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What Causes Vertigo After A Head Injury?

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Posted on Wed, 2 Nov 2016
Question: my wife had a fall back in may 28 2016
and she hit her head in the floor left side eye bones fractured right wrist broken & left wrist broken and two bones broken
she has had tests done all ok now she has had some nurilogical tests done waiting for results december 5
she has lower arms shaking balance is off vertigo has been fixed legs are week resting all the time
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Read below

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about what has happened to your wife.

I must say though that you do not seem to make a specific question and given that you provide no results of the tests which have been made it is hard to provide an opinion.
Given the fact that your wife has had a head trauma coupled with symptoms like balance problems I would say that the possibility of traumatic brain injury should be looked first.
Tests like NCV and EMG provide no information on that regard, CT or even better MRI are the tests of choice. You do not mention anything about them, if they have not been done they should, she should have a head MRI and if that is normal a spinal one.
It is also unclear what is expected to find with a transcranial Doppler if no brain imaging has been done till now, it is used to visualize vessels and doesn't show the brain matter.

So what I am trying to say is that I am a little puzzled, either there are imaging tests which results you aren't mentioning, or if that is not the case I think these tests should be scheduled.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (39 minutes later)
my wife had a MRI & CT SCAN all results were normal with the TIA my wife had a few years ago my wife was a Diabetic she was on novolog & humalog XXXXXXX has not had a shot since july 2016 as her sugar is reading 95-120 day
night is also in range
her medication are
AMITRIPTYLINE 10 MG,NIGHT
LOSARTAN 50 MG DAY VENLAFAXINE ER 37.5 MG NIGHT ,LAMOTRIGINE 150MG DAY
HYDROXYZINE HCL 25 MG DAY,MORPHINE SULF 15 MG ER TABS 12 HR 1 TAB

HER SPECIALIST IS XXXX
CLINICAL NEUROLOGY SPECIALISTS
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (48 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Read below

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.

If the MRI was normal then the issues should have no relation to the fall that you mention, not due to a brain lesion from the fall. That is why the doctors are testing peripheral nerves. For that reason the results of those tests are necessary to check is there is damage to the peripheral nerves.

If those result normal though, perhaps medication side effects should be considered as well. While the dosages of her medications are small, she still seems to be under 5 medications which can affect the central nervous system and produce dizziness and weakness. I am referring to amitriptyline, venlafaxine, lamotrigine, hydroxyzine and morphine. So the possibility of removing some of those drugs should be considered.

Let me know how I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Causes Vertigo After A Head Injury?

Brief Answer: Read below Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I am sorry about what has happened to your wife. I must say though that you do not seem to make a specific question and given that you provide no results of the tests which have been made it is hard to provide an opinion. Given the fact that your wife has had a head trauma coupled with symptoms like balance problems I would say that the possibility of traumatic brain injury should be looked first. Tests like NCV and EMG provide no information on that regard, CT or even better MRI are the tests of choice. You do not mention anything about them, if they have not been done they should, she should have a head MRI and if that is normal a spinal one. It is also unclear what is expected to find with a transcranial Doppler if no brain imaging has been done till now, it is used to visualize vessels and doesn't show the brain matter. So what I am trying to say is that I am a little puzzled, either there are imaging tests which results you aren't mentioning, or if that is not the case I think these tests should be scheduled. I remain at your disposal for other questions.