Can I live a normal life with Ménière’s disease?
Ménière’s disease can significantly impact your life, so if you’ve been diagnosed with this disease, you probably have many questions. Many of our patients come to us with concerns, particularly when it comes to quality of life. As symptoms can be unpredictable and severe, living with Ménière’s disease can feel like always waiting for the other shoe to drop, never knowing when the symptoms will hit and send you into a spiral of unpleasant feelings that may require bed rest and your full attention.
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What is Ménière’s Disease?
Ménière’s disease, also known by its medical name, idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, is a chronic inner ear condition that occurs when endolymph, the fluid of your inner ear, accumulates within the inner ear and causes distension and bulging of some of the most sensitive parts of the organ. In this region of the ear, when fluid builds up, it places additional pressure on the endolymph sac and adjacent membranes.
When these parts of the inner ear become filled with fluid, it can cause episodes of vertigo (dizziness), tinnitus (chronic ear ringing), and even loss of hearing. But what causes the inner ear to fill with too much fluid? There is some evidence that correlates some conditions with increasing the risk for Ménière’s disease. Allergies, infections, and migraine headaches can all cause inner ear fluid build-up and head injuries can add risk for developing this rare condition. Some patients may simply have inner ear anatomy, which prevents proper drainage and allows for more fluid build-up.
Spinal trauma earlier in life may be a potential cause of Meniere’s Disease. A correlation may exist between a cervical (neck) trauma (i.e., fall or auto accident, whiplash) earlier in life and the onset of Meniere’s Disease. Cervical trauma may lead to biomechanical changes in the upper cervical spine which in turn can irritate the vestibular (balance) system. The onset of symptoms may occur months to years later.
Research into Ménière’s disease has shown that some people are more vulnerable to developing the disease compared to the general population. For instance, more women than men suffer from Ménière’s disease and those between the ages of 40 to 60 are most likely to experience symptoms. A family history of Ménière’s disease may put you at a slightly greater risk; however, autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis, play an even bigger role in increasing the risk factors.
What are the main symptoms of Ménière’s disease?
Because Ménière’s disease affects the inner ear, which helps to control your balance, symptoms often include vertigo and tinnitus. More severe cases may also include hearing loss. These symptoms can be incredibly disruptive because the disease can make you feel like your balance is off or that you or the world around you is spinning.
Vertigo can force you to lay down because it’s unsafe for you to stand or walk. If you’ve ever spun yourself around and made yourself dizzy, you can begin to understand how incapacitating the sensation can be. Much like being on a rocking boat or on a spinning carnival ride, the dizzy sensation can lead to nausea and vomiting.
Tinnitus causes you to hear sounds that may not actually be there. Imagine constantly hearing a ringing, hissing, or other sound, and you can realize how disruptive this can be to your living conditions.
Beyond the dizziness and unwelcomed sounds, Ménière’s disease can also create an unpleasant feeling in the ear. If you’ve ever had a “closed” ear, you’ll know the feeling of fullness and “clogged” sensation. For most of us, this is a passing annoyance, but if you have Ménière’s disease, it can be a repeated issue.
These symptoms of Ménière’s disease are not usually constant. They can come on unexpectedly and last anywhere from a few minutes to a full day. However, the longer a patient suffers from Ménière’s disease, the more severe the symptoms may become.
How can Ménière’s Disease impact daily life?
Part of the frustration of Ménière’s disease is its unpredictability. Although you may discover triggers that bring about symptoms, particularly early on in the disease, it can be very difficult to understand what causes symptoms. This can affect a person’s ability to maintain or progress in their career, causing financial stress and strain. It can also greatly impact personal relationships.
Parents who suffer from Ménière’s disease may not be able to properly care for their children because of the debilitating nature of the disease. Imagine having to pick your children up at school but feeling the room spinning around you, making it impossible for you to drive. Or think about situations where someone depends on you, like a big family vacation or a special date with your significant other. Picture these special times being ruined because you’re unable to leave the bed.
The symptoms of Ménière’s disease are always looming for those who suffer from the disease. They may go away after a few hours, but you know they will be back again soon. Its unpredictability compounds this, since there can be many episodes within a small period of time, or you do not have symptoms for months. There’s little way to predict.
What happens if my Ménière’s Disease goes untreated?
If Ménière’s Disease goes untreated, symptoms can worsen over time, potentially leading to permanent hearing loss and persistent balance issues. That’s why it’s essential to take your symptoms seriously and not brush them off. Some patients have their symptoms dismissed or minimized by healthcare professionals or even family members. But Ménière’s Disease is very real and can severely disrupt your life. Finding the right care can not only help you to reclaim your life, but can also help to prevent these symptoms from increasing in their severity.
What can I do at home to help my Ménière’s Disease?
To minimize the symptoms of Ménière’s disease and reduce the number of symptom occurrences, you’ll want to focus on strategies that help to reduce the fluid buildup in the inner ear. Focus on the following steps to help with self-care therapies at home to better manage your Ménière’s disease:
- Make Proper Dietary Adjustments: Reducing your salt intake through a low-sodium diet (1,500–2,000 mg a day) helps to reduce fluid retention. In addition, you’ll want to drink the recommended quantity of water daily to help regulate your body fluids.
- Avoid Certain Substances: Caffeine and alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of Ménière’s disease, particularly tinnitus and vertigo. If you’re a cigarette smoker, you should make it a point to stop smoking, perhaps by considering a smoking cessation program.
- Reduce Your Stress: Relaxation isn’t an indulgence; it’s actually an important part of managing Ménière’s disease. Practice stress-reducing activities like deep breathing, yoga, or meditation. Find hobbies or habits that work for your personality.
- Prioritize Sleep: Fatigue can contribute to a recurrence of symptoms, so it’s important to get enough sleep and avoid becoming overtired.
- Avoid Your Personal Triggers: Keep a journal or track with an app potential triggers which have caused symptoms to occur. Also watch out for sudden movements and avoid activities like amusement rides which can cause the head to move quickly.
How Does QSM3 Upper Cervical Chiropractic Help Ménière’s Disease?
Although at-home care is important for managing symptoms of Ménière’s Disease, it’s important not to neglect professional care, which can help improve outcomes and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Quantum Spinal Mechanics3 (QSM3) Chiropractic is an effective strategy to manage the symptoms associated with Ménière’s Disease. It’s a gentle and non-invasive approach that aims to align the upper cervical spine to allow your body to finally have the opportunity to begin to heal itself. By correcting misalignments in the critical upper cervical spine area, QSM3 positively impacts the cranial nerves and the pathways that control balance in the nervous, which are often disrupted in Ménière’s patients.
Upper cervical chiropractic for Ménière’s disease aims to realign joints in the upper cervical spine, improve neurological function and facilitate fluid drainage from the inner ear. Further, Upper Cervical care impacts the many neurological control centers in the brainstem that impact hearing and balance.
At Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, our QSM3 approach is uniquely focused on the neck and upper regions of the spine, the area of the body that is directly involved in Ménière’s Disease. Here at Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, you may find relief with QSM3, which helps to not only reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes but also alleviates other symptoms like tinnitus and hearing loss, providing a holistic and sustainable solution for those suffering from Ménière’s Disease.
Ready to join our satisfied group of Ménière’s Disease patients who have found relief and healing thanks to QSM3? See if you are a candidate for this gentle care, which uses a natural, holistic approach to help you find lasting relief without the need for invasive procedures or medications.
Dr. Arbeitman
Dr. Arbeitman, a trailblazing figure in Upper Cervical Chiropractic, established Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, LLC in 2005. Dedicated to promoting holistic wellness, he has empowered countless individuals to embrace Upper Cervical Chiropractic care as an integral part of their health journey. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Logan College of Chiropractic and holding a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiological Sciences from the University of Maryland at College Park, Dr. Arbeitman is a licensed practitioner in New Jersey who has met the rigorous standards set by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Beyond his extensive educational achievements, he has earned multiple scholarships and accolades for his academic prowess and exemplary clinical performance. Dr. Arbeitman's holistic approach encompasses spinal and nervous system care, lifestyle guidance, fitness evaluation, and nutritional expertise, all founded on the belief that the doctor-patient relationship is paramount to the healing process.
