subject: What You Don't Know About Surgery For Meniere's Disease Tinnitus May Hurt You [print this page] The aggravation of tinnitus seems to know no boundaries in the human condition; causing buzzing, ringing and irritating sounds in 30 % of adults without regard to race, creed or national origin. Because of the pandemic (figuratively) nature of tinnitus a whole industry of tinnitus cures has arisen across the internet and in the publishing houses. (See: http://www.tinnitusrelief-site.com). The vast majority of purveyors of tinnitus remedies advocate holistic homeopathic natural remedies with very few drawbacks and a large number of followers endorsing their cures.
There are those that advocate traditional methods, ranging from prescription drugs to surgeries. As with any chemical based remedy, the drug path can affect different people in different ways with associated side effects or level of cure.
One of the most common syndromes associated with tinnitus is Meniere's Disease, named after the 19th century French Physician, Prosper Meniere, who first identified the group of symptoms we now associate with the condition. It is one of the few forms of tinnitus that modern medicine feels is amenable to surgery.
Most modern medical theories for the cause of Meniere's and its concomitant ear noises revolve around the idea that damage to the inner ear balancing mechanism has caused a build up in pressure in the balance organ of the ear. This pressure build up effects the auditory nerve also, causing the ringing, buzzing and humming of tinnitus.
The surgical procedures ascribed for relief revolve around either relieving the pressure or severing the nerve associated with balance.
The first two procedures involve entering the inner ear from the mastoid process, the bony area just behind the ear. In the first procedure, called: endolymphatic sac decompression, the endolymphatic sac, which feeds fluid to the inner ear, is accessed through an incision behind the ear and through the mastoid bone. An incision is made in the sac and a small valve is implanted to allow the fluid to drain and relieve the pressure.
Success is about 50% and hearing is not affected.
The next most common procedure is the severance of the balance nerve where it enters the balance organ. This usually causes a hearing loss and is not recommended for younger patients with no existing hearing diminishment.
The third most common approach calls for entering the skull and performing intracranial surgery. This allows the balance nerve to be severed closer to its source area and there is minimal haring loss (5%). The surgery is more extensive and requires the skills of a neurologist as well as an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Usually reserved for younger patients who currently have no hearing loss.
Surgical treatment for tinnitus should not be approached lightly. Other less invasive and natural treatments should be tried to test their effectiveness before submitting to head and neck surgery. There are those stubborn cases that require surgical intervention, but not before substantial consultation with more than one otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon. Changes in diet and lifestyle, advocated by natural homeopathic remedies, may seem difficult until the patient reflects on the alternatives.
