No one’s really certain what causes Meniere’s disease. But it’s difficult to dismiss its impact. Ringing in the ears, vertigo, dizziness, and hearing loss are all typical symptoms of this condition. Scientists aren’t really sure why, but for some reason, fluid can accumulate in the ears and this seems to be the underlying cause of Meniere’s disease.
So here’s the question: if something doesn’t have an identifiable cause, how can it be treated? It’s a complicated answer.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
Meniere’s disease is a chronic disorder that impacts the inner ear. Symptoms of Meniere’s will grow over time, for many individuals, because it’s a progressive disorder. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable bouts of vertigo: Regrettably, there’s no way to know when these episodes of vertigo will strike or how long they could last.
Tinnitus: The severity of this tinnitus may ebb and flow, but it’s not abnormal for those with Meniere’s Disease to experience ringing in their ears.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically called aural fullness, the feeling of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss over time.
It’s critical that you get an accurate diagnosis if you’re noticing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come and go for many individuals. But as the disease progresses, the symptoms will probably become more consistent.
Treatment for Menier’s disease
Meniere’s disease is a progressive and persistent condition which has no known cure. But there are some ways to deal with the symptoms.
The following are a few of those treatments:
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is especially difficult to treat, this non-invasive method can be employed. Positive pressure therapy is the medical name for this therapy. This treatment involves subjecting the inner ear to positive pressure as a way to limit fluid buildup. While positive pressure therapy is promising, the long-term advantages of this approach have not been borne out by peer-reviewed research.
- Diuretic: A diuretic is another medication option that may be prescribed by your physician. The concept here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be lessened by decreasing retention of fluid. This is a long-term medication that you’d take as opposed to one to reduce extreme symptoms.
- Medications: In some situations, your physician will be prescribe anti-dizziness and anti-nausea medications. If those particular symptoms manifest, this can be helpful. So, when a bout of dizziness occurs, medication for motion sickness can help relieve that dizziness.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, especially vertigo, can be temporarily relieved with injections of certain steroids.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease progresses and your hearing loss grows worse, you might want to get a hearing aid. The advancement 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 several ways hearing aids can help treat tinnitus.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery is used to treat Meniere’s. However, these surgical procedures will typically only impact the vertigo side of symptoms. Other Meniere’s symptoms will persist.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is flaring up, You can apply certain physical therapies that can help with balance. If you’re perpetually dizzy or experiencing vertigo, this approach may be warranted.
Get the right treatment for you
If you suspect you have Meniere’s disease, you should get evaluated. The development of Meniere’s disease may be slowed down by these treatments. More often, however, they reduce the effect that Meniere’s will have on your everyday life.