The cause of Meniere’s isn’t well understood. But the effects are difficult to dismiss. Some prevalent symptoms of this affliction are dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. Experts aren’t really certain why, but for some reason, fluid can accumulate in the ears and this appears to be the root cause of Meniere’s disease.
So here’s the question: if a condition doesn’t have a discernible cause, how can it be dealt with? It’s a complicated answer.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a persistent disorder that impacts the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s will grow over time, for many people, because it’s a progressive disease. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable bouts of vertigo: Sadly, when these bouts of vertigo will occur and how long they may last can’t be predicted.
Tinnitus: It’s relatively common for people with Meniere’s disease to experience ringing in the ears or tinnitus, which can range from mild to severe.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically referred to as aural fullness, the sensation of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss over time.
If you experience these symptoms, it’s crucial to receive a definitive diagnosis. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come and go for many people. But as the disease advances, the symptoms will most likely become more persistent.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is persistent and progressive. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any treatments.
The following are a few of those treatments:
- Steroid shots: Injections of certain kinds of steroids can temporarily help relieve some Meniere’s symptoms, particularly when it comes to vertigo.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease advances and your hearing loss grows worse, you may want to get a hearing aid. The advancement of your hearing loss won’t necessarily be slowed down by hearing aids. But it can help your mental health by keeping you socially active. Hearing aids can also help you manage the symptoms of tinnitus in numerous ways.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is flaring up, You can apply certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach may be a practical strategy if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Medications: In some instances, your physician will be prescribe anti-dizziness and anti-nausea medications. This can be helpful when those particular symptoms manifest. So, when a bout of dizziness happens, medication for motion sickness can help alleviate that dizziness.
- Diuretic: Another type of medication that your physician may prescribe is a diuretic. The concept here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be minimized by decreasing retention of fluid. This medication is not used to manage extreme symptoms but instead is taken long-term.
- Surgery: In some situations, surgery is used to treat Meniere’s. Normally, however, only the vertigo side of the disease is affected by this surgery. It won’t impact the other symptoms.
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is particularly hard to treat, this non-invasive method can be used. It’s known as positive pressure therapy. As a way to minimize fluid accumulation, the inner ear is subjected to positive pressure. Peer review has not, so far, confirmed the long-term benefits of this approach but it does seem promising.
Get the right treatment for you
You should get an exam if think you may have Meniere’s disease. Treatments for Meniere’s can sometimes slow the advancement of your condition. But these treatments more often help you have a better quality of life in spite of your condition.