We sometimes get people contacting us with Meniere’s symptoms who have recently had dental work done or have dental problems, or who have amalgam fillings…..there would appear to be a link between this and thier meniere’s in many cases.
A paper at ScienceDirect.Com discusses this problem……here is a summary:
Meniere’s disease may be caused by common intraosseous dental pathology – Diagnosis using the comparative compression sign
Summary
Meniere’s disease has been ascribed to a disturbance of the vestibular apparatus or its connections within the Central Nervous System. Several hypotheses have been advanced regarding its aetiopathogenesis, but treatments based on these hypotheses have often not produced the desired results. Two cases are described where common intraosseous pathology within the lower half of the functional face, i.e. within the mandible and maxillae, was shown to be the cause of Meniere’s disease. Together, these cases contributed to the chance discovery of the comparative compression sign which, when able to be elicited, may be considered pathognomonic for a dental origin of the condition. It is suggested that, in addition to other hypothesized causes involving the vestibular apparatus and the CNS, Meniere’s disease and vertigo may also be caused by common, readily-identifiable intraosseous dental pathology. These unexpected findings open up a new field for future research.
a23 Rechov Atzmon, Ramat Hasharon 47287, Israel
Received 25 June 2006; accepted 30 June 2006. Available online 8 September 2006.
According to ClinicalTrials.gov a new set of trials are set to begin at Osaka University, related to stress management and Meniere’s Disease
One important aspect of this is that, while many doctors in the west dismiss Stress as a factor the researchers in Osaka had this to say,”Attacks in Meniere’s disease, characterized by vertigo and hearing loss, are well known to occur repeatedly under stressed environment. Hitherto, its pathology was revealed to be inner ear hydrops through human temporal bone studies in 1938″
Read more about this study here
Read More on Stress and Meniere’s disease here
Read a related study to stress and Meniere’s disease here
It is Spring in the northern hemisphere and in many countries hay fever and allergens in the air, pollen from trees and flowers, grasses will be causing havoc for people with Meniere’s disease. If you have Menieres, even if you do not directly suffer from hay fever or pollen allergy, the pollen may get clogged up in your sinuses and cause dizziness and vertigo. Every year the number of people contacting us at Menieres-Help.Com increases ten fold around this time of year.
You could wear a dust mask during this season, steam your sinuses regularly and make sure you take great care in other areas of your life that could increase the chances of menieres attacks such as diet, stress and lifestyle (smoking, drinking etc).
For more information on how to combat Meniere’s Disease during this time go to: Menieres-Help.Com
To there has been far too little research into Meniere’s Disease. But we saw this today on Medstar Television’s website and had to spread the word.
Meniere’s DNA Study
WRITTEN BY KRISTI RUNYON
MONDAY, 15 MARCH 2010 11:08
Looking for a Cause
The exact cause of Meniere’s disease isn’t known. Researchers believe the symptoms may occur when fluid from one part of the inner ear mixes with another inner ear fluid. Rick Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., Neurotologist with the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, CA, says some patients report having a cold, sinus infection or some other illness prior to the onset of symptoms.
Meniere’s also tends to run in families, so there may be some genetic link to the disease. Researchers at the House Ear Institute are now looking for people with Meniere’s disease who are willing to submit saliva samples for DNA analysis. Investigators will compare the genome from Meniere’s patients against those without the disease and look for differences in DNA. Friedman says finding those differences may provide clues that lead to a better understanding of Meniere’s and point the way for more effective treatment.
Currently, more than 700 patients have volunteered for the study. Patients from around the world may participate. For information or to find out how to become involved in the Meniere’s DNA study, call the House Ear Institute at (213) 483-4431, or visit their website at http://www.hei.org/research/genetics/menieres.html
AUDIENCE INQUIRY
For information or to find out how to become involved in the Meniere’s DNA study, call the House Ear Institute at (213) 483-4431, or visit their website at http://www.hei.org/research/genetics/menieres.html. You may also contact researchers directly: Jeff Ohmen, 213-273-8065, johmen@hei.org or
Cory White, 213-273-8066, cwhite@hei.org .
For general information on Meniere’s Disease:
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, http://www.entnet.org
American Hearing Research Foundation, http://www.american-hearing.org
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, http://www.nidcd.nih.gov
Research compiled and edited by Barbara J. Fister
© 2010 Medstar Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved
If all else fails and medication, dietary changes and supplementation for Meniere’s Disease just don’t seem to help, you may want to get checked for an Acoustic neuroma. This may have already been considered and discounted when you had your MRI when first suspicions of Meniere’s arose.
This is the Medline Plus definition below: Notice the very similar symptoms as Menieres:
Acoustic Neuroma
Also called: Acoustic neurilemmoma, Acoustic neurinoma, Auditory tumor, Vestibular schwannoma
Acoustic neuroma is a non-cancerous tumor that develops on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain.
The tumor usually grows slowly. As it grows, it presses against the hearing and balance nerves. At first, you may have no symptoms or mild symptoms. They can include:
Loss of hearing on one side
Ringing in ears
Dizziness and balance problems
Acoustic neuroma can be difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms are similar to those of middle ear problems. Ear exams, hearing tests and scans can show if you have it.
If the tumor stays small, you may only need to have it checked regularly. If you do need treatment, surgery and radiation are options. If the tumors affect both hearing nerves, it is often because of a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis. The tumor can also eventually cause numbness or paralysis of the face. If it grows large enough, it can press against the brain, becoming life-threatening.
