Meniere’s disease patients who come to us here at Precision Chiropractic for Oklahoma City vertigo relief often have a list of questions about their symptoms. We noticed many recurring questions so, we thought of rounding them up and discussing their respective answers in a blog post. This way, patients like you have a better overview of how it feels like to have Meniere’s disease.
What’s Meniere’s Disease?
If you frequently browse the internet about celebrities, you likely came across Jessie J’s testimonial on Meniere’s disease. The hit singer shared her grueling vertigo experience that involved tinnitus and temporary hearing loss. Curious as to why she had these symptoms, she recently got diagnosed. Unfortunately, her diagnosis revealed that she has Meniere’s disease.
As it turns out, the Flashlight singer-songwriter isn’t the only one struggling with Meniere’s. Currently, about 615,000 people have Meniere’s in the USA. This highly debilitating condition is among the common reasons behind spinning sensations—another widely reported problem among patients visiting emergency rooms, doctor clinics, and upper cervical chiropractic practices.
Is Meniere’s and Endolympathic Hydrops the Same?
Many people get confused about the differences between endolymphatic hydrops and Meniere’s. As a result, thousands of patients get misdiagnosed and fail to experience relief from their disabling symptoms. So, how are these two conditions different? Here are two crucial facts you need to know about them:
- Endolymphatic hydrops is a condition that results from the overabundance of endolymph inside the ears. It can develop from various things, including:
- Allergies
- Syphilis infection
- Congenital inner ear malformation
- Ear, neck, or head trauma
- Metabolic problems
- While Meniere’s traces its origin to the abnormal buildup of fluids inside the inner ear chambers, studies argue that it’s a different condition from endolymphatic hydrops. Researchers further theorize the endolymphatic hydrops might only be a symptom.
Is Meniere’s a Permanent Health Problem?
Meniere’s disease continues to baffle many doctors and healthcare professionals. This is because studies have yet to reveal the key reason why this disease develops in patients. In addition, there is not enough data to establish whether Meniere’s disease is a lifelong health condition.
So far, healthcare practitioners help patients cope by addressing some of the symptoms. For example, as an Oklahoma City vertigo relief provider, we help our patients live normally by providing upper cervical care adjustments. While the procedure doesn’t promise to heal patients completely, it can lessen the impact of the disease.
Can Meniere’s Disease Get Worse?
If you’re no stranger to Meniere’s, you likely notice some key patterns. For example, you might have good days when you barely experience spinning sensations, ringing in the ears, or hearing loss. Then, out of the blue, your symptoms get worse. Now in most cases, flare-ups happen because of exposure to Meniere’s disease triggers, such as the following:
- Other inner ear illnesses such as infection
- Mental, emotional, or physical stress
- Increased levels of sodium in the diet
- Excessive consumption of products with food additives
- Consumption of products you are sensitive to
- Air pressure changes
Does a Meniere’s Disease Flare-up Last More Than a Day?
It isn’t easy to provide a rough estimate on how long a Meniere’s disease flare-up can last. That’s because each patient has different experiences and pre-existing health problems. Some might only have vertigo episodes that last no more than 20 minutes, while others can suffer from their symptoms for the entire day. Because of the disease’s varying impacts, many people struggle to find a practical option for Oklahoma City vertigo relief.
What Can Patients Do to Cope with Meniere’s?
While Meniere’s can be quite a debilitating disease, it’s still possible to relieve your symptoms through simple self-care techniques and healthcare interventions. Here are some remedies you can try:
Monitor your episodes
Using a journal, note the specific dates you experience a Meniere’s disease flare-up and what sort of symptoms you experience. You can also list the potential triggers of your attacks. By educating yourself about your condition, you can find better ways to cope.
Mind your diet
As mentioned above, Meniere’s can worsen if you frequently consume food products that contain high amounts of salt, preservatives, and additives. These substances prevent your body from expelling excess liquid, making you more prone to fluid buildup in the ears.
Avoid anything that causes an allergic reaction
Do you have allergies to food products like dairy, peanuts, and shellfish? If you have food sensitivities, we strongly recommend planning your meals carefully. If you accidentally triggered an allergic reaction, you will most likely experience worse bouts of vertigo attacks and tinnitus.
Try natural remedies like upper cervical chiropractic care
Natural and holistic remedies such as upper cervical care can potentially provide you with lasting relief. It might help to consult with an upper cervical chiropractic practitioner if you frequently experience flare-ups.
How Does Upper Cervical Care Provide Oklahoma City Vertigo Relief?
Upper cervical chiropractic care is among the leading options for patients seeking Oklahoma City vertigo relief. This is because of the close link between the neck alignment and the onset of Meniere’s disease. Notably, the symptoms occur because of the abnormal accumulation of fluid inside the head. One of the possible reasons behind this event is spinal misalignment. Studies explain that cervical subluxation impedes the natural flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Consequently, this contributes to the pressure buildup inside the inner ear chambers.
Besides causing increased pressure in the inner ears, the misaligned C1 and C2 bones can impinge on your brainstem and nerves. This can cause signal interference, which then triggers problems like vertigo attacks and loss of balance.
Thankfully, you can cancel out the effects of cervical subluxation with the help of upper cervical care. With our help, you can slowly restore the balance in your cervical spine and begin your recovery and healing journey. The gentle adjustments on the upper neck bones might also help you go back to your old routine before the onset of your vestibular system disease.
If you want to learn more about this unique and exciting way to relieve vertigo and other Meniere’s disease symptoms, you can schedule your first appointment. You may reach us online or give us a call at 405-378-3100.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sheppard, call our Oklahoma City office at 405-378-3100. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.