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What is vertigo vs unsteady balance?
Sent to Health Experts June 08 11:42 AM

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Male, Age: 86, Florida

Already Tried:
no medication, just use my cane

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $9
Info Request
June 8 11:48 AM (6 minutes and 28 seconds later)
         
Can you tell us if while you are lying down:

1) you have sensations of the room spinning, like with quick head movements (Vertigo)

2) have no room spinning sensations (unsteady balance)

and when you walk, does it feel you need the cane for support because you feel like you are about to fall over due to the sensation of dizziness, or you just can't feel like you're taking steady steps?

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M.D. - Neurological Surgery
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Dr. Mark -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 1805 Health Accepts
Physician/Surgeon in Neurosurgery, Maryland
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June 8 1:29 PM (1 hour and 40 minutes and 24 seconds later)
         
number 2. I have no dizziness, standing or lying down. I use the cane to prevent fALLING, or the sensation of falling.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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June 8 1:35 PM (6 minutes and 6 seconds later)
         
you haven't helped me as of now
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 8 1:36 PM (1 minute and 12 seconds later)
         
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Then you do not have vertigo, as this is defined as the sensation of the room spinning, even while you are lying down.

The unsteadiness on the feet can come from several different places - the inner ear (which would cause the vertigo), the cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls balance), the actual brain (as fluid buildup can cause similar symptoms, called normal pressure hydrocephalus) and the spinal cord (as decreased sensations to the feet can cause unsteadiness).

Should this become extremely limiting in your ability to walk, you should have your doctor do a physical exam to see if there are clues to where this unsteadiness is coming from, and imaging if necessary.

Please click "ACCEPT" if I answered your question to your satisfaction. A BONUS is appreciated. If you have other questions, please ask them.

M.D. - Neurological Surgery
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Dr. Mark -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 1805 Health Accepts
Physician/Surgeon in Neurosurgery, Maryland
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June 8 1:42 PM (5 minutes and 48 seconds later)
         
% thought vertigo and an unsteady balance wer basically the same thing. is this something different?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 8 1:44 PM (2 minutes and 37 seconds later)
         
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Vertigo, or the sensation that the room is spinning due to disease of the inner ear, can cause unsteady balance. But it is only one of the many causes that can cause unsteadiness on the feet.

You appear to have another cause of the unsteadiness.

Please click "ACCEPT" if I answered your question to your satisfaction. A BONUS is appreciated. If you have other questions, please ask them.

M.D. - Neurological Surgery
Picture
Dr. Mark -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 1805 Health Accepts
Physician/Surgeon in Neurosurgery, Maryland
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