The cause of Meniere’s is not well understood. But the effects 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 come from an accumulation of fluid in the inner ear, but researchers aren’t really sure what causes that buildup in the first place.
So the question is: how can you deal with something that doesn’t appear to have an identifiable cause? It’s a complex answer.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
Meniere’s disease is a persistent condition that affects the inner ear. For many individuals, 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 strike and how long they will last can’t be predicted.
Tinnitus: The severity of this tinnitus may ebb and flow, but it’s not uncommon for those with Meniere’s Disease to experience ringing in their ears.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically referred to as aural fullness, the feeling of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss over time.
It’s important that you get an accurate diagnosis if you’re noticing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can appear and disappear for many people. But as the disease progresses, the symptoms will probably become more persistent.
Treatment for Menier’s disease
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is persistent and progressive. But there are some ways to deal with the symptoms.
Some of the most common treatments include the following:
- Diuretic: A diuretic is another medication option that might be prescribed by your physician. 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 treat acute symptoms but instead is taken long-term.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease progresses and your hearing loss grows worse, you may want to get a hearing aid. Normally, a hearing aid won’t necessarily slow the progress of your hearing loss. But it can benefit your mental health by keeping you socially active. There are also several ways hearing aids can help deal with tinnitus.
- Surgery: Sometimes, Meniere’s disease can be addressed with surgery. Typically, however, only the vertigo part of the disease is affected by this surgery. Other Meniere’s symptoms will persist.
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your doctor in some situations. If those specific symptoms manifest, this can be helpful. For instance, medications designed to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when a bout of vertigo takes place.
- 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.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, particularly vertigo, can be temporarily alleviated with injections of certain steroids.
- Positive pressure therapy: There’s a non-invasive approach employed when Meniere’s is particularly challenging to manage. Positive pressure therapy is the medical term for this treatment. In order to minimize fluid buildup, the inner ear is subjected to positive pressure. While positive pressure therapy is promising, the long-term advantages of this method have not been borne out by peer-reviewed research.
Find the right treatment for you
You should get an exam if think you may have Meniere’s disease. The advancement of Meniere’s disease might be slowed down by these treatments. But these treatments more often help you have a better quality of life in spite of your condition.