Meniere's Disease Support Group
Meniere's disease is a balance disorder of the inner ear. The symptoms of Meniere's are variable; not all sufferers experience the same symptoms. However, "classic Meniere's" is considered to comprise the following four symptoms: Periodic episodes of rotary vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sensation of fullness or pressure in one or both ears.
Hi all. I just found this forum and thought I'd post, and maybe get a few answers that I haven't been able to find from my docs. My problems began in February, sitting in the recliner enjoying the quiet of my daughter and 8 month pregnant wife being asleep. All of a sudden I felt like someone smacked the crap outta me. Insane vertigo, felling like I was about to pass out, heart palpatations, and pain in my left arm. I knew I was having a heart attack. After a trip to the ER and all negative tests, I was sent home with Meclizine and antibiotics for an "ear infection". Now, 10 months later, I seem to have symptoms almost every day. Not as severe as the first, but some are still pretty awful. I've had my heart completely ruled out. My ENT said my tests were pretty normal, but he thinks that just means the Meniers is just starting. I guess my main question is, has anyone had any non typical symptoms? I have pain in my left arm and numbness in my left hand, mainly my middle fingers. I've had a nerve conduction test done on my left arm and an MRI of my neck, both showing no problems. Other than that, I have basically the typical symptoms, suffering from dizziness, tinnitus, and fullness in my ear as I type. Any advice will be very much appreciated!
You made me remember the confusion I was going through when I first started seeing my ENT. If your MRI is normal, that is one sign for probably Meneire's. The normal result is a good thing. Be glad.
One of the things that did not help my confusion was not knowing what type of questions to even ask. I was totally clueless. I'd never heard of this disease before. The times between doctor's visits were extremely frustrating. With most diseases, you start to feel better. And with MD you still look fine so other people just don't get it!
I think that this website is one of the best things that has helped me learn more about this disease. You have other people's experiences with symptoms, medications. But, even better, you have other people that understand and you can talk to them. That's huge!
I've never associated my arm pain and numbness with this disease before. Wow. That happened to me about the time I started the other symptoms too. I thought "heart" too. Interesting.
Come back often. We are a non-typical group. I hope you are feeling better today. Many people do level off with their symptoms after they have regulated their eating and life style a bit...
God's blessings.
Hi Jwlee35 welcome to the group, I have a few questions to ask if you dont mind. Have you had CT scan or MRI done? What dose your neurologist say? I would suggest getting copies of all your records and looking for yourself for abnormalities? The numbness in the arms usually indicates some level of neuropathy, the fingers usually indicates some level of carpel tunnel. Did your neurologist perscribe anything? Do you have upper back pain or tightness inbetween shoulder blades or neck? I would continue down the path of getting test done and ruling things out. There are a host of problems this could be, Meniere's to my knowlege dose not manifest itself this way. Are you in East, Central or West Tennessee? I am in your state also.
Let me know your thoughts, thanks for joining, be patient but get answers. It took two years to fingure out my condition.
Rich
I have no medical training at all.
As fustrating as this answer may sound, I do believe you are going down the right path. I think your neurologist maybe the best help for you with the arm/hand issues, the more stuff you take into him the better so I would suggest gathering all your test, MRI/nerve conduction test or other relevent when you go to your appointment. This will help your doctor come up to speed quicker. One thing that happens to people when they get older is the build up of calcium in the body on the bones. The bones are growing/regenerating to some degree all the time. Often where there has been a wound or trama (even if unknow to the partient, for example, if you worked in a job where you lifted all your life, you many have some back issue or degenative bone issue) calcium will settle, this often leads to the formation of bone spurs. When a spur grows into a nerve then inflamation or fluid leakage can cause mussle spasm because the mussle can get in a swollen state, this preasure causes presure on the nerve and numbness. This can also be explained in cases of degentive disk disorders. Your Neurologist should be able to get this narrowed down for you. Most folks at our age start to have these issues. For me it was in my feet and I would have to crall on the floor to get around. My neurologist put me on meds that have really made a difference mainly gabapentin and cymbalta. I suffer from depression so the cymbalta thing helps because it is approve also for skeletal and muscular pain.
I am just making some comments, your doctor will know best, if he wants to do anything with spinal fluid he is looking at ruling out multiple sclerosis. I know you are sick of these test but be patient and go out a bit longer, you need to find out what is wrong. You are near Vanderbilt and they are a great resource and hospital for treating balance/hearing/meniere's and neurological. I had brain surgery there and highly recomend the place if you are not satisfied or if you want to get refered up the ladder.
Peace to you my friend
Rich
I hope you get some answers soon.
There are treatments for your back and neck, most insurances would like to try facet injections, this would be where the doctors try to sudate you and then inject a steroid into you spinal cord through the disk. I do not want to tell you this, but it can be a eventful or uneventful thing as far as pain and results. Once there is no benifit to this most doctors recomend disc fusion. Again you want to be extreamly careful with this proceedure, has as many bad stories as good. Most people elect the surgary once the pain gets impossable to live with. My wife was fortunate and had 4 disc fused and had really amazing results, she has some stiffness at times but in general she has done extreamly well. She now has two to three disk in her upper neck that probably need surgery. She has degenative bone disorder. She is fortunate to have a job that allows her to sit and sometimes stand and walk, travel short distances ect. We are very blessed that she can work mostly pain free. One other thing to check is your vitimin D or calcium, you may or maynot be getting enough. Talk to your doctor about your problems a bone density test can answer lot of things. Other ladys on this site can probably give you better feedback than I can. I feel for you being so young to have these issues.
God bless
Rich
If I were you, I'd call the office of one of the authors of this paper and try to get an appointment.