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What is Ménière’s Disease?
Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear, affecting the vestibular system.
This disease causes episodes of vertigo, dizziness, loss of balance, a feeling of fullness in the ear, tinnitus and sudden hearing loss. This is a chronic condition that usually starts after a physical accident, injuring the head or neck (80% of cases).
It then gradually builds up over time, usually affecting one ear, and resulting in deterioration in hearing and quality of life for sufferers. Research shows the average time between the initial injury and the symptoms start is 15 years!
Symptoms of Ménière’s Disease
The symptoms of this disease are caused by a fluid imbalance (endolymph) resulting in pressure in the inner ear. This liquid will stimulate parts of the balance control centres in the inner ear, disturbing their normal function and leading to symptoms like: Meniere’s Disease Symptoms:- Vertigo attacks (dizziness with spinning sensation)
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Buzzing, ringing or roaring in one ear
- Hearing loss
- Affected balance and hearing
- Headaches
- Diarrhoea
- Depression
Causes of Meniere’s Disease
A study showed that the average time between injury and the start of symptoms of Ménière’s disease was 15 years. This indicates that even an old injury, which may not seem important, may have been the initial trigger for the condition.Other causes include:
- Inflammation of the Subluxated Atlanto Occipital Articulation (where the skull attaches to the top of the neck) with swelling putting pressure on the adjacent middle ear structures
- Ear infections
- Traction of the cranial nerves
- Cerebrospinal fluid flow problems
- Irritation of sympathetic nerves
- Viral infection
- Congenital or genetic factors
Triggers of Meniere’s Disease
While the causes of this disease are usually an accumulation of factors, there are some more recognised risk factors for Ménière’s disease attacks:
1. Stress
When stressed the brain is working harder on mental and emotional tasks.
With this reduced capacity, there is less focus on maintaining the body in its healthy balance, including regulating liquid in the ear and maintaining proper nerve function.
2. Head Movements
When moving the head quickly it will shift the endolymph liquid inside of the inner ear. When moving too fast it may incur dizziness and vertigo, as people with Ménière’s disease are more sensitive to the movements.
This can also occur due to movements of the neck. If the neck movement pinches the nerves it may stimulate a part of the inner ear, triggering a Ménière’s disease attack. This is particularly likely if there has been a head or neck injury in the patient’s medical history.
3. Weather
Changes in weather and temperature have been reported to trigger Ménière’s disease attacks.
This may be due to the weather affecting the liquid in the inner ear and the body not responding in time, due to the imbalance already being present.
4. Lack of sleep
If the body doesn’t get adequate rest, the immune system will be weakened and the body will not be able to heal itself efficiently.
Meniere’s Disease Diagnosis
An x-ray should be taken for ALL Meniere’s cases to assess the upper neck for its condition and for the presence of Atlanto Occipital Subluxation.Most people with Ménière’s disease will experience some degree of hearing loss. Typically, patients have problems hearing low frequencies or combined high and low frequencies, with normal hearing in the mid frequencies. This fluctuating hearing loss may go unnoticed initially, leading to permanent hearing loss in the long run. Thus, the medical examination also includes a hearing test and certain balance tests to identify balance problems and stress of the inner ear and cranial nerves, such as Videonystagmography.
Treatment for Meniere’s Disease
Patients diagnosed with Meniere’s disease often struggle most with unexpected episodes of vertigo and the possibility of permanent hearing loss. While the use of a hearing aids can counteract short-term hearing loss, the long-term effects of the disease may require you to make some lifestyle changes.
Seeking treatment for Meniere’s disease may help reduce fatigue and stress caused by the interruption of one’s daily life.
Common treatment for Ménière’s disease currently consists of medication, injections and possible surgery. However, to this date, medicine has not produced long-term treatments for Meniere’s disease or hearing improvement. Most treatments and therapies only help with short-term symptoms, or in some cases do not work at all.
If the pressure remains on the sympathetic and cranial nerves due to the Atlanto Occipital Subluxation, the symptoms will return.
Endolymphatic Sac Decompression
Endolymphatic sac decompression is a treatment that is performed to reverse the damage of Meniere’s disease to the ear while maintaining a healthy balance to the patient’s hearing levels.
The decompression procedure can be carried out on an outpatient basis or in an ambulatory surgery centre under general anaesthesia. It has been proven effective for patients with Meniere’s disease experiencing vertigo.
There are, however, risks associated with Endolymphatic sac decompression, such as the aggravation of vertigo attacks, further hearing loss and in rare cases, tinnitus.
Exercises for Meniere’s Disease
Ménière’s disease exercises can be performed to supplement care from your health care provider. However, they will not fix the underlying inner ear problem caused by the nerve compression in the neck (cervical spine).
Consult with your Upper Cervical Chiropractor before starting any new Meniere’s disease exercises.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy is an alternative treatment for those diagnosed with vertigo, Meniere’s syndrome, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) dizziness, imbalance and migraines.
This form of therapy is often engaged to target secondary problems caused by vestibular nerve issues. It uses exercise and movements to target symptoms of vertigo and dizziness. It is a way to retrain the balance system to order to reduce the severity and frequency of the problems experienced.
Chiropractic Care for Meniere’s Disease
Chiropractors focus on the nervous system. Upper Cervical specific Chiropractors specialise in the bones in the top part of the neck, known as the Occiput, Atlas and Axis. This is the location of the Atlanto Occipital Articulation, as mentioned above.
Research from the Burcon institute shows dramatic improvements to Meniere’s disease with chiropractic intervention. In a study of 300 patients, 97% were able to get their vertigo under control within 6 weeks. Over the full course of treatment, there was over a 90% improvement of their symptoms.
At Vitality, our patients regularly see stark improvements with Upper Cervical care, particularly in the frequency and severity of dizziness, episodes of vertigo attacks and the fullness of the inner ear. Improvements in hearing and tinnitus are regularly reported, more so beyond 6 weeks.
At Vitality Chiropractic we specialise in Upper Cervical care. We are the first to bring this technique to South East Asia and the only clinic in Singapore. We use unique computed infrared thermography nerves scans and bio-mechanical x-rays to accurately diagnose the problem and provide treatment for Ménière’s disease.
Our Doctor, Dr Shaan, has undergone post-graduate work, has years of experience and has a history of helping patients to treat Ménière’s disease symptoms. Click Here to Read Reviews or Hear Testimonials from our patients.
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