How To Treat Endolymphatic Hydrops

Balance Retraining

Balance retraining is a process also known as vestibular rehabilitation. This type of therapy can help patients recover from balance issues so it's easier to function in day-to-day life. During training sessions, individuals will carefully practice engaging in movements that typically cause dizziness and vertigo. At first, the sessions may be difficult and make patients experience nausea or dizziness. But over time, the brain retrains itself to deal with these movements. After multiple sessions, individuals should no longer experience imbalance and dizziness when they go through these motions. Retraining the brain and balance centers can help reduce levels of imbalance and dizziness between major vertigo attacks.

It's impossible to avoid major attacks completely whether patients have secondary endolymphatic hydrops or Meniere's disease. With that said, going through balance retraining and lifestyle changes can help make the attacks much easier to manage. Vestibular rehabilitation sessions are typically guided by physiotherapists. An ideal program will customize each session to the patient's unique balance needs, since everyone's symptoms and movements present differently.

Take Diuretics

Some individuals with endolymphatic hydrops may be instructed to take diuretics by their healthcare professional. Diuretics are designed to reduce the amount of fluid retention in the body, and they can have a positive effect on fluid buildup in the inner ear. However, not everybody will respond to diuretics and it's important to stay adequately hydrated when using them. Prescription diuretics come in three types. When not prescribed for endolymphatic hydrops, they're most commonly used to help lower blood pressure by reducing fluid and compression.

Thiazide diuretics are the most common diuretics on the market, and they're more commonly used for high blood pressure than inner ear issues because they help the blood vessels relax as they decrease fluids. Meanwhile, loop diuretics might be used to help treat heart failure. The third type of diuretic is potassium-sparing, which is specifically formulated to expel fluid without lowering potassium, an electrolyte essential to overall functioning. Because electrolyte balances are so important to managing endolymphatic hydrops, these types of diuretics may be a good option.