The cause of Meniere’s is not really understood. But the impacts are hard to underestimate. Ringing in the ears, vertigo, dizziness, and hearing loss are all common symptoms of this disorder. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease seem to stem from a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, but scientists aren’t really sure what causes that buildup initially.
So here’s the question: if something doesn’t have a discernible cause, how can it be addressed? The answer is, well, complex.
What exactly is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a persistent affliction that impacts the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. For many patients, Meniere’s disease is progressive, meaning symptoms will grow worse as time passes. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable spells of vertigo: Sadly, when these bouts of vertigo will occur and how long they may last can’t be predicted.
Tinnitus: The intensity of this tinnitus could ebb and flow, but it’s not uncommon for those with Meniere’s Disease to have ringing in their ears.
Fullness in the ear: This is experienced as a sensation of pressure in your ears and is medically called aural fullness.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can result in hearing loss over time.
It’s critical that you get the proper diagnosis if you’re noticing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can appear and disappear for many individuals. But as time passes, symptoms can become more consistent and obvious.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is persistent and progressive. But there are a few ways to deal with the symptoms.
The following are some of those treatments:
- Hearing aid: It might be time to get hearing aids if Meniere’s disease is advancing to the point where your ability to hear is faltering. Normally, a hearing aid won’t necessarily impede the progress of your hearing loss. But it can help keep you socially active which can give a boost to your mental health. Hearing aids can also help you manage the symptoms of tinnitus in numerous ways.
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is particularly hard to treat, this non-invasive strategy can be used. Positive pressure therapy is the medical term for this treatment. This therapy involves exposing the inner ear to positive pressure in order to limit fluid buildup. While positive pressure therapy is promising, the long-term advantages of this approach have yet to be backed up by peer-reviewed research.
- Surgery: In some cases, Meniere’s disease can be treated with surgery. However, these surgical techniques will typically only affect the vertigo side of symptoms. Other Meniere’s symptoms will remain.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is acting up, You can employ certain physical therapies that can help with balance. If you’re regularly dizzy or dealing with vertigo, this strategy may be warranted.
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your doctor in some cases. This can help when those specific symptoms manifest. So, when an episode of dizziness occurs, medication for motion sickness can help alleviate that dizziness.
- Diuretic: Another form of medication that your physician might prescribe is a diuretic. The idea here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be lessened by decreasing fluid retention. This is a long-term medication that you’d use instead of one to decrease extreme symptoms.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, especially vertigo, can be temporarily relieved with injections of specific steroids.
Get the right treatment for you
If you think you have Meniere’s disease, you should get evaluated. The advancement of Meniere’s disease may be slowed down by these treatments. But these treatments more often help you have a better quality of life in spite of your condition.