Meniere’s disease can be extremely exasperating for those who suffer from it. It is a disorder of the inner ear most commonly known for the following three symptoms:
- Tinnitus: a buzzing, roaring, hissing, or ringing noise in the affected ear
- Vertigo: a sensation of movement, particularly spinning, of yourself or your environment
- Fluctuating hearing loss that may become permanent over time
Meniere’s disease usually only affects one ear, and sufferers may experience a feeling of fullness in this ear.
Meniere’s can impact anyone at any age but is most often observed in people in the age range of 20 to 50. It is mostly considered to be a chronic condition, but the symptoms can be lessened through proper care. In fact, there is an easy, drug-free solution we will discuss later in the article that has helped many Meniere’s patients find relief.
What Are the Symptoms?
Let’s take a closer look at the three main symptoms of Meniere’s disease and others that may occur with them.
- Recurring episodes of vertigo: Vertigo is a spinning sensation that begins and ends suddenly, without warning. Vertigo can last for 20 minutes or as long as a few hours but never more than 24 hours. If your vertigo is severe, it can cause nausea and vomiting.
- Tinnitus: This is the perception of noise coming from within the ear. It is usually ringing but can also be buzzing, hissing, or some other noise.
- Hearing loss: Hearing loss often fluctuates with Meniere’s disease, especially in the beginning stages. Eventually, some loss of hearing becomes permanent in most people.
- A feeling of congestion or fullness in the ear: Called aural fullness, most people feel congestion in the affected ear or on the side of their head.
- Loss of balance
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
Possible Causes of Meniere’s Disease
Meniere’s disease is one condition that is not well understood. There are many theories as to why it occurs. One that has gained popularity has to do with an abnormal amount of fluid build-up in the inner ear. However, this has not be proven. And, recent research reveals that not all people with Meniere’s have too much fluid in their ears, leading us to the conclusion there must be another factor at play here. Some of these may be:
- Improper drainage of endolymph fluid possibly due to anatomic abnormalities
- A viral infection
- Migraines
- Genetic predisposition
- Allergies
- Abnormal response by the immune system
- Head or neck trauma (keep this in mind as you read further)
Doctors think that since they cannot isolate one specific cause, it may be a combination of factors leading to the onset of Meniere’s.
Traditional Care to Help Ease Meniere’s Disease
Seeking help from your medical doctor will more than likely result in some of the following suggestions focused on alleviating or easing one symptom at a time:
- Medications
- Motion sickness medications
- Anti-nausea medications
- Diuretics to reduce fluid retention
- Noninvasive therapy and procedures
- Hearing aids
- Rehabilitation to improve balance
- Meniett device: This involves applying pressure to the middle ear to improve fluid exchange. A Meniett pulse generator uses a ventilation tube to do this. It is something you can do at home, and improvement has been noted short-term. Long-term effectiveness has not been determined.
- Middle ear injections
- Gentamicin — This is an antibiotic that is toxic to the inner ear and reduces the function of the balancing system in the ear causing the other ear to take over. The risk of hearing loss is involved with this procedure.
- Steroids — Dexamethasone is often used to help reduce vertigo attacks. This is less likely to cause hearing loss.
- Surgery — This is used as a last option when nothing else has worked.
- Endolymphatic sac decompression
- Vestibular nerve section
- Labyrinthectomy
While some of these give temporary relief, the problem will continue unless the underlying cause is addressed. One thing often overlooked when trying to care for Meniere’s disease is the connection it has to a misaligned bone in the upper cervical spine. Let’s look at the proof that this can be a reason for Meniere’s to occur.
A Connection to a Misalignment in the Upper Cervical Spine
A study observed 139 people who had been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. Upon examination and detailed medical history, it was discovered all of these patients had endured some sort of trauma to their head or neck prior to the onset of Meniere’s disease, many due to automobile accidents resulting in whiplash that had gone undiagnosed. After receiving care from an upper cervical chiropractor, all 139 reported significant improvement in their symptoms, particularly vertigo. Some reported their Meniere’s went away completely.
The upper cervical procedures that we utilize are both gentle and precise. It targets the misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine and corrects the misalignment without the need to pop the neck or crack the back in any way. Rather, it is a natural, drug-free way to care for Meniere’s disease.
If one of the top two bones in the neck is misaligned, either the C1 or C2, it can put stress and pressure upon the brainstem. This can lead to a few issues causing the onset of Meniere’s disease. Another problem when the brainstem is under stress is that it may send improper signals to the brain about the body’s location, causing vertigo. By correcting the misalignment, many people have seen similar results as in the study above. Meniere’s often eases up or goes away completely.
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