Meniere's Disease
Meniere’s Disease is a chronic, incurable disorder of the inner ear that produces recurring symptoms due to unusual, large amounts of endolymph fluid building-up in the inner ear.
Symptoms may include vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear and fluctuating hearing loss. Episodes can vary greatly in severity and duration, sometimes disappearing or becoming disabling, followed by exhaustion.
Several medical and surgical treatments are available to manage the disease process, including extensive allergy services, adhering to a low-sodium diet, medication to control water retention and medications to limit vertigo and/or nausea.
If these treatments are unsuccessful, two surgical options exist: surgery to reduce inner ear pressure, or to block the affected ear’s connection to the brain. The second surgery involves destroying functionality of the malfunctioning inner ear so balance information is no longer being incorrectly transmitted to the brain.
Steroid injections and/or a chemical destruction of the balance center may be considered in some patients as well. The procedure involves injecting medication into the middle ear using a small needle that is inserted through the eardrum.
Physical therapy can assist with vestibular (balance) rehabilitation if Meniere’s Disease has started to affect hand-eye coordination, balance/stability or is causing dizziness with position changes.
