The cause of Meniere’s is not really understood. But the impacts are hard to ignore. Some common symptoms of this disorder are dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. Experts aren’t really certain why, but for some reason, fluid can build up in the ears and this seems to be the underlying cause of Meniere’s disease.
So here’s the question: how can you treat something that doesn’t seem to have a discernible cause? It’s a complex answer.
What exactly is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a chronic condition that impacts the inner ear and it’s known as Meniere’s disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s will grow over time, for many people, because it’s a progressive disease. Those symptoms could include:
Unpredictable spells of vertigo: Sadly, when these bouts of vertigo will occur and how long they may last can’t be predicted.
Tinnitus: The degree of this tinnitus could ebb and flow, but it’s not abnormal for those with Meniere’s Disease to have ringing in their ears.
Fullness in the ear: This manifests as a feeling of pressure in your ears and is medically referred to as aural fullness.
Hearing loss: Over time, Meniere’s disease can lead to a loss of hearing.
It’s important that you get the proper diagnosis if you’re noticing these symptoms. For many individuals with Meniere’s, symptoms are irregular. But as time passes, symptoms can become more regular and noticeable.
Treatment for Menier’s disease
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is chronic and progressive. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any treatments.
The following are some of those treatments:
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, particularly vertigo, can be temporarily alleviated with injections of specific steroids.
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is especially challenging to manage, this non-invasive technique can be utilized. Positive pressure therapy is the medical name for this treatment. This treatment entails exposing the inner ear to positive pressure as a way to limit fluid buildup. Peer review has not, as of yet, confirmed the long-term benefits of this method but it does seem encouraging.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is flaring up, You can use certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach could be a practical approach if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Diuretic: Another form of medication that your physician might prescribe is a diuretic. The strategy is that reducing the retention of fluids might help minimize pressure on your inner ear. This is a long-term medication that you’d use instead of one to decrease acute symptoms.
- Surgery: In some instances, surgery is used to treat Meniere’s. However, these surgical techniques will normally only impact the vertigo side of symptoms. It won’t affect the other symptoms.
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your physician in some instances. This can help when those particular symptoms manifest. So, when a bout of dizziness happens, medication for motion sickness can help relieve that dizziness.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease advances and your hearing loss grows worse, you might want to try a hearing aid. The progression of your hearing loss won’t necessarily be slowed by hearing aids. But it can help keep you socially engaged which can improve your mental health. Hearing aids can also help you manage the symptoms of tinnitus in several ways.
The key is getting the treatment that’s best for you
You should get checked out if think you may have Meniere’s disease. Treatments for Meniere’s can sometimes reduce the advancement of your condition. More frequently, however, they reduce the effect that Meniere’s will have on your day-to-day life.