Menieres Illness Treatments Info Hyperlinks And Definitions

Meniere's Illness is a sign complex of vertigo, calling noises in the ear (tinnitus), sensation of ear (acoustic) pressure, and fluctuating hearing loss. Prosper Meniere originally mentioned this sign complex in 1861. He was the very first physician to recommend that this sign complex was due to an internal ear trouble in contrast to central nervous system problem such as a stroke or growth. Menieres illness (Morbus Meniere) is a set of three of hearing, ringing in the ears and vertigo loss with the period of an attack lasting from mins to a number of hours. It is called after Prosper Menière, a french doctor, that first mentioned these symptoms, observed in his people.

In 1861, the French physician Prosper Meniere described a condition, which now bears his name. Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear, which causes episodes of vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear, and fluctuating hearing loss. The area of the ear affected is the entire labyrinth, which includes both the semicircular canals and the cochlea. The disease is named for the French physician Prosper Meniere (1799-1862) who described it. (Incidentally, Meniere's name on his birth certificate is spelled without any accent marks.) The condition is also called recurrent aural vertigo.

At UC Irvine Division of Neurotology, Dr. Djalilian strives to create the current and most effective procedures to people with Meniere's disease. Aside from study into the most reliable procedures of Meniere's disease, Dr. Djalilian is leading a multi-institutional research into the genetics of Meniere's illness. The research study is looking at whether a gene is associated with the development of Meniere's in family members with numerous members with Meniere's disease. Endolymph accumulation in the labyrinth could interfere with the normal balance and hearing signals in between the internal ear and the brain, resulting in Ménière's illness. What are the signs of Ménière's disease?

Other tests may be done as well. Electrocochleography (ECoG) may indicate increased inner ear fluid pressure in some cases of Meniere's disease. The auditory brain stem response (ABR), a computerized test of the hearing nerves and brain pathways, computed tomography (CT) or, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be needed to rule out a tumor occurring on the hearing and balance nerve. Such tumors are rare, but they can cause symptoms similar to Meniere's disease. Treatments for Meniere's Disease Since starting intratympanic steroid therapy for Meniere's disease a few years ago, we have not needed to use any surgical treatment for patients suffering from Meniere's disease. Meniere's Disease Surgical Treatment

The goal of treatment is to provide stable body fluid/blood levels so that secondary fluctuations in the inner ear fluid can be avoided. We recommend that patients avoid skipping meals and attempt to eat similar amounts during each meal during the day. It is critical that you drink plenty of water, especially if you are started on a diuretic (water pill). High salt foods should be avoided. Clearly, no salt should be added to meals, however it is of utmost importance that you select foods with low sodium content. High salt intake results in fluctuations in the inner ear fluid and may increase the symptoms that you are experiencing.

The Merck Manual has added head trauma as a risk factor due to the research on 300 Meniere's patients over the past fourteen years. Michael Burcon, BPh, DC has established a link between whiplash as a result of vehicular accidents or falling on one's head and Meniere's disease. It takes an average of fifteen years after the trauma before the onset of symptoms. Case history, thermography, MRI, CScan, and/or cervical x-ray and modified Prill relative leg length tests are used for diagnosis and upper cervical specific adjustments are performed for treatment to reduce or eliminate vertigo. 48 Prognosis edit

Hearing loss is generally most pronounced in the lower frequencies and is accompanied by a distinct sensation of pressure, fullness or a stopped-up feeling in the ear. Initially, hearing levels may fluctuate and then return almost to normal. However, as the disease becomes more advanced, hearing levels may remain permanently and severely impaired. Hearing loss may effect one or both ears. Typically, one ear will lose hearing and then the other ear will begin to lose hearing months or years later. Again, the hearing loss may be due to patchy areas of ischemic tissue within the inner ear secondary to a lack of adequate blood flow. Tinnitus (Ear Noises)