A Veteran's Guide To Coping with Meniere's Disease

September 11, 2022

meniere’s disease, cervical chiropractor

Veterans deal with a plethora of health concerns. Besides hearing problems and tinnitus, many veteran soldiers struggle with Meniere's disease, a condition that can trigger spontaneous spinning sensations. Studies note that veterans usually develop Meniere's due to prolonged exposure to loud sounds during service. This leads to significant internal damage that may impair fluid drainage inside the ears. Thankfully, affected individuals have several options for relief, including scheduling regular visits to a cervical chiropractor

If you have been living with Meniere's, you might find it helpful to look into our guide. We have covered various things, including how Meniere's develops and what remedies work best.

 

Meniere's Disease: A Problem Common in Retired Soldiers

Debilitating conditions, like Meniere's disease, can affect your quality of life. For veterans living with other disabilities or injuries sustained during a tour, severe symptoms of Meniere's disease can get in the way of recovering and enjoying simple joys in life. 

Several veterans who seek vertigo relief from a cervical chiropractor report many debilitating symptoms. Some examples of these include:  

  • Feeling nauseous
  • Vomiting
  • Vertigo and dizziness
  • Hearing buzzing sounds
  • Ear congestion
  • Unsteady gait

Studies have yet to grasp the exact reason why Meniere's develop. However, the available findings suggest a few theories, such as:

  • Failure of the inner ears to regulate pressure 
  • Allergy and autoimmune response
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Hormonal fluctuations
  • Impaired endolymph sac secretion
  • Cervical or vertebral subluxation

In most cases, Meniere's disease worsens with age. But, it can potentially improve with the help of management techniques like Upper Cervical Care.

 

How Does the Veterans Affairs Rate Meniere's?

The Department of Veterans Affairs categorizes cases of service-related Meniere's disease in three levels: 

  • 100 percent – Impaired hearing with vertigo, unsteady gait for several times each week 
  • 60 percent – Hearing problems, spinning sensations, and gait problems that happen one to four times a month
  • 30 percent – Impaired hearing with vertigo for no more than once a month

These VA ratings for Meniere's help assess the condition's impact on a veteran's daily life. Veterans who can't work due to their Meniere's can file for disability claims. You must prove that the condition resulted from or developed because of active military service. Some of the crucial factors you need to establish to qualify for the claims include: 

  • Diagnosis from your physician or audiologist
  • Proof of an in-service event that might have triggered the diagnosis
  • Medical opinion linking your diagnosis with your military service history

meniere’s disease, cervical chiropractor

How Can A Veteran Cope With Meniere's?

Currently, there isn't a cure or a definitive approach to resolving Meniere's. So patients mostly rely on established remedies that address the symptoms. Some examples include:

Taking diuretics 

Some physicians prescribe diuretics to help the body eliminate excess fluids inside the ears. This can help lessen the pressure in the vestibular system and reduce the severity of vertigo and hearing loss. Talk to your GP about diuretics and the exact doses you need to manage your condition. 

Trying vestibular rehabilitation therapy

VRT is a specially designed exercise program that aims to retrain the brain and vestibular organs. The approach largely varies because doctors or therapists have to look into each patient's medical history. Customizations are made to ensure that each patient receives proper care and assistance. 

Middle ear injection

Sometimes, doctors recommend the use of injectable drugs like gentamicin and steroids to help the body cope with constant bouts of vertigo and hearing loss. Small doses of these drugs get injected into the inner ears providing temporary relief to ailing patients. 

Surgery

Severe cases of Meniere's disease can sometimes warrant surgical intervention. Generally, doctors recommend three procedures to patients: endolymphatic sac decompression, vestibular nerve section, and labyrinthectomy. Surgery is often the last choice of patients because of the risks of permanent hearing loss. 

Lifestyle modifications

Chronic health concerns like Meniere's disease often require making significant lifestyle changes. For starters, you may need to lessen your sodium intake. Studies note that this can affect the fluid balance in your body, so you need to limit your consumption to no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day.

We also suggest reducing your intake of caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. Both caffeine and alcohol can affect your vestibular organs, increasing susceptibility to severe episodes or flare-ups. 

Working with an Upper Cervical chiropractor

Case studies found that some patients experience massive relief after seeking help from an Upper Cervical chiropractor. Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a widely recognized technique in chiropractic care. It focuses on detecting and addressing cervical spine misalignments to help promote improved health. 

As it turns out, postural imbalances – no matter the severity – can impact several organs' functions. The misaligned neck bones can disrupt brainstem function and obstruct the natural flow of fluids to and from the inner ears. Unfortunately, this can aggravate vestibular problems such as Meniere's disease. 

If you have unlevelled gait, neck stiffness, vertigo, and other symptoms of Meniere's disease, you might find it helpful to seek an Upper Cervical chiropractor. This way, you can get your neck bones examined for cervical subluxation. Once your vertigo chiropractor has a better look at your posture, you can start receiving ample chiropractic adjustments that will restore the normal function of your nervous system and vestibular organs. 

Upper Cervical Care has worked wonders for many veterans with Meniere's disease. So, it may be a worthy remedy to explore to regain control of your vestibular system and gait. Find out if Upper Cervical Chiropractic makes an excellent remedy to pursue by calling a nearby practice for a quick consultation.

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

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