Ménière’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing, often causing debilitating symptoms such as vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss. While the exact cause remains unknown, it is believed to involve abnormal fluid buildup in the inner ear. For those living with Ménière’s, the condition can significantly impact daily life.
In this blog, we’ll explore the different stages of Ménière’s disease, from early symptoms to advanced stages. We’ll also delve into how chiropractic care can offer potential solutions to help manage and alleviate these symptoms. At Intouch Chiropractic in San Diego, California we have seen people experience significant health improvements as a result of our therapies.
By understanding both the progression of the disease and available treatment options, individuals with Ménière’s can find hope and strategies to improve their quality of life.
First, let’s start by covering how Ménière’s and spinal health are related.
Ménière’s Disease and Atlas Subluxation
There are 7 bones in the human neck. These seven cervical vertebrae are labeled C1 – C7. The head sits directly on top of the vertebra called the “atlas”, also known as C1.
Atlas is the first bone in your neck and is the main point of contact between the skull and the spine. This is no easy job! The human head weighs between 10-15 pounds, and it sits on top of C1, which weighs about 2 ounces. When head trauma occurs, atlas can get knocked out of place. This causes an atlas subluxation, which puts pressure on the brainstem.
Learn more about what a subluxation is at our blog!
The base of the brain, or brainstem, controls all important bodily functions, such as breathing, blood pressure, sleep, digestion and balance.
If you are experiencing atlas subluxation, the weight of your head is not balanced evenly over your neck. The rest of your body compensates. A shoulder might drop. Or one hip comes up, pulling up on the leg and creating body imbalance and an abnormal gait. This causes interference at the point where your head and neck join (the atlas).
If the atlas is out of its proper alignment, it can constrict, irritate or disrupt vital nerve signals. This causes joint or muscle pain, a lowered immune system, organ dysfunction and many other conditions.
However, you may not necessarily connect these conditions with your neck, including the symptoms of Ménière’s disease.
Next, let’s explore exactly how this misalignment between the skull and the spine is related to Ménière’s disease.
What Does Atlas Subluxation Have to Do with Ménière’s Disease?
Ménière’s disease is also known as “endolymphatic hydrops.” Endolymphatic hydrops is “the accumulation of fluid of the membranous labyrinth of the ear, thought to be caused by the over production or under absorption of that fluid” by the Merck Manual.
Your inner ear consists of two fluids, endolymph and perilymph. These fluids are in separate compartments. “Hydrops” is the medical term for excess fluid. Therefore, endolymphatic hydrops is an excess of endolymph.
When your body is working properly, your body produces new endolymph, and reabsorbs an equal amount of old endolymph, thus maintaining an equal endolymphatic pressure. Ménière’s disease is a build-up of excessive endolymph in the vestibular (balance) portion of the inner ear. This build-up results in either too much endolymph being produced or not enough endolymph being reabsorbed.
So, what does this medical condition have to do with spinal health? Well…
Pressure caused by subluxation on a cranial nerve (the vestibulo-cochlear nerve) disrupts your body’s ability to properly regulate endolymphatic pressure. So, the real issue underlying Ménière’s disease isn’t found in your inner ear.
Instead, Ménière’s disease is likely related to the misalignment of vertebra C1, also known as an atlas subluxation. If you think you may be suffering from this disease, you can learn more about chiropractic care for atlas subluxation at our blog.
Next, let’s cover the four stages of Ménière’s Disease.
Exploring the Four Stages of Ménière’s Disease
There are typically four stages associated with Ménière’s disease, each with it’s own symptoms. Let’s look at each of them here.
Stage 1: Early Stage
Stage 1 symptoms may not be felt consistently. Instead, many of our patients in this stage of Ménière’s disease that we see at Intouch Chiropractic report these symptoms as appearing sporadically. Symptoms may include:
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Pressure in the ear
- Hearing difficulties or loss
Stage 2: Middle Stage
Patients who have entered stage 2 report symptoms that persist. These symptoms may include:
- Longer or more frequent episodes of vertigo
- Progressive hearing loss
- Balance problems
- Other symptoms associated with Stage 1, but more frequently
Stage 3: Advanced Stage
People suffering from stage 3 of Ménière’s disease suffer from the same symptoms we’ve described above. However, progression into this advanced stage means that those symptoms are chronic and potentially debilitating.
Stage 4: End-Stage
Progression to this stage could mean permanent damage, including permanent hearing loss.
Now that we’ve covered the essential things to know about Ménière’s disease, let’s explore a type of physical trauma that can lead to this health condition: whiplash.
Ménière’s Disease and Whiplash
Whiplash injuries are often linked to both Ménière’s disease and Trigeminal Neuralgia. The trauma from a whiplash injury sets the stage. Therefore, it is not uncommon for these two conditions to show up later in life. The symptoms oftentimes show up many years later, and the causal relationship is often missed.
Many patients we see at our offices in San Diego think only of one type of trauma as the cause of whiplash: car accidents. This is true, however, whiplash injuries can also happen from any trauma to your head, such as a childhood fall.
Dr. Burcon, an upper cervical chiropractor that has had extensive experience in this area, states that half of his Ménière’s patients have been in a vehicle accident. However, the other half had injuries involving head trauma.
It is not uncommon for patients to deny a car accident or head trauma during an initial consultation. Patients either forget or think the injury is too minor to be connected.
“The moment you come in, everyone is extremely personable, and I have never felt better. Both Dr. Young and Dr. Tapia are so informative and so patient. I look forward going to each appointment. Thanks a bunch Docs!” – Intouch Chiropractic Review by SDMonitor Business Journal
Ménière’s Disease and Chiropractic Care, in Conclusion
In conclusion, Ménière’s disease can be a frightening and difficult health issue to deal with. However, there is a way forward! By seeing an expert chiropractor, such as those found at Intouch Chiropractic, you can treat the source of the problem: atlas subluxation.
Want expert help? Call our office today at (619) 756-7510 or request an appointment here.
