No one’s quite certain what causes Meniere’s disease. But the effects are hard to underestimate. Some prevalent symptoms of this condition are dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. Scientists aren’t really certain why, but for some reason, fluid can build up in the ears and this appears to be the root cause of Meniere’s disease.
So here’s the question: if a condition doesn’t have a discernible cause, how can it be dealt with? The answer is, well, complicated.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a chronic affliction that affects the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s will get worse as time passes, for many people, because it’s a progressive disease. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable bouts of vertigo: Regrettably, there’s no way to know when these episodes of vertigo may strike or how long they could last.
Tinnitus: It’s relatively common for individuals with Meniere’s disease to have ringing in the ears or tinnitus, which can range from mild to severe.
Fullness in the ear: This symptom is medically referred to as aural fullness, the sensation of pressure in your ear.
Hearing loss: Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss over time.
If you experience these symptoms, it’s necessary to receive a definitive diagnosis. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can appear and disappear for many people. But as the disease advances, the symptoms will likely become more regular.
Treatment for Menier’s disease
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is persistent and progressive. But there are a few ways to manage the symptoms.
Some of the most common treatments include the following:
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is especially difficult to manage, this non-invasive strategy can be used. Positive pressure therapy is the medical term for this treatment. In order to limit fluid buildup, the inner ear is exposed to positive pressure. Peer review has not, as of yet, confirmed the long-term benefits of this method but it does seem encouraging.
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your physician in some cases. This can be helpful when those particular symptoms occur. For instance, medications designed to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when an episode of vertigo takes place.
- 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 experiencing vertigo, this approach may be warranted.
- Surgery: In some instances, surgery is used to treat Meniere’s. However, these surgical techniques will generally only affect the vertigo side of symptoms. It won’t affect the other symptoms.
- Steroid shots: Some symptoms of Meniere’s, especially vertigo, can be temporarily relieved with injections of specific steroids.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease progresses and your hearing loss grows 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 help your mental health by keeping you socially active. Hearing aids can also help you control the symptoms of tinnitus in several ways.
- Diuretic: A diuretic is another medication option that may be prescribed by your doctor. The concept here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be minimized by reducing retention of fluid. This medication is not used to treat acute symptoms but instead is taken long-term.
The key is getting the treatment that’s best for you
If you think you have Meniere’s disease, you should get examined. Treatments for Meniere’s can sometimes slow down the advancement of your condition. But these treatments more often help you have a better quality of life despite your condition.