Dizziness is invisible and it can be one of the more unpleasant and least understood of the symptoms of Meniere’s disease.
Conditions related to the vestibular (balance) nerve, such as dizziness, are often examined in relation to the other symptoms of Meniere’s disease. Dizziness can have varying degrees of debilitation, the worst being “drop attacks”.
Dizziness is a feeling of loss or the inability to keep normal balance in standing or sitting position. One reader described it as “the room doesn’t spin but I am always on a boat.” I think that describes it perfectly!
I think most of us have experienced some form of dizziness and we know how unpleasant it can be. Especially for a prolonged period of time. In relation to vertigo, people tell us, dizziness is more of an “inside” feeling.
Vertigo is somewhat different than dizziness. It seems to be milder. It is also known as lightheadedness. Nausea can be brought on by either dizziness or vertigo. It is one of the more unpleasant Meniere’s disease symptoms. All three of these symptoms are connected, but we are going to focus on just dizziness in this article.
For some people with Meniere’s disease, dizziness is unpleasant but it may not be a major problem. For others, it may be very serious.
I am constantly amazed when people tell me they are dizzy most days. They have been told there is nothing to be done. So they accept it. Maybe it’s not such a nuisance unless you have to work in a job that requires co-ordination or fine motor skills. Or even make serious decisions.
In relation to all the other Meniere’s disease (balance and hearing) symptoms, dizziness would appear to be a minor inconvenience. Having said that, if you feel dizzy all the time, you can’t function well at anything.
Dizziness is very tiring, frustrating, and scary. You are always on the lookout for accidents. You always feel “off” and unwell. Plus, of course, you look very normal. People cannot understand why you are always on guard.
At times you are disoriented, but no one can see anything unusual.They cannot understand what you are experiencing. I suspect many people look forward into the future for a glimmer of relief and hope.
Here are a few (unedited) comments from some of the people experiencing Meniere’s disease and dizziness that we have helped over the years:
They have been dealing with dizziness and their other symptoms. These are their own words;
- “So my only symptom is dizziness which never goes away, unless I am perfectly still including head and eyes. “
- “Now I have no energy. Headaches every day, dizziness every day, neck pain daily. My eyes just don’t focus very well anymore. There are a whole variety of things that are frustrating and depressing.”
- “I have unexplained constant dizziness and need some relief.”
- “I have been suffering from vertigo and dizziness for years and the Doctors cannot come up with an answer.”
- “I am very frustrated. I’ve been experiencing the dizziness symptoms for almost 10 weeks now. The room doesn’t actually spin but it feels like at any moment it will, but it never does. In the past month or so my ears definitely do feel full, especially when I get to work in the morning. I have been functioning thank G-d and haven’t missed work yet. This constant dizziness just isn’t allowing me to live fully.“
People with Meniere’s disease seem to adjust their lifestyle much more easily to a slight dizziness than a strong vertigo. However, it does impact the family to the extent that the person might be reluctant to drive or do things with the family or friends.
When someone is suffering from dizziness, patience and understanding by the family is required.
For the family members, dizziness is a very hard condition to accept. It is difficult to understand why this person can’t go somewhere with them. They LOOK all right. So again everyone feels defensive and skeptical.
It is important to point out that people don’t ask for these conditions. This is what they are “dealt”. Now they have to live with the results of Meniere’s disease as best as they can. Their families tend to expect them to function normally, even when they have relatively mild symptoms and they are having trouble coping.
This may be difficult to do at times. Counseling for the entire family, including the sufferer would be a good decision. It requires a lot of patience and understanding to cope with dizziness, both as the sufferer and as a family member.
A Different Way To Look At Dizziness and Meniere’s Disease
Recently, I had the opportunity to consult with a couple of chiropractors and massage therapists. I was wondering if they thought that if the body’s musculo-skeletal system was out of balance, could the ear be affected in ANY way. I also asked if misalignment or injury of the neck, shoulder, or spine could throw everything off balance and contribute to the symptoms of Meniere’s disease.
They heartily agreed that it could cause imbalance and thus add to, or initiate problems with the inner ear. They reminded me that the skull, neck, and shoulders all had moveable parts. Bones that are “hinged” should move smoothly and naturally.
The attached muscles and other tissues should move smoothly in unison, in alignment. However once this motion is hindered in any way, imbalance of these structures is created. When that happens, there can be many challenges.
Bones can “tighten up and freeze”. Blocked or impaired circulation can prevent the all important oxygen, nutrition and body fluids from reaching vital parts or draining them (removing waste products).
An inadequate blood supply to the brain can cause dizziness
Keep in mind that “impaired circulation” could well result in less than adequate blood supply to any part of the body. Including the head, which contains the brain.
You do not have to have any brain injury or trauma. It could be that your body is imbalanced in its anatomical position. It could be blocking some blood vessels. Look up “hypoxia”, lack of oxygen going to the brain.
Here is a link to Medline Plus if you want to study more;
- MedlinePlus; Hypoxia
So what is “healthy”?
I would think it is when you feel fine and are not dizzy. Every single person is a little different in their body. Look only at your own situation. You know your own body better than anyone else.
A healthy body is one without problems or “issues”. So if you do have any “issues”, or dizziness, you know there has to have been a cause. Something that triggered the dizziness.
That now gives you the chance to study what you did in the previous hours or days
At least you now have something to do, to look for. Something that might have brought on the dizziness or worse, a full blown attack. This might give you an idea of what is the cause of your Meniere’s disease symptoms.
In some areas such as the inner ear, an overabundance of fluids could be trapped. This puts pressures on the balance, or the acoustic nerves. This could be causing a shift of their routine pathways.
This shift allows incorrect messages to go to the brain and returns inappropriate commands. This could lead to:
- Drop Attacks
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus
- Hearing Loss
- Hearing Fluctuation
- Vertigo, etc.
Which are all symptoms of Meniere’s disease.
Balance is vital in our cells, our bodies, our lives. It has been our experience for years, that everyone is willing to look at and then treat the symptoms. No one has ever seriously looked for the underlying cause, or causes.
Here we have chiropractors and massage therapists alluding to misalignment and accompanying changed circulation. Could reduced circulation cause dizziness, or be one of the contributors?
We have come across so many different, possible causes of dizziness and the other Meniere’s disease symptoms. This is just another example of having to think outside the box to look for the cause and effect. You have to get used to looking for answers in unusual places.
All through this website we talk about “cause and effect”. That it is a scientific fact and process.
Nothing ever happens in our bodies without a cause. So why not search diligently for the underlying cause of your dizziness? And then fix that cause. So the idea of being “dealt” this hand of dizziness now assumes a much less frightening and permanent role.
- If you would like a copy of our Meniere’s Disease Study Guide, please click here. This guide is a step by step journey exploring your symptoms and what may be causing them.
- If you would like more information on the system that David, and numerous others, have used, please click here; What Finally Worked.
- If you have any health questions or concerns, please feel free to Contact Us and we will be happy to share our knowledge and ideas with you.
Karin Henderson, Retired Nurse
(604) 463-8666 – Pacific Standard Time