physiotherapist advised me to get back to my normal life as much as, and as soon as I could, so I started getting out more, walking as much as I could cope with, the odd bit of gardening, swimming and socialising as I used to. All this helped without use of drugs apart from a few painkillers here & there when Pain got too much. 6 or 7 weeks ago I felt so good that I was planning on returning to work soon but came down with acute appendicitis so that set me back at least 6 weeks. Things are improving again now so hopefully I'm seeing the back end of it.

How long has your hubby had it? Hopefully my experience will give him hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, albeit a bloody long tunnel!