MENIERE'S DISEASE
Ménière’s disease is an inner ear condition that causes episodes of vertigo, along with hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and a feeling of pressure or fullness in the affected ear. It can cause significant balance problems and can bring on sudden, severe vertigo attacks without warning. Living with Ménière’s disease can be extremely challenging and frustrating.
At Northwest Functional Neurology, we look at more than the inner ear. Over time, the brain works to adjust to unsteady signals from the inner ear, and this can lead to other problems with eye movements, balance, movement control and thinking. Our care focuses on these brain-based effects, with the goal of helping you feel steadier and more confident between attacks.
Our care works alongside your physician and ear, nose and throat specialist, never in place of them. Ménière’s disease should be diagnosed and managed by your medical providers.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms of Ménière’s disease include repeated episodes of vertigo that usually last from about 20 minutes to several hours, hearing loss that may come and go at first and can worsen over time, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the affected ear. Between attacks, many people have lingering dizziness, trouble with balance, anxiety, brain fog and fatigue.
CAUSES & SYMPTOMS
Common Causes: The exact cause of Ménière’s disease isn’t known. It is linked to a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, called endolymphatic hydrops. Factors that may play a role include genetics, autoimmune conditions, viral infections, head injury and migraine. In some people, attacks may be triggered by salt, caffeine, alcohol or stress.
Common Symptoms: Episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus) and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Between attacks, many people also have anxiety, brain fog, fatigue and sensitivity to light or sound.
How Is Ménière’s Disease Usually Treated?
Medical treatment for Ménière’s disease often includes a low-salt diet, diuretics (water pills) and other medications to help control attacks. When attacks are severe and don’t respond to other care, physicians may recommend injections into the ear or procedures that reduce or stop the signals coming from the affected inner ear. Vestibular rehabilitation is often used to help with balance between attacks. These treatments are an important part of managing Ménière’s disease.
Our care adds a focus on the brain’s side of the condition. Over time, the brain’s ongoing efforts to adjust to unsteady inner ear signals can become one of the most troubling parts of living with Ménière’s, and that is where we concentrate.
Your NeuroRescue Program
We design your NeuroRescue Program using a range of therapies chosen from your test results. Depending on your needs, your program may include nutrition guidance to help you identify and manage dietary triggers, coordinated with your physician’s recommendations; targeted exercises to retrain how your eyes and inner ear work together during head movement; and electrical stimulation through the skin, which has been studied for supporting balance and the vestibular system. Every program is tailored to your testing and exam findings.
Our care works alongside your physician and ear, nose and throat specialist, never in place of them. Please don’t change or stop any medication, including diuretics, without talking with your prescriber.
CLINICAL RESEARCH
Our therapies are dictated by your unique presentation and supported by cutting-edge neuroscience, including advanced testing of your visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. Here are a few of them:
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Our Unique Approach To Meniere's Disease.
