Foot-Drop + Vertigo Is There A Connection?

[Vertigris]

Hello from the UK. I am a 49 year old female; no health problems. Gradually developed limp over last 18 months or so. Now under investigation by neurologist. Symptoms include: unnaturally tired all the time; permanent foot-drop (right) + occasional foot-drop (left); permanent burning pain back of neck; occasional aching/electric shocks in lumbar area; frequent headaches, occasionally left-sided; permanent 'lump in throat' sensation; often feel nausea but do not vomit; mood changes (feeling blue for no reason -- the other day I was watching 'Ben Hur' and started to cry - no excuse for that unless it was the ham acting!) and occasional errors with language e.g. referring to 37th March (I meant 27th) or throwing a 'stork for a dog' (I meant stick). In last 10 days additionally experienced occasional blurred vision with mildly blood-shot eyes (worst in left eye); tightness (feels like wearing a glove which is too small) in both hands with burning sensations in individual finger joints which might be coming from the blood vessels not the actual joints(?); intense burning/itching in different areas of the body; and a strange kind of vertigo. I am also no longer any good at playing Tetris - bad hand-eye coordination(?) My symptoms are all individually quite trivial but add up to a lot of discomfort and inconvenience. Pain is not that bad so life is hard work rather than agony. My inner critic says pull yourself together and get on with it. I am naughtily ignoring her.

Initial neurological exam found foot-drop plus loss of reflexes in lower body and possible 'pyramidal' involvement (whatever that means). Awaiting results of EMG/NCV and MRI (head, neck, chest). Have had blood tests: told results were normal but with mild hypothyroid. Basically, all symptoms except foot-drop have been poo-pooed by my GP. I think she thinks I am a hypochondriac and maybe I am. I have asked to see a counsellor to talk over my sad feelings and see if this reduces my symptoms. Meanwhile, what bothers me most is the strange vertigo sensations I am experiencing and I would like to ask for comments on this: have others experienced this sort of thing? what is it called? is it a symptom of a disease or a figment of my hypochondria?

This 'vertigo' occurs Whilst I am walking, sitting still, or lying down. It lasts for a split second but recurs frequently. Sometimes it comes on when I just move my head or just move my eyes. It reminds me of the sensation I have when sleeping where there is a sensation of freefall followed by a jerk. I am getting this whilst awake and what I mainly experience is the jerk and then I realise that I have been momentarily 'asleep' or 'spaced out' or 'in freefall' - I don't know what to call it except a 'momentary absence of consciousness'(???) which I only notice when consciousness comes back with a jerk. I keep getting this jerk, in fact I am getting it now when I am reading over this post and my eye moves from the end of one line to the start of the next. Just moving my gaze from one side of the screen to the other brings this on. It is so weird. I would not mind it except this jerking around makes me feel nauseous and quite poorly. I have read about BPPV and it almost feels like this except that apparently BPPV doesn't come on if you just move your eyes and it usually affects the elderly and I am not that old(!) Also I am curious to know if it relates to my other symptoms and maybe throws light on what is going on. As I write this I realise this 'vertigo' sounds psychiatric rather than neurological but any comments welcome. To be able to give this experience a name would be a help.

I will talk about this with my neurologist (which may be weeks from now, given the NHS appointments system) but I would like some info meanwhile. I guess I feel a bit 'out in the cold' since my GP is a bit snooty about this so I am looking for attention/support from others. Be kind to me fellow-internet surfers!

With many thanks for your assistance.