The cause of Meniere’s isn’t really understood. But the effects are difficult to underestimate. Ringing in the ears, dizziness, vertigo, and hearing loss are all common 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 appear to have a discernible cause? It’s a complex answer.
What exactly is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a persistent condition that affects the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. For many people, Meniere’s disease is progressive, meaning symptoms will get worse over time. Those symptoms could include:
Unpredictable bouts of vertigo: Sadly, when these episodes will occur and how long they may last can’t be predicted.
Tinnitus: The severity 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 manifests 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 important that you get the proper diagnosis if you’re experiencing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come and go for many people. But as the disease progresses, the symptoms will likely become more regular.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is chronic and progressive. But there are some ways to deal with the symptoms.
The following are a few of those treatments:
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your physician in some situations. If those specific symptoms show up, this can be helpful. For instance, medications created to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when an episode of vertigo takes place.
- Diuretic: Another type of medication that your physician might prescribe is a diuretic. The concept is that decreasing the retention of fluids could help minimize pressure on your inner ear. This medication is not used to treat extreme symptoms but instead is taken long-term.
- Surgery: Sometimes, Meniere’s disease can be addressed with surgery. Typically, however, only the vertigo part of the disease is affected by this surgery. It won’t affect the other symptoms.
- Steroid shots: Injections of specific kinds of steroids can temporarily help alleviate some Meniere’s symptoms, particularly when it comes to vertigo.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is acting up, You can utilize certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach could be a useful strategy if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Positive pressure therapy: There’s a non-invasive approach used when Meniere’s is especially hard to manage. Positive pressure therapy is the medical name for this treatment. This treatment involves subjecting the inner ear to positive pressure as a way to limit fluid accumulation. While positive pressure therapy is promising, the long-term benefits of this approach have yet to be borne out by peer-reviewed research.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease advances and your hearing loss gets worse, you may want to get a hearing aid. The progression of your hearing loss won’t necessarily be slowed down by hearing aids. But it can benefit your mental health by keeping you socially active. There are also numerous ways hearing aids can help deal with tinnitus.
Find the correct treatment for you
If you believe you have Meniere’s disease, you should get evaluated. The advancement of Meniere’s disease might be slowed down by these treatments. More often, however, they reduce the impact that Meniere’s will have on your daily life.