No one’s really certain what causes Meniere’s disease. But it’s difficult to ignore its effects. Ringing in the ears, dizziness, vertigo, and hearing loss are all typical symptoms of this disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease seem to come from a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, but scientists aren’t really sure what causes that accumulation initially.
So the question is: if a condition doesn’t have a discernible cause, how can it be treated? It’s a complicated answer.
What exactly is Meniere’s disease?
There’s a persistent condition that impacts the inner ear and it’s known as Meniere’s disease. Symptoms of Meniere’s will get worse as time passes, for many people, because it’s a progressive disorder. Here are some of those symptoms:
Unpredictable spells of vertigo: Regrettably, there’s no way to tell when these episodes of vertigo will strike or how long they could last.
Tinnitus: The intensity of this tinnitus could 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 manifests as a sensation of pressure in your ears and is medically referred to as aural fullness.
Hearing loss: In the long run, Meniere’s disease can result in a loss of hearing.
It’s important that you get an accurate diagnosis if you’re experiencing these symptoms. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can come and go for many individuals. But as the disease advances, the symptoms will most likely become more persistent.
Treatment for Menier’s disease
There is no known cure for Menier’s disease which is persistent and progressive. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any treatments.
The following are some of those treatments:
- Steroid shots: Injections of specific types of steroids can temporarily help relieve some Meniere’s symptoms, especially in regards to vertigo.
- Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your physician in some cases. This can help when those particular symptoms occur. For instance, medications designed to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when a bout of vertigo occurs.
- Diuretic: Another kind of medication that your physician might 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 instead of one to reduce extreme symptoms.
- Hearing aid: As Meniere’s disease progresses and your hearing loss gets worse, you may want to try a hearing aid. The advancement of your hearing loss won’t necessarily be slowed by hearing aids. But it can help keep you socially engaged which can improve your mental health. Hearing aids can also help you manage the symptoms of tinnitus in numerous ways.
- Positive pressure therapy: When Meniere’s disease is particularly difficult to manage, this non-invasive approach can be utilized. It’s known as positive pressure therapy. In order to minimize fluid buildup, the inner ear is exposed to positive pressure. While positive pressure therapy is promising, the long-term benefits of this method have yet to be backed up by peer-reviewed studies.
- Rehabilitation: When Meniere’s disease is acting up, You can apply certain physical therapies that can help with balance. This approach could be a useful strategy if you’re experiencing regular dizziness or vertigo.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery is used to address Meniere’s. However, these surgical procedures will typically only impact the vertigo side of symptoms. It won’t affect the other symptoms.
The key is getting the treatment that’s right for you
If you think you have Meniere’s disease, you should get examined. The advancement of Meniere’s disease might be slowed down by these treatments. More frequently, however, they reduce the impact that Meniere’s will have on your day-to-day life.