The cause of Meniere’s is not well understood. But it’s difficult to ignore its impact. Ringing in the ears, dizziness, vertigo, and hearing loss are all typical symptoms of this condition. 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 to begin with.
So the question is: how can you treat something that doesn’t seem to have a discernible cause? It’s a complicated answer.
Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?
Meniere’s disease is a persistent disorder that affects the inner ear. For many individuals, Meniere’s disease is progressive, meaning symptoms will grow worse over time. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable bouts of vertigo: Sadly, when these bouts of vertigo 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 abnormal 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 cause hearing loss over time.
It’s critical that you get an accurate diagnosis if you’re experiencing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come and go for many people. But eventually, symptoms may become more regular and obvious.
How is Meniere’s disease treated?
Meniere’s disease is a progressive and persistent condition which has no known cure. But there are some ways to deal with the symptoms.
Some of the most prevalent treatments include the following:
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is particularly hard to treat, this non-invasive method can be employed. It’s known as positive pressure therapy. This treatment involves subjecting the inner ear to positive pressure in order to limit fluid buildup. Peer review has not, as of yet, verified the long-term advantages of this method but it does seem promising.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease progresses and your hearing loss grows worse, you might 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 manage the symptoms of tinnitus in numerous ways.
- Steroid shots: Injections of specific kinds of steroids can temporarily help relieve some Meniere’s symptoms, especially in regards to vertigo.
- Diuretic: A diuretic is another medication alternative that may be prescribed by your physician. The concept here is that the pressure in the inner ear can be lessened by reducing retention of fluid. This medication is not used to manage extreme symptoms but instead is taken long-term.
- 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 strategy if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Medications: In some situations, your doctor will be able to prescribe anti-dizziness and anti-nausea medications. If those particular symptoms manifest, this can be helpful. For example, medications designed to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when an episode of vertigo occurs.
- Surgery: In some situations, surgery is used to address Meniere’s. Normally, however, only the vertigo part of the disease is affected by this surgery. Other Meniere’s symptoms will remain.
Find the correct treatment for you
If you believe you have Meniere’s disease, you should get examined. Treatments for Meniere’s can sometimes reduce the advancement of your condition. More often, however, they minimize the impact that Meniere’s will have on your everyday life.