Help Needed! What is wrong with my husband?

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42

Has your husband had a lot of stress recently?

Fire arms going off might have upset the ear, maybe, but probably more likely created a level of anxiety?

A loss in vestibular response doesn’t necessarily mean an irreversible loss, just something they are currently reading.

I think you should look into Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome which might be an alternative diagnosis to look into here. I sometimes wonder if it was this that I’ve suffered from as I was under a lot of stress in the lead up.

This muscle originally evolved to protect our hearing from thunder-claps by temporarily stiffening up the middle ear chain so it would not be violently moved and also risk overwhelming the inner ear with noise.

The theory goes if that muscle is “playing up” (and it’s thought firing of the muscle can be influenced psychological factors) then it might apply undue pressure to the oval window of the inner ear causing muffled hearing and potentially even nausea & vertigo (ie a de facto hydrops but one caused “externally” to the inner ear)

The solution might be to take medication like Amitriptyline to improve the symptoms and wait and see for it to calm down.

The most important thing here is to get the symptoms under control for the time being as they will cause anxiety and stress which will sustain and possibly even exacerbate the condition.

Symptoms like these can last for years, but do not be tempted by a quick fix by deadening the ear imho, please exhaust all the conservative treatment options first.

Yes, the time in the interim sucks, but at least you have the opportunity to come out the other end in a much recovered, natural state!

Please try the Amitriptyline (great for nausea, screen and motion intollerance btw!), something like at least 20mg nocte and then and only if that fails consider Venlafaxine.

43

I will defiantly look into this for sure. Do you by chance know any research about how Botox and make migraines or cause vertigo at all? He never had the vertigo until the Botox.

44

Something to ask on a Botox Topic (please use the search facility), let’s not cover the whole kitchen sink here.

45

Thank you!

46

Hello Valhalla,
I was diagnosed with Menieres 3 years ago. My vertigo used to be bad. Sometimes I would have vertigo 3-4 times a day lasting 1-2 hours. There would be days I would spend up to 16 hours curled up in the fetal position in the bed. I did not move an inch. I had 6 steroid injections in my right ear. They did not help. They sent me to a neurologist. They said I might have VM. The only true relief I got was a chiropractor that specialized in the “Atlas” bone. The atlas bone is the top of the spine, right below the skull. He took several x-rays and used gentle pressure right behind the earlobe. This has greatly improved my life. I haven’t had actual vertigo episode in 2 years.
He also stretches the tendons in my jaw due to TMJ. All of this involved my right ear. I have gained some of my hearing back but I still have ringing in the ears. I wear a mouth guard at night to keep my jaw from clenching. I sometimes have an “aurora” feeling but I can take 1 Dramamine pill and I am good in 2 hours. I have had all the symptoms your husband has had. Once I had my wife call the ambulance because I thought I was having a stroke. I had a poor outlook on life, but the chiropractor changed my life.

47

Wow. I was almost thinking it wasn’t Meineres at all. I know it’s a complex situation. With the work that the chiropractor did, did it help with the hearing in your ear? He also has had some changes in his right ear and his worried that it’s going to be bilateral Meineres. How long did you go before you thought a chiropractor was the way to go? And did you take anything for the migraines as a preventative?

48

The hearing loss in all actuality will not improve greatly. I had been through all the pills and shots and the doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Bill Wilkerson Center ENT, basically told me the next option was to “poison” the inner ear with Gentamicin or perform Vestibular Neurectomy or lastly Labyrinthectomy. I had already scheduled a consultation to chose and schedule one of those procedures. I had suffered with acute vertigo and nausea and hearing loss for about 12-14 months. With the exception of Meclizine and Dimenhydrinate, I did not take anything else for my symptoms. The ENT did prescribe Valium, but I never took it. My wife saw a FB post and mentioned a chiropractor and vertigo. I had nothing to lose. So far, with the exception of a case of vestibular neuritis, I haven’t had an actual vertigo issue since I have been in his care. I truly feel for your husband.

49

So you did get the Gentimicine shots?

50

No, thank goodness, I never received the Gentamicin injections It is one of the last resort procedures.
The only shots I had were 6 total Intratympanic dexamethasone injections, 120mg each.
The first injection worked great for the first 30 days. Hearing was restored back to almost normal and no vertigo or nausea. It kept decreasing in effectiveness until the last 2 had no effect.

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51

I found a forum alittle older, but it talk about the atlas bone and how it has been game changers for sufferers. We just need to get him to a point he can travel to get to the place. May I ask did you feel any relief after the first time?

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52

As ever please use the search facility here. Plenty of Posts mentioning “Atlas Bone”.

https://mvertigo.org/search?q=Atlas%20Bone

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This is an introduction Topic. Really at some point, the conversation should diversify to specific Topics elsewhere on the forum, of which there are thousands covering all kinds of subject matter. Please discuss specifics of a subject on an appropriate Topic covering that detail. Use search to find a suitable Topic (magnifying glass tool, top right), and Post your relevant question or response there.

54

So today he woke up with fullness then clearing in his right ear which is his good ear. He just can’t get a break.

55

Did he have vertigo at the same time?

56

No. He says it feels like his left ear when it went 5 years ago. Thinking possibly the start of bilateral Meineres?

57

For Menieres to be certain you’d need in attacks:

  • roaring tinnitus
  • spinning
  • extreme nausea

And over time progressive and permanent Low Frequency hearing loss.

Does that tally with his experience?

In MAV/VM you can have ear fullness but it doesn’t result in Low Frequency loss afaia. Once the fullness dies down again there is no significant residual hearing loss.

Then again these may be two conditions that share a spectrum.

I would definitely try the Amitriptyline when you get chance. No silver bullet but might help reduce some symptoms.

58

He definitely can hear my voice and his moms voice better. He says his voice sounds muffled. He hasn’t said anything about ringing in that ear but I will find out. Also did a small test and his atlas bone is over an inch out of place. Just trying to get him well enough to make a 2 hour trip, since we live so rurally.

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59

The critical symptom that marks Menieres attacks out is specifically roaring tinnitus, not hissing or ringing but roaring.

Imho you should definitely try to see a oto-neurologist when your husband has a break in his symptoms.

Know that I was in an absolute state at times dragging myself out to the doctors office, the nausea was especially bad, but it was worth it in the end.

60

So no ringing in the right ear just lots of fullness, cracking and popping noises. I have an appointment scheduled for the atlas bone. I think when he fell it caused all this but we shall see.

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