The cause of Meniere’s is not really understood. But the impacts are difficult to underestimate. Ringing in the ears, vertigo, dizziness, and hearing loss are all typical symptoms of this disorder. Scientists aren’t really certain 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 a condition doesn’t have a discernible cause, how can it be managed? The answer is, well, complicated.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a persistent affliction that impacts the inner ear and it’s known as 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: Regrettably, there’s no way to tell when these attacks of vertigo may strike or how long they could last.
Tinnitus: It’s fairly common for people with Meniere’s disease to experience ringing in the ears or tinnitus, which can range from mild to severe.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically called aural fullness, the sensation of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss over time.
It’s important that you get the proper diagnosis if you’re noticing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come and go for many individuals. But eventually, symptoms can become more consistent and obvious.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is chronic and progressive. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any way to treat it.
Some of the most prevalent treatments include the following:
- Diuretic: Another kind of medication that your physician could prescribe is a diuretic. The concept is that decreasing the retention of fluids might help minimize pressure on your inner ear. This is a long-term medication that you’d take rather than one to minimize extreme symptoms.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is flaring up, You can employ certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach could be a useful strategy if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, especially vertigo, can be temporarily alleviated with injections of specific steroids.
- 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 may help you feel less dizzy when an episode of vertigo happens.
- Hearing aid: It might be time to get hearing aids if Meniere’s disease is progressing to the point where your ability to hear is faltering. Generally, 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. Hearing aids can also help you control the symptoms of tinnitus in numerous ways.
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is particularly hard to manage, this non-invasive approach can be employed. Positive pressure therapy is the medical name for this treatment. As a way to minimize fluid accumulation, the inner ear is subjected to positive pressure. While positive pressure therapy is encouraging, the long-term benefits of this approach have not been backed up by peer-reviewed studies.
- Surgery: Occasionally, Meniere’s disease can be treated with surgery. Normally, however, only the vertigo side of the disease is impacted by this surgery. Other Meniere’s symptoms will continue.
Get the correct treatment for you
If you think you have Meniere’s disease, you should get evaluated. The advancement of Meniere’s disease might be slowed by these treatments. More often, however, they minimize the effect that Meniere’s will have on your daily life.
