Treatment FAQ

how does laser treatment help meniere's disease

by Naomie Stehr Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

Some people with Meniere's disease may benefit from other noninvasive therapies and procedures, such as: Rehabilitation. Hearing aid. Positive pressure therapy.

Procedures

Both physical therapy and vestibular rehabilitation therapy are necessary after the procedure. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a specialized form of physical therapy and common treatment for many of the primary and secondary symptoms of Meniere’s disease.

Therapy

Ménières disease usually only affects one ear initially. In about one third of patients, however, both ears eventually become involved. In the more chronic phases of the disease, the drop in hearing may not recover between attacks and becomes permanent. Less commonly, labyrinthine function becomes permanently impaired.

Nutrition

Diuretics: What we might call a “water pill,” diuretics are among the first medication treatments given to those with Meniere’s Disease. The thought is if the water retention in the body decreases it can improve the liquid balance in the inner ear. Some drugs prescribed as diuretics include Triamterene,...

What are some noninvasive treatments for Meniere's disease?

Is physical therapy necessary after Meniere’s surgery?

What is the prognosis of Ménières disease?

Do Diuretics help with Meniere's disease?

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What is the most effective treatment for Meniere's disease?

Diuretics are the most commonly prescribed maintenance medications for Meniere's disease. Diuretics work by restricting the overproduction of fluid in the inner ear. Diuretics are long-term medications. They help reduce the number of vertigo attacks, and in some cases, they help stabilize hearing.

What helps Meniere's disease permanently?

No cure exists for Meniere's disease, but a number of strategies, including medication, surgery, supplemental therapies, and dietary changes may help manage the symptoms. Research shows that most people with Meniere's disease respond to treatment, but have to cope with long-term hearing loss.

Are there any new treatments for Meniere's?

The new drug to relieve the symptoms of tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss in those with Meniere's disease is on the fast track in the new drug application process. The drug is called SPI-1005 and is a product of the Sound Pharmaceuticals company.

What can a neurologist do for Meniere's disease?

Meniere's disease may also require bed rest and diuretic medications in addition to VBAs. Ultimately, once your neurologist has diagnosed the cause of your vertigo, they will provide you with a customized treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms.

Does surgery work for Meniere's disease?

Surgery to Cut the Balance (Vestibular) Nerve Through an incision behind the ear, a portion of the mastoid bone is removed and the balance nerve is cut. In the majority of cases, the hearing remains the same after surgery. In some cases, the hearing is temporarily reduced for several weeks after surgery.

What vitamins help Meniere's disease?

According to their hypothesis, vitamin D supplementation may indeed have a beneficial effect in Meniere's disease if the symptoms are caused by a local postviral autoimmune reaction. Vitamin D has a strong immunomodulatory role, one of which is the regulation of the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Can Meniere's disease go into remission?

Meniere's disease is chronic, but treatments and lifestyle changes can help ease symptoms. Many people diagnosed with Meniere's disease will go into remission within a few years after their diagnosis.

What causes Meniere's disease to flare up?

Some people with Ménière's disease find that certain events and situations, sometimes called triggers, can set off attacks. These triggers include stress, overwork, fatigue, emotional distress, additional illnesses, pressure changes, certain foods, and too much salt in the diet.

How many years does Meniere's disease last?

Meniere's may persist for 30 years or more. It is generally a chronic disease (Havia et al, 2004). Hearing is thought to gradually decline throughout life, with roughly 50 dB loss in 10 years.

Does Meniere's affect the brain?

When the head moves, the endolymph also moves, which causes nerve receptors in the membranous labyrinth to signal the brain about the body's motion. Endolymph buildup in the labyrinth can interfere with the normal balance and hearing signals between the inner ear and the brain, resulting in Ménière's disease.

Is Menieres a brain disorder?

Ménière disease is a balance disorder. It's caused by an abnormality in part the inner ear called the labyrinth. Fluid build-up here can cause a severe spinning sensation (vertigo) and affect the hearing.

Who is the best doctor for Meniere's disease?

Meniere's disease is typically diagnosed by an otolaryngologist. During a clinic visit, your doctor will take your medical history and conduct a physical exam.

How to reduce the impact of Meniere's disease?

Certain self-care tactics can help reduce the impact of Meniere's disease. Consider these tips for use during an episode: Sit or lie down when you feel dizzy. During an episode of vertigo, avoid things that can make your signs and symptoms worse, such as sudden movement, bright lights, watching television or reading.

What are some noninvasive treatments for meniere's disease?

Noninvasive therapies and procedures. Some people with Meniere's disease may benefit from other noninvasive therapies and procedures, such as: Rehabilitation. If you have balance problems between episodes of vertigo, vestibular rehabilitation therapy might improve your balance. Hearing aid.

How long does vertigo last with Meniere's disease?

A diagnosis of Meniere's disease requires: Two episodes of vertigo, each lasting 20 minutes or longer but not longer than 12 hours. Hearing loss verified by a hearing test. Tinnitus or a feeling of fullness in your ear.

What tests are used to rule out Meniere's disease?

Tests to rule out other conditions. Blood tests and imaging scans such as an MRI may be used to rule out disorders that can cause problems similar to those of Meniere's disease, such as a tumor in the brain or multiple sclerosis.

How does Meniere's disease affect your life?

Meniere's disease can affect your social life, your productivity and the overall quality of your life. Learn all you can about your condition. Talk to people who share the condition, possibly in a support group. Group members can provide information, resources, support and coping strategies.

Can you take salt for meniere's disease?

Long-term medication use. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce fluid retention (diuretic) and suggest that you limit your salt intake. For some people, this combination helps control the severity and frequency of Meniere's disease symptoms.

Is there a cure for Meniere's disease?

No cure exists for Meniere's disease. A number of treatments can help reduce the severity and frequency of vertigo episodes. But, unfortunately, there aren't any treatments for the hearing loss.

Can it eliminate tinnitus?

A medical doctor with specialty in Ear Nose and Throat, who is a manager of out-patient clinic in "Ichilov" Hospital in Israel, tested the "soft laser". He took a soft laser device, and a human skull, and checked the amount of light energy that can penetrate the human skull.

What is laser?

In the spoken English, a laser is an optic instrument that emits visible and invisible light. In the broad aspect light is electromagnetic radiation.

The emitted laser light

The emitted laser light is known for its intense level of spatial and temporal coherence. Such specific optical output can not be achieved by other technologies.

Typical laser beam

The typical laser beam inside a vacuum chamber have a temporal (also called longitudinal) coherence that includes a polarized light at a single wavelength whose phase is correlated over a relatively large distance. It is a synonym to the coherence length along the beam.

Single wavelength lasers

Single wavelength lasers are, usually, not real single wavelength. They produce radiation in few ways having slight variability in their frequencies. Usually also not in a single polarization. Although temporal coherence should have output of monochromatic light, it is not the rule.

Broad spectrum and various wavelengths lasers

There are lasers that generate a broad spectrum of light, or produce various wavelengths of light at the same time.

Laser utilities

Lasers are utilized in applications where there is demand for specific radiation of spatial or temporal coherence and it could not be achieved by simpler technologies.

How to treat Meniere's disease?

In many severe cases of Meniere’s disease, steroid injections to the middle ear are a common treatment. According to Timothy Hain at the Chicago Dizziness and Hearing, “The goal of these treatments is to affect the inner ear using medication that enters the ear through the round window.

What is a nootropic for Meniere's disease?

What is a Nootropic: Any herb, vitamin, supplement, or medication known to improve and enhance cognitive functions such as concentration, attention, and memory.

What is the name of the medication that is prescribed for meniere's disease?

Prescription: Triamterine/HCTZ (Dyazide or Maxide), amiloride/HCTZ (Moduretic), Acetazolamide (Diamox), amiloride, ethacrynic acid, spironolactone, triamterine. Diuretics and water pills are commonly one of the very first prescribed medications for Meniere’s disease patients.

What is the first line of defense for Meniere's disease?

Lifestyle, dietary, and environmental changes should be the first line of defense for every Meniere’s disease patient. Your mileage will vary with this approach, but it’s important for everyone, even if it doesn’t seem to improve your symptoms at all.

Is brainwave entrainment a medical treatment?

A while back, I created a pay-what-you-want album of brainwave entrainment audio tracks designed as a coping tool for various Meniere’s disease symptoms. This is not a medically prescribed treatment, yet hundreds of people use this program daily and report that it helps them to find relief from their symptoms in the moment.

Does chiropractic help with meniere's disease?

In certain cases of Meniere’s disease (including cases where no other treatments seem to work) some patients have found relief through upper cervical spine chiropractic adjustments, especially those with a history of physical trauma, such as whiplash experienced during a car accident.

Is Meniere's disease a viral disease?

One theory of Meniere’s disease states that there may be an underlying viral cause, such as the herpes simplex virus . This is certainly not true for all Meniere’s disease patients, but in some cases, people do seem to respond favorably to antiviral drugs such as Acyclovir and Valacyclovir.

How to treat Ménières?

Surgical Treatment for Ménières. Removing the labyrinth, when hearing is already lost. Cutting the vestibular nerve to the part of the labyrinth that relays vestibular sensation to the brain. These procedures cause a permanent loss of vestibular function .

What is Ménières disease?

Ménières disease is named after the 19th century physician who described this condition. Ménières is a disease of adults, often beginning in the thirties or forties. It rarely occurs in children.

What is the name of the fluid in Ménières disease?

Ménières disease is also called endolymphatic hydrops. Endolymph is the name of the fluid, and hydrops means swelling. The endolymph fluid is contained within a thin membrane called the membranous labyrinth. Normally, endolymph is continuously made and then reabsorbed so that the pressure remains relatively constant.

How to reduce inner ear pressure?

Avoid nicotine. Use of a diuretic or water pill may be recommended. Diamox or Acetazolamide may be used to decrease the production of endolymph fluid and reduce inner ear pressure. For recurrent, incapacitating attacks of vertigo, injections of gentamicin through the ear drum into the middle ear can be used.

What is the cause of Ménières?

There is probably an increased incidence of migraines in patients with this disease.

Can menières suddenly fall?

Some patients with Ménières may suddenly fall without warning. These events, which may occur early in the course of the disease, are called Tumarkin’s otolithic crises. Fortunately, they often subside on their own. The natural course of Ménières is one of progression, but with extended periods of regression.

Does Ménières disease affect both ears?

Features of Ménières Disease. Ménières disease usually only affects one ear initially. In about one third of patients, however, both ears eventually become involved. In the more chronic phases of the disease, the drop in hearing may not recover between attacks and becomes permanent.

What is laser therapy?

Laser therapies are medical treatments that use focused light. Unlike most light sources, light from a laser (which stands for l ight a mplification by s timulated e mission of r adiation) is tuned to specific wavelengths. This allows it to be focused into powerful beams. Laser light is so intense that it can be used to shape diamonds or cut steel.

What is the procedure to laser treat a tumor?

Laser therapy techniques vary based on the procedure. If a tumor is being treated, an endoscope (a thin, lighted, flexible tube) may be used to direct the laser and view tissues inside the body. The endoscope is inserted through an opening in the body , such as the mouth.

How does laser light work?

In medicine, lasers allow surgeons to work at high levels of precision by focusing on a small area, damaging less of the surrounding tissue.

What is the purpose of argon lasers?

Argon lasers also make shallow cuts and can be used to activate photosensitizing (light-activated) drugs during photodynamic therapy. This type of cancer treatment combines light with chemotherapy to kill more cancer cells.

How much does laser eye surgery cost?

stroke. Treatments can also be expensive and are therefore not accessible to everyone. Laser eye surgery can cost anywhere from $600 to $8,000 or more based on your healthcare plan and the provider or facility you use for your surgery.

Can you urinate after laser prostate surgery?

For example, if you have laser prostate surgery, you may need to wear a urinary catheter. This can aid in urinating right after the surgery. If you received therapy on your skin, you may experience swelling, itching, and rawness around the treated area.

Can laser surgery cause scarring?

If you have laser therapy, you may experience less pain, swelling, and scarring than with traditional surgery. However, laser therapy can be expensive and require repeated treatments.

What is the best treatment for Meniere's disease?

Antivirals: A professional may prescribe antiviral drugs like Acyclovir to Meniere’s patients whose condition originates from a Herpes virus. Diuretics: What we might call a “water pill,” diuretics are among the first medication treatments given to those with Meniere’s Disease.

What are some home remedies for meniere's?

There are home remedies for dizziness, nausea, and tinnitus, including approaches to Meniere’s like yoga, massage, reiki, and aromatherapy . What’s most important is that you communicate your choices to the primary provider for your Meniere’s.

How many symptoms are there for Meniere's disease?

There are four classic symptoms of Meniere’s Disease that a doctor looks for when taking your history and doing an exam. Unfortunately, each one of these symptoms can point to another physical problem altogether.

Does Meniere's disease have over the counter medications?

There is no one medication that allays all the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease. Rather, there are both over-the-counter and prescription medications that target symptoms to decrease them and increase the time between Meniere’s vertigo attacks.

Is Meniere's disease a chronic disorder?

Many times, you’re left with trying to suppress symptoms rather than stopping them entirely: Such is the case with Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s is a rare, chronic disorder that affects a person’s balance and hearing.

Can you hear hearing loss from a meniere attack?

Hearing Loss: People with Meniere’s often experience hearing loss during an attack. Over time, hearing loss outside an attack may develop. It is so slight at first you may not even realize it. Hearing loss begins with sounds in lower frequencies but slowly grows to other frequencies.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Coping and Support

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Mansi Shah
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
The treatment includes medication, surgery or rehabilitation therapy to reduce episodes of vertigo, and hearing loss.
Medication

Motion sickness medications: Helps control the episodes of vertigo.

Meclizine . Diazepam


Antinausea medications: To prevent nausea and vomiting.

Promethazine


Diuretics: To reduce fluid retention. It is usually prescribed with reduced dietary salt intake.

Chlorthalidone . Furosemide . Hydrochlorothiazide


Middle ear injections: To reduce episodes of vertigo.

Gentamicin . Dexamethasone

Procedures

Endolymphatic sac procedure: Decompression can be brought about by removing the overlying bone, making an incision in the dura or stenting it open.

Vestibular nerve section: Vestibular nerve is removed. This helps in correcting vertigo and also maintaining the hearing in the affected ear.

Labyrinthectomy: Portion of the ear which controls balance is removed, usually done upon total hearing loss in the affected ear.

Therapy

Hearing aid:To improve hearing in the affected ear.

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy:In case experiencing imbalance, to improve balance, Usually recommended in severe cases.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Low sodium food like fresh fruits or vegetables

Foods to avoid:

  • Canned foods as it contains high salt or sodium content
  • Processed foods like cured or smoked meats, bacon, hot dogs and sausage
  • Packaged foods like macaroni cheese and rice mixes
  • Snack foods like chips or crackers

Specialist to consult

Otolaryngologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ear, nose and throat.
Neurologist
Specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves.

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Your doctor will conduct an exam and take a medical history. A diagnosis of Meniere's disease requires: 1. Two episodes of vertigo, each lasting 20 minutes or longer but not longer than 12 hours 2. Hearing loss verified by a hearing test 3. Tinnitus or a feeling of fullness in your ear 4. Exclusion of other known causes of these problems
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