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50 years
I have frequent lightheadedness. i cheched my ears and it was ok. i made a brain mri and all is ok. it comes and goes. sometimes it is severe and i can't move for a day or two.
Aug 23, 2014
2nd opinion

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Lightheadedness in the context of a normal MRI can be explained by a number of possible underlying causes:
1- Vascular disease:
*hypertension (elevated blood pressure) can cause Lightheadedness and dizziness, usually associated with headache. But it's higher unlikely that it prevents you from performing your regular daily activities for 2 days
*vertebrobasilar insufficiency: decrease in the blood flow in the posterior brain circulation; needs a magnetic resonance arteriography (an MRI where they inject a special dye to look at the blood flow and detect any obstruction). This occurs in the setting of artery plaques (atherosclerosis)
*vestibular migraine: a migraine variant that can present only with dizziness or vertigo without the classic symptoms of headache, irritation from light and noise, nausea/vomiting etc.
2-Inner ear disease: the inner ear (vestibule) plays a key role in maintaining body balance. Any perturbation in its structures leads to dizziness and vertigo
*Vestibular neuritis: persistent inflammation of the inner ear subsequent to a viral illness
*Meniere's disease: altered pressure in the fluids that bathe the inner ears lead to rupture of certain membranes inside. This is associated with a sensation of ear fullness and hearing loss.
I suggest you do hearing test (audiogram) with tympanometry (it checks the motion of the ear drum and if there's fluid behind it which usually indicates an old infection). If these are normal, discuss having an MRA with your doctor, especially if you have risk factors for atherosclerosis (obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes). If this too is normal, it could be vestibular migraine.
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