My life with Meniere’s disease has brought on a lot of discomfort, from the spinning and the throwing up, the headaches and the stress. But it has also been a pain in the neck, literally.
Why should there be a pain in the neck for someone who has Meniere ’s disease? Well, it all goes back to what actually causes meniere’s and what doesn’t. When I went to VRT therapy I was told in no uncertain terms that Meniere’s disease is not caused by movement of the head or the body. A shift or quick movement that shifts your eyes and your vision shouldn’t set off an attack. If you had vertigo it was a different story because movement does affect that disorder.
And as I have written on more than one occasion, I am not completely certain that movement doesn’t have an effect on whether I have an attack. I’m no doctor or researcher, but I do know how I feel. I remember at times that a sudden attack just happened to occur after I moved my head quickly.
The connection to all this and neck pain is that meniere’s patients will hold their heads rigidly fearing that any sudden movement will bring on an attack. A rigid neck can also bring on quite a headache also. I can swear to that.
The best way to help alleviate the neck pain is to do stretching exercises. Start out slow and gradually you will increase the strength and flexibility of your neck. Another solution is to convince yourself that sudden movements wouldn’t bring on meniere’s attacks. I know that it is easier said than done.
Of course when ever you have a nagging pain anywhere it is best to have it checked out by your doctor to make sure that it isn’t something serious.
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Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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13 comments:
Hi David,
I ams a 36-year old male. I recently found your blog. I have been suffering from MM for about two years. Until last Dec., I was controlling this disease quite well with a diuretic (lasix). Then, suddenly, the diuretic seemed to stop working. All symptoms--fullness of the right ear, ringing, vertigo, nausea, etc.--came back. Between December and March, I was having an attack once or twice a week. One time, an attack came during my job interview. I felt so miserable and useless.
Anyway, while having so many attacks, I began to notice that when I had symptoms for an attack, they were usually accompanied with neck pain. I began to wonder if anything was wrong with my neck or spine. So I decided to try chiropractic, though my ENT doctor was skeptical of its effectiveness. That was early April. Since then, I have been seeing my chiropractor once every 10-14 days. I am not sure if it is working or not. But my remission period is getting longer. But when I began my chiropractic, my ENT doctor increased the dosage of valium, too. Also, I have been continuing with my herbal/vitamin remedy (lipoflavonoid, vinpocetine, and ginkgo) since January. So I cannot tell which is really working. One thing I am sure about, however, is that after getting chiropractic treatment, my neck pain gets alleviated and I feel lighter. I have not exhausted your blog yet, so I do not know if you talk about chiropractic. But I would appreciate it if you could give me your opinion about the relations between neck pain and chiropractic. Thank you.
TS
TS,
I would have to look back and see, off hand I don't think that I have written much about or any about chiropractors. I have heard of people using them and finding some relief. I may do a little research and write about it on an upcoming post.
I hate to hear about you having an attack during a job interview, this meniere's really has bad timing.
thanks for the comment
and stay in touch
David
David,
Thank you so much for your quick response. Yes, this disease has bad timing.
Anyway, it is so encouraging to find other people who are going through the same problem. I feel I am not alone.
TS
You are definitely not alone, there are many people out there with meniere's just like you and me.
Don't get discouraged things will get better!
thanks for the comment
DAvid
I will be seeing an ent next week to find out if I do indeed have meniers. 2 weeks ago I had a pop in my neck with a sudden feeling as if I were going to faint. I am still suffering with the dizzy feeling. Help !!!!
Hopefully it isn't meniere's, good luck and stay in touch
David
I am 27 year old female that was diagnosed with meniere's a few weeks ago. Since then I have been taking 4 Serc pills and 1 diuretic pill. I still am feeling dizzy, especially when there is or there are loud noises, or it rains/snows, which lately is every day. Altho I havent had any bad attacks. Just wondering how long it takes for to ease up on the daily dizziness/tinnitus.
I've been having vertigo off & on for 8 years
now, forced me to retire,the ENT seems to think it's Meniers he's going to prescribe pills to help reduce sodium & also a dieretic. I also have neck pain, I noticed, if I have neck pain with dizziness, sometimes it will stop if I move my head one way or another. Thinking about seeing a chiropracter also.
@Vashti,
It is really difficult to say because md is so unpredictable. Check with your doctor to see what other options would help you out.
thanks for the comment
David
@anonymous
reducing the sodium helps some folks with meniere's hopefully you will be one of them.
good luck and thanks for the comment
David
I hate to be a downer but it seems as though no one knows what to do, when it will go away, will it ever go away. how are we supposed to live a normal life or plan a trip or go out with friends. If were not dizzy, the noise bothers us or the ringing is so loud we cant think straight. How do we enjoy our lives???
I know where you are coming from but you have to not let it get the best of you. There are some new developments in technology that could improve the lives of meniere's folks.
David
hello
i have had the so called menieres syndrome for 8 years, and i find doctors are rather vague. the reason they call it a syndrome and not an disease is because. there is no such a thing as menieres. its a kind of tick the boxes illness. if you have certain symtoms then they say you have menieres. its ultimatly stems from the liquids in your ears.
for me the best avenues are
migraines = neurology
posture = neck exercises
diet = allergies sinus etc
breathing = relaxing
one medicine that really helped me was propanalol.
keep searching for your own medium as its the only real way. the doctors are of little help. you have to chart out your life and slowly you will find triggers that make your condition worse or better.
the things i hate that make me much worse
high impact sports
wheat
oranges
heating especially radiators
dairy products
hope this helps some1 out there
all the best
ali
Ali,
thanks for the comment
David
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