We get numerous emails through this website asking for help, as well as general questions about Meniere’s Disease, that we are happy to answer. We understand that not everyone wants to try what we suggest, they just want information and maybe someone to talk with. Unfortunately, this was the only message that we got from this lady and we hope that she is doing well.
This is a new Meniere’s Disease case study in which I want to share some ideas. Please note that this is written by a lady who you won’t be able to identify. My goal is to help you think of what has been going on in her life for over four years and then to consider what is going on in your own situation. I receive letters like this all the time. In order to be helpful to others apart from her, let’s explore what her situation is. She writes;
“What will help with my vertigo symptoms I had tinnitus in my left ear for a long time. Then I had a vertigo attack and was hospitalized. I was given cortisone shots (3 separate visits) in my left ear but it didn’t repair the deafness that came from the vertigo attack. I am now permanently deaf in my left ear This was 4 years ago and I’m still suffering. Due to fear of walking my muscles are causing much pain. I have high blood pressure but am not on meds. I am trying to stick with a Keto diet because it helps me feel a lot better. I can drive but I’m in pain walking or trying to go up a few steps I need a handrail to actually hold to pull myself up each step. I am a 77 year old female who would love to lessen the pain I deal with every day I am taking warfarin and a thyroid medication and lots of Tylenol. I live in the United States”
She makes two requests and adds other helpful bits of information: she would like help with
- vertigo and
- lessen leg pain when walking.
As a reader of my other newsletters on Meniere’s disease information, you know I will start by bringing up the word “cause”. Pure science is about “cause and effect”.
Here we see the effect, now let’s look for the cause of her Meniere’s Disease symptoms;
She mentions “vertigo attack”. So we know this is NOT happening all the time, just once in a while.
This is a specific incident and with science, we know it must have a cause. And we know that a cause always has to precede the effect. But when does it show up? Most often, just a few hours or a days before. But I know from reading thousands of emails, it can “be set up” in the previous days…people get a feeling that something is not right. But for most people, it shows up “that ” day.
- What is really going on?
- Why does she have these symptoms?
- Why does one person have them and not everyone?
- For some reason, the balance nerve is reacting to some irritant or pressure.
It could be a direct irritant such as a chemical (a drug), or botanical item, irritating this nerve. Or it can be an indirect irritation such as in electrolyte imbalance (sodium vs. potassium) or too little salt. (As many readers know, this is one of the main causes for dizziness.) It could be a change in barometric pressure, where some irritation is already underway setting up inflammatory fluid to heal the area.
No matter what, this balance nerve, at this time, is being irritated, by some cause. And in this natural response process, the body fights back “on your behalf”. (That’s its main job: to protect you.)
If you read carefully, you can see that she is on a diuretic and an antihistamine. She is also on other drugs, such as warfarin and a thyroid med. These are crucial life support drugs, not to be fooled with. However, it may be that another, similar approved drug could be substituted. Discuss this with the professional pharmacist (not the technician). Pharmacists are the experts on drugs, much more knowledgeable than the family practitioner. It is their specialty, so use their knowledge to help you. You are allowed to ask questions. This is your health.
As every drug has one side effect or many, you would really need to look at this more closely.
If this was a telephone conversation, it would be much easier to ask relevant questions. Here we can only guess, but guessing makes you think of what could be going on. New knowledge is necessary for you to help yourself. The internet is full of “knowledge” but be very cautious where you go for this information.
- Let’s look at her other request, “lessen the leg pain” on walking.
Again you need to go back to find out what she really is experiencing. I am guessing it is mainly in her legs…so again, we need to recognize that there would be a cause.
Could it be from a fear of falling and therefore stiffening up, causing pain? Or could it be from a fear that the leg might not “hold her up”?
In my nursing days on a medical or surgical ward, getting a patient up was almost always involved with a fear of some sort. Those that didn’t have any such fears, got up and managed themselves very well.
- Those that were hesitant, needed support, both emotionally and physically.
If you have been lying in bed for some time, blood flow to the legs might be a bit sluggish and may need a bit of a push. So a good trick is to wiggle your toes and calves and knees around several times. Take some deep breaths…. just by doing this you already have the motivation to get going. Now the other fear is “are the legs strong and healthy enough to carry or weight as you walk”? So a handrail, a walker, or a cane are all wonderful “tools” to help you get mobile. Not just outdoors, but also indoors.
And maybe, in time, with more movement, the pain will gradually subside. Poor blood circulation in any part of the body makes things work less efficiently.
I have addressed her vertigo and her leg pain, but I want to add a few other comments.
Cortisone shots. This is a very common practice for many conditions in the body where inflammation is suspected. But I beg you to become educated on its long lasting PERMANENT effects. One is deafness. Yes, deafness!
By now, almost everyone has access to the Internet. Use it to learn what a particular drug’s intended action and side effects are BEFORE you put it into your body. Just because your doctor says to use it, doesn’t mean you must do it without more research. Once this is done, then you can decide if you want these effects. It is your body, and you need to deal with these long term effects. No one else will: no one else can.
Warfarin and thyroid drugs also have side effects. If your Meniere’s Disease symptoms coincide with taking your drugs, discuss your concerns with your pharmacist or family doctor.
There are alternatives to everything. Different drug manufacturers use different ingredients. You might have to do a bit of digging, but your body will thank you for this effort. Nowadays, doctors do not have the time to help you look for causes and they are bound to prescribe drugs. A prescription may not be the answer to your condition.
Please realize that your body is telling you that something is not going well, when you experience dizziness or hearing loss or tinnitus. The purpose of your body’s immune system is to keep you safe and healthy: use its warning signals, in this case, the vertigo and the pain. If you irritate any part of your body, it will react. So please pay attention to when it is reacting and what you are doing. Do not “mask” it with drugs.
If you would like to learn more or ask me a question, please ask. Our Study Guide is always available and so am I, Karin.
- 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