Problems With Balance in Meniere's Disease
- Meniere's disease is a disorder of the fluid that fills the inner ear. It usually affects only one ear. Other signs include fullness or pressure in the ear, ringing, or hearing loss. About 615,000 people in the United States have this disorder, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
- The inner ear is responsible for hearing, balance, and sensing speed. It does these tasks using hair-like sensors in the fluid-filled chambers and passages coiled in the inner ear. When the fluid moves due to sound or changes in the body's speed or position, the sensors fire messages to the brain. For the ear to do its work, there has to be enough fluid at the right pressure and the right chemical make up.
- In Meniere's disease, vertigo is caused by a problem with the fluid in the inner ear. An episode may last 20 minutes to two hours or more. It may cause nausea, vomiting, or sweating. The vertigo comes on suddenly without warning. A person with it is at risk of falling or having an accident while driving or operating heavy equipment. Even after the vertigo passes, a person with Meniere's may have balance issues.
- During an episode, prescription drugs can be used to prevent motion sickness or nausea. As a last resort, surgery or inner ear injections can be done. These interventions usually cost a person his hearing in the affected ear.
People who have balance problems between bouts of vertigo can have vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which involves exercises to help the body process balance information more accurately. - Avoid sudden movements that may trigger vertigo. Bright lights, TV, or reading during an attack may make the vertigo worse. It is best to rest during severe episodes and return to normal activities gradually. Don't drive, operate machinery, climb, or do other potential dangerous activities for about a week after an attack.