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What Causes Constant Nausea, Fainting And Lethargy Long After Recovering From Knee Injury?
Question: Hello, 2 years ago I fell to my knees and felt like the walls were crushing me. Couldn't see, breathe or move. Since that day I have never felt the same. I have constant nausea, I fell faint, lethargic. I have tried medication, therapy, MRI, CTE scans-ENT docs, everything. I am now 100% off of medication which is a blessing but my body still isn't coming along. My ears have a high pitch ringing in them 24/7 even when I'm asleep. I thought I would die from this but am now in a place where I think I can manage but I'm still in a lot of mental pain. What can I do that doesn't involve medication?
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from your description combined with the fact that you seem to have had every test and specialist consult out there I would say that your symptoms are most probably psychological, not due to a disease which causes life danger or disability (but perhaps you've already been told that). I suppose that from a medication point of view you already have been proposed anti anxiety medication as well.
Regarding non medication measures most effective means is psychotherapy which is always recommended before or alongside medication. There are several psychotherapy techniques most used is cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy.
Physical activity like jogging or other sports are also shown to be helpful. Yoga is also beneficial in many patients. Avoid stimulants like coffee, alcohol etc.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from your description combined with the fact that you seem to have had every test and specialist consult out there I would say that your symptoms are most probably psychological, not due to a disease which causes life danger or disability (but perhaps you've already been told that). I suppose that from a medication point of view you already have been proposed anti anxiety medication as well.
Regarding non medication measures most effective means is psychotherapy which is always recommended before or alongside medication. There are several psychotherapy techniques most used is cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy.
Physical activity like jogging or other sports are also shown to be helpful. Yoga is also beneficial in many patients. Avoid stimulants like coffee, alcohol etc.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for responding. Here is the reality. I have been through some very serious trauma in my life and always overcame it on my own. Everyone told me that I had a panic attack 2 years ago and that it would go away. I hallucinated every night for months, I would see the grass and trees moving when there was no wind. I felt like I was in a constant trance. I tried 5-6 different medications but the side affects from all of them were too much to handle. It felt like a rodent was trying to claw its way out of the back of my skull. The back of my head was always hot. You could feel the heat radiating from my head. I thought my brain was frying for about a year. My extremities tingle all the time and my jaw is constantly sore like I've been chewing rubber all day long. Will psychotherapy really work for me? I refuse to take medications again because they made me suicidal. I don't want to waste my time or my money. 6 months after the attack I was operating at about 20% and now I am back to work, working out, drinking alcohol very little and functioning at about 85%. I want the other 15% back because I'm still in a significant amount of pain.
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
Everything you say does confirm the fact that the symptoms are psychological. There is no anatomical explanation for the symptoms you describe (apart from the normal tests). The tingling of the extremities and the jaw issue is in that setting as well.
Whether psychotherapy will work for you....every patient is different, I can only say that psychotherapy is a mainstay of anxiety disorders (or any psychiatric condition), it is recommended as the first step before medication and even in those patients who take medication psychotherapy should be continued. It should help, even if not completely at least partially. Otherwise the remaining option is medication which you clearly do not want.Of course it goes without saying that psychotherapy is the safest option with no side effects.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
Everything you say does confirm the fact that the symptoms are psychological. There is no anatomical explanation for the symptoms you describe (apart from the normal tests). The tingling of the extremities and the jaw issue is in that setting as well.
Whether psychotherapy will work for you....every patient is different, I can only say that psychotherapy is a mainstay of anxiety disorders (or any psychiatric condition), it is recommended as the first step before medication and even in those patients who take medication psychotherapy should be continued. It should help, even if not completely at least partially. Otherwise the remaining option is medication which you clearly do not want.Of course it goes without saying that psychotherapy is the safest option with no side effects.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ok thank you. I guess my question should be, is it possible that this just goes away with time? It has steadily gotten better over the last 24 months. Every month I am noticing side affects disappearing and symptoms getting less intrusive. I went to a neurologist and they found nothing but is there a chance that something just snapped and I got some wires crossed? Maybe my mind just needs some time catch up? I really hate seeing psychiatrists, counselors, and just going to therapy in general- it never works. I work out, I am cognizant of the things that put me in that hole and I no longer engage in those destructive activities. I work 2 jobs and keep busy to keep my mind off of the ringing and other issues. I am only 1 month to the day of being medication free. I'm sorry I just thought you might ask some additional questions to gather some information to gain perspective about my condition. Thank you.
XXXX
XXXX
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
There are periods of improvement where you could feel fine but there is always the possibility that symptoms may recur in the future, especially if exposed to stressful situation, given that you seem to be a prone individual.
As for the possibility of "something getting snapped and getting some wires crossed", no, that doesn't happen, that is not how the brain works, doesn't get snapped without a lesion visible on MRI.
You seem to already be doing some sort of self psychotherapy, trying to identify patterns of thinking and situations causing symptoms, engaging in physical activity etc, the purpose of psychotherapy is precisely in helping you doing that, identifying such thoughts and situations and helping you relax and deal with them. Whether you could give it some more time since you seem to be constantly improving....yes you could, not being a threatening issue there is no harm. I just do not want you to see therapists as the enemy, simply as facilitators and if you see that things start deteriorating again ask for their help to cope.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
There are periods of improvement where you could feel fine but there is always the possibility that symptoms may recur in the future, especially if exposed to stressful situation, given that you seem to be a prone individual.
As for the possibility of "something getting snapped and getting some wires crossed", no, that doesn't happen, that is not how the brain works, doesn't get snapped without a lesion visible on MRI.
You seem to already be doing some sort of self psychotherapy, trying to identify patterns of thinking and situations causing symptoms, engaging in physical activity etc, the purpose of psychotherapy is precisely in helping you doing that, identifying such thoughts and situations and helping you relax and deal with them. Whether you could give it some more time since you seem to be constantly improving....yes you could, not being a threatening issue there is no harm. I just do not want you to see therapists as the enemy, simply as facilitators and if you see that things start deteriorating again ask for their help to cope.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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