What is Meniere’s Disease?

Woman leaning against wall because of recurring dizziness.

No one’s really certain what causes Meniere’s disease. But the impacts are hard to ignore. Some common symptoms of this condition are dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease seem to stem from an accumulation of fluid in the inner ear, but researchers aren’t really certain what causes that accumulation in the first place.

So the question is: if something doesn’t have a discernible cause, how can it be dealt with? It’s a complicated answer.

Exactly what is Meniere’s disease?

There’s a chronic affliction that impacts the inner ear and it’s called Meniere’s disease. For many individuals, Meniere’s disease is progressive, meaning symptoms will grow worse over time. Here are some of those symptoms:

Unpredictable spells of vertigo: Sadly, when these bouts of vertigo will strike and how long they may last can’t be predicted.

Tinnitus: It’s relatively common for individuals 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: Eventually, Meniere’s disease can result in a loss of hearing.

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 can become more regular and noticeable.

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 aren’t any treatments.

Some of the most common treatments include the following:

  • Surgery: Occasionally, Meniere’s disease can be treated with surgery. Typically, however, only the vertigo side of the disease is impacted by this surgery. Other Meniere’s symptoms will persist.
  • Positive pressure therapy: There’s a non-invasive technique employed when Meniere’s is particularly hard to treat. Positive pressure therapy is the medical term for this treatment. This treatment involves exposing the inner ear to positive pressure as a way to limit fluid accumulation. Peer review has not, so far, confirmed the long-term benefits of this approach but it does seem encouraging.
  • Medications: Anti-nausea and anti-dizziness medications can be prescribed by your doctor in some cases This can help when those specific symptoms occur. For example, medications designed to help with motion sickness could help you feel less dizzy when an episode of vertigo takes place.
  • Diuretic: Another type of medication that your physician may prescribe is a diuretic. The strategy is that reducing the retention of fluids might help minimize pressure on your inner ear. This medication isn’t used to treat acute symptoms but instead is taken long-term.
  • Rehabilitation: There are rehabilitation and physical therapy techniques that can help you maintain balance when Meniere’s disease is flaring up. If you’re constantly dizzy or dealing with vertigo, this approach might be warranted.
  • 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 try a hearing aid. Generally, a hearing aid won’t necessarily slow the progress of your hearing loss. But it can help keep you socially active which can give a boost to your mental health. There are also several ways hearing aids can help treat tinnitus.

The key is finding the treatment that’s best for you

If you believe you have Meniere’s disease, you should get examined. The advancement of Meniere’s disease might be slowed down by these treatments. But these treatments more often help you have a better quality of life in spite of your condition.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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