No one’s quite sure what causes Meniere’s disease. But the effects are hard to underestimate. Ringing in the ears, vertigo, dizziness, and hearing loss are all typical symptoms of this disorder. Researchers aren’t really certain why, but for some reason, fluid can accumulate in the ears and this seems to be the root cause of Meniere’s disease.
So here’s the question: how can you address something that doesn’t seem to have an identifiable cause? It’s a complicated answer.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a persistent disorder that affects the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s will grow as time passes, for many individuals, because it’s a progressive disorder. Those symptoms could include:
Unpredictable spells of vertigo: Regrettably, there’s no way to determine when these attacks of vertigo will strike or how long they could last.
Tinnitus: It’s relatively common for people with Meniere’s disease to have ringing in the ears or tinnitus, which can range from mild to severe.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically known as aural fullness, the sensation of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Over time, Meniere’s disease can result in a loss of hearing.
If you experience these symptoms, it’s necessary to get a definitive diagnosis. For many people with Meniere’s, symptoms are intermittent. But over time, symptoms may become more consistent and noticeable.
Treatment for Menier’s disease
Meniere’s disease is a progressive and persistent condition which has no known cure. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any treatments.
The following are some of those treatments:
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your physician in some instances. This can help when those specific symptoms manifest. So, when an episode of dizziness happens, medication for motion sickness can help decrease that dizziness.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, especially vertigo, can be temporarily alleviated with injections of certain steroids.
- Surgery: Occasionally, Meniere’s disease can be treated with surgery. However, these surgical techniques will typically only impact the vertigo side of symptoms. It won’t affect the other symptoms.
- Positive pressure therapy: There’s a non-invasive technique employed when Meniere’s is particularly difficult to manage. It’s known as positive pressure therapy. In order 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.
- Diuretic: Another type of medication that your physician might prescribe is a diuretic. The concept here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be minimized by reducing retention of fluid. This medication is not used to manage acute symptoms but instead is taken long-term.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is acting up, You can employ certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach could be a useful technique if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease progresses and your hearing loss gets 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 keep you socially engaged which can improve your mental health. Hearing aids can also help you deal with the symptoms of tinnitus in a number of ways.
The key is getting the treatment that’s right for you
You should get checked out if suspect you might have Meniere’s disease. Treatments for Meniere’s can sometimes slow down the advancement of your condition. More often, however, they reduce the effect that Meniere’s will have on your day-to-day life.