Empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives

Symptoms and Cause of Vertigo and Dizziness With Multiple Sclerosis

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Dizziness is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis. You may feel off balance or lightheaded. On rare occasions, you may feel as if you or your surroundings are spinning— a condition known as vertigo.These symptoms are caused by lesions (damaged areas) in parts of the brain that help you maintain equilibrium (balance).To find out how to manage vertigo with MS, watch the video below. To learn more, watch the whole episode of Ask an MS Expert about How MS Can Affect Your Senses.

If you live with MS and it feels like you or your surroundings are spinning, you may have vertigo. Learn how to manage it.

Managing Vertigo and Dizziness With MS

To effectively treat dizziness or vertigo, you first must know the cause of it and rule out other conditions including:

Middle ear inflammation
Benign tumors of the acoustic nerve that connect the ear and the brain

Symptoms related to vertigo and dizziness usually respond to anti-motion-sickness drugs. Consult your healthcare team if dizziness or vertigo becomes bothersome or persist. In severe cases, your provider may prescribe a short course of corticosteroids.