We're at a total loss. What should we do?

It’s been a solid year now of me dragging my sister from specialist to specialist, and honestly, we’re just spinning our wheels at this point because things are actually getting worse.
It all started with this vertigo—sometimes in the morning, sometimes at night, sometimes during the day—just popping up every few months. Then it spiraled. Migraines hit, then depression, then anxiety, muscle aches, balance issues, and this constant pressure in her head and ears. For the last two weeks, it’s been daily dizziness and intense cranial pressure; if she moves too fast, she nearly passes out.
She’s been through the ringer with testing. Neurologists, cardiologists, orthopedics, endocrinologists... we even checked in with a psychiatrist, but it isn't psychological. We’re stuck. Does anyone have any actual ideas on what we should look into next?
Thanks.

Look, I’m no doctor, but you might want to try upping your Vitamin D intake—aim for at least 2,000 IU. Pair that with some movement or exercise, even if it's just a quick burst, and then hit some meditation or prayer if that's your thing.

Maybe a chiropractor?
If there’s an issue with your spine, that could definitely be the root cause.
Headaches can certainly come from dehydration—honestly, about 95% of them are—but migraines usually stem from spinal issues, particularly around the TH1-3 area.
And if you're dealing with vertigo, low blood pressure might be playing a role too, which often circles back to not drinking enough water...

Stay healthy and happy 👋

Look, if you aren't finding anything helpful through traditional medicine and you're just walking around dealing with these endless traces of whatever this is, maybe consider broadening your horizons a bit. If you're open to it, go see a well-known radiesthesist. They can help pinpoint what might be going on and give you a direction to head in, so at least you aren't just spinning your wheels blindly.
Basically, they show you where to look and what the root cause might be, and then you can take that info back to your doctors to figure out the next medical steps.
If you need a recommendation, I can pass one along, but shoot me a DM. I don't like dropping names like that out in the open.
Good luck with everything. Peace.

It doesn't necessarily mean there's a mental health component just because you've seen a psychiatrist—seeing one doesn't mean someone has "lost it," per se. It could very well be psychosomatic, and since you’ve already cleared all those medical tests, I'm honestly not sure what else is left to look into..

What specific tests did they actually run during the neurology appointment?

Kenneth Jackson30 said:Just because you've seen a psychiatrist doesn't mean it isn't psychological. Mental health issues don't mean someone has "lost their mind." It could easily be psychosomatic, and if you've already cleared all those medical tests, I honestly don't know what else it could be.

Exactly. Winter is finally winding down, and just the lack of sunlight can trigger these kinds of symptoms.
And how's life treating you? Dissatisfaction, feeling like things are a mess, the constant weight of expectations—all of that can throw your body completely out of whack.
A total lack of motivation...
It's high stress, but at its core, it's psychosomatic.

First off, thanks for all the replies. My sister was under a bit of stress, sure, but symptoms like these? I don't think so. Honestly, things are just getting worse. She’ll have a moment where she feels mentally better, then the physical stuff hits again, and of course, the fear kicks back in. But let's be clear: the psychological struggles started because of the physical issues, not the other way around. Just to give you an idea—how would you feel if you were spinning so hard every single day that you couldn't even get out of bed? Or if you had this intense pressure in your head that makes you pass out? She looks like death walking, and everywhere she goes, nobody can find anything wrong. Wouldn't you be terrified? Wouldn't you spiral into depression? I'm really doubting the mental aspect being the root cause when the physical symptoms clearly came first. Right now, she just can't function at all.
She’s already been through the ringer with a neurologist. They did three separate EEGs last year, checked brain signals, ran blood tests, looked at her carotid arteries and neck... plus an MRI a year ago. I'm pretty sure they've covered all the bases.
I'm at a loss. Could it be something immunological? She tried the liquid supplements, but nothing is helping.
Thanks, everyone.

I've seen these symptoms a million times before, and honestly, it’s almost certainly down to one of two things: either your neck is trashed—so go get a CT or an MRI—or it's your thyroid, in which case you need to get your hormone levels checked and grab an ultrasound. If it is your neck, there's more testing you could do, but you’d have to see a neurologist for that, and they’re the ones who can actually write you a referral for an MRI anyway.

Has she looked into seeing an ENT specialist yet? Nasty bouts of vertigo can actually be caused by inner ear issues.
I believe you when you say it's a nightmare—it's like being stuck in a loop. I really hope they get to the bottom of it soon.

Saw the orthopedist today. Everything seems fine. Spine looks straight. He did mention some tension in the neck muscles, but he’s certain that wouldn't cause these specific symptoms. Then we hit up the ENT. Apparently, those narrow ear canals are a bit of an issue, but again, not enough to trigger what she's feeling. She couldn't even finish the vestibular testing—just blacked out mid-procedure.
Could it be something immunological? That’s the one thing we haven't ruled out yet.
Thanks

Kidney hormone levels look good.

I honestly can't believe an orthopedic surgeon would just order a CT or an MRI when X-rays only show bone structures and totally miss the discs. I've seen people with cervical disc injuries pass out cold because of this stuff.

A former coworker of mine went through something almost identical about ten years ago. It all started with these crazy dizzy spells and headaches, but it eventually spiraled into a total nervous breakdown. And honestly, it wasn't just one thing—she was dealing with a divorce, getting evicted from her apartment, and dealing with this absolute nightmare of a boss who bullied her constantly. She ended up on medical leave for two years, just bouncing from doctor to doctor and clinic to clinic. Once she finally saw everyone, she made what I think was the biggest mistake of her life—and she’s still paying for it today. She took out huge amounts of money on credit cards to pay for all these "energy healers," psychics, and herbalists. We’re talking nearly $16,000 in high-interest debt that she’s still chipping away at. The funny thing is, once she actually got her life back on track, those dizzy spells just vanished. For her, the neuropsychiatrists were the ones who actually made the difference.

Jessica Brown7 said:We saw the orthopedist. Everything seems fine. Neck is clear.

Actually, maybe try a chiropractor instead of an orthopedist. No shade to the MDs, truly, but a good chiropractor can feel things with their hands that just aren't obvious... they have a better sense for those tiny irregularities. An orthopedist relies heavily on imaging, and honestly, scans can be pretty subjective sometimes. I knew a chiropractor once who could actually feel a hairline fracture in someone's foot just by touch—something the specialist didn't even spot on the X-ray until after the adjustment was done.

Jessica Brown7 said:There's just some tension in the neck muscles, but there's no way those symptoms are coming from that.

Well, tight muscles actually *can* cause that. I remember a client who couldn't tilt her head down without getting hit by these massive dizzy spells that would spiral into full-blown panic attacks. It went on for twenty years. After one deep shiatsu massage, the muscle finally released, blood flow normalized, and the vertigo just... vanished.

Jessica Brown7 said:We saw the ENT. Her ears were slightly problematic, but the doctor said that wouldn't cause these specific symptoms. She couldn't even finish the vestibular testing; she passed out.

Ear issues can stem from the spine or the neck, too. But since all the previous symptoms point toward the neck, that’s where I’d start looking...

Jessica Brown7 said:What if it's immunological? That's the only thing we haven't checked yet.

It could be autoimmune, sure, but usually you'd see a fever accompanying those kinds of changes. If there's no fever, I'd temporarily rule out autoimmune for now.

Hang in there... 👋

Thanks, everyone. Things have been a little more manageable over the last few days. I’ve been making sure she gets out for walks to get some fresh air, but then the dizziness always comes back once evening rolls around, along with everything else. Why specifically when she sits down? That's what I can't wrap my head around. This pounding in my head just won't let up.

Jessica Brown7 said:Thanks, everyone. Things have been slightly better over the last few days. I've been making sure she gets out for walks and some fresh air, but then the dizziness and all those other symptoms just come rushing back once she sits down in the evening. Why specifically when she sits? And this pounding in my head... it just won't let up.

Maybe it’s because the blood pressure isn't distributing quite right through the carotid arteries?

Hang in there, you guys 👋

Jessica Brown7, did she actually get prescribed anything for that dizziness after running all those tests?

Jessica Brown7 said:Thanks to everyone—things have been looking up a little bit over the last few days. I’ve been making sure she gets out for walks and breathes some fresh air, but it’s like clockwork: once evening hits and she sits down, that dizziness comes rushing back along with everything else. Why does it always seem to happen when things finally quiet down? Why does it always happen right when I sit down? This pounding in my head just won't quit.

It’s because when you're on the move, your brain is already busy juggling a dozen other things.
Once they sit down, just keep on shaving.
The more you describe it, the more I’m convinced this is just a pure psychological thing.

atlasprofilax.com