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Can Concussion Symptoms Occur Despite No Head Injury?
Question: I was in XXXXXXX and suffered a bout of dehydration (on top of lack of sleep and food) last Wednesday evening. I had a massive shooting headache, at which time I tried to compensate with water and advil, and did throw up mostly water. Afterwards, I felt almost immediate relief, and re-hydrated with juice, then food, then got some sleep.
Since then, I have had ongoing bouts of dizziness- some severe- that feel like when you are drunk and can't close your eyes because the room is spinning. This is also more acute when I turn my head flipping over in bed- it's almost as if I can't take the turning over. Is it possible to have a concussion-like effect even if I didn't hit my head? I never had a concussion that I know of, but other than something more severe like a blood clot or something else, what could this be?
Since then, I have had ongoing bouts of dizziness- some severe- that feel like when you are drunk and can't close your eyes because the room is spinning. This is also more acute when I turn my head flipping over in bed- it's almost as if I can't take the turning over. Is it possible to have a concussion-like effect even if I didn't hit my head? I never had a concussion that I know of, but other than something more severe like a blood clot or something else, what could this be?
Brief Answer:
Not serious inner ear conditions is a possible cause, advises given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HealthcareMagic.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
The dizziness you are experiencing seems like it is related to the inner ear called labyrinth. Sometimes it might be due to a viral infection that might have affected it, this is called labyrinthitis and in some cases is due to precipitations in it and this is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
The last one as the name indicates is affected by movements and certain movements trigger a strong sense of dizziness.
The way to test for this is some maneuvers that your doctor can do in his office called Epley maneuver. If it is found to be BPPV by this maneuver then the doctor can go on with it and help remove the precipitates (small stones) from the labyrinth of the ear.
To conclude I would say:
1. the most common cause of these symptoms is BPPV and is related to small precipitations in the labyrinth of the ear, it is not dangerous bit can be very distressing. diagnosis and treatment of it is a maneuver with head movements that replace the precipitations.
2. medications do not generally help in the BPPV case
3. if it is a viral infection that has affected the labyrinth than antihistamines can be tried like cetirizine or Cinnarizine but is not found to be very helpful in some patients and it is self-limiting and fades with time (a couple of weeks)
4. a visit with your doctor would better determine the cause and also rule out more serious diseases but rarer than the ones mentioned above ( brain-related). Your doctor will do a neurological examination to rule brain lesions also.
I hope this is helpful and answers your questions but please feel free to reply if any more clarifications are needed on this.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Not serious inner ear conditions is a possible cause, advises given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HealthcareMagic.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
The dizziness you are experiencing seems like it is related to the inner ear called labyrinth. Sometimes it might be due to a viral infection that might have affected it, this is called labyrinthitis and in some cases is due to precipitations in it and this is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
The last one as the name indicates is affected by movements and certain movements trigger a strong sense of dizziness.
The way to test for this is some maneuvers that your doctor can do in his office called Epley maneuver. If it is found to be BPPV by this maneuver then the doctor can go on with it and help remove the precipitates (small stones) from the labyrinth of the ear.
To conclude I would say:
1. the most common cause of these symptoms is BPPV and is related to small precipitations in the labyrinth of the ear, it is not dangerous bit can be very distressing. diagnosis and treatment of it is a maneuver with head movements that replace the precipitations.
2. medications do not generally help in the BPPV case
3. if it is a viral infection that has affected the labyrinth than antihistamines can be tried like cetirizine or Cinnarizine but is not found to be very helpful in some patients and it is self-limiting and fades with time (a couple of weeks)
4. a visit with your doctor would better determine the cause and also rule out more serious diseases but rarer than the ones mentioned above ( brain-related). Your doctor will do a neurological examination to rule brain lesions also.
I hope this is helpful and answers your questions but please feel free to reply if any more clarifications are needed on this.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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