Hello! I got the steroid injection in my right ear about three weeks ago. The first week I had roaring tinnitus in both ears, and my hearing suffered greatly. However, I had 3 days of relief from vertigo. After that, my vertigo returned to everyday, like it was previously. How long should the relief last after the injection? and how many times should I try? I know 3 days isn't long to have relief, but is it possible that with more treatments the relief will last longer? Thanks!
If your having vertigo everyday it may be time to consider a Laby or gentamicin injections. Just my opinion.
Oh yeah, I want the laby surgery. But I'm bilateral, so my doctor won't consider it. He wants me to keep doing the steroid shots, then maybe the gent injection. and the end all would be the shunt surgery. (which from what I have read doesn't seem to be the most effective.) He just started me on SERC but I don't think I can afford it long term, and so far, I have had no relief.
I would stay away from steroids because the relief will be not only temporary, but it also weakens immune system which will make it worse eventually. Steriods works well in physical trauma like sudden snhl or acoustic trauma where there is little other viable option, works least on Meniere's. I have the same experience with it, and I will never take steriods. If you haven't tried antivirals like Valtrex, nor have you been to a cervical chiropractor, they will be good options from that many of us achieved relief. Or if you have best neurologist near you, that will be good, too because you have many other symptoms related to cervical issues.
I have taken dozens of steroids shots in my ear. They work great but for a few days. You are supposed to have a set of 3 in a week. I don't believe the shot weakens your immune system since it's localized in the ear. I may be wrong. Karina
I would PM Bulldogs on this forum. I believe he knows people who have no vestibular function on both sides and are doing fine. Maybe he can point you to a DR. that will give you Laby even though you are bilateral
Dr. Stephen Roach at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston would be a good start regarding a laby when one is bilateral. He will respond to emails. Yes there are folks who are bilateral and have had the laby.
Thank you for all the responses. I set up an appointment to talk to my ENT about it. Unfortunately, it takes me a 3 months to get in to see him. He really wants to try another steroid shot. I don't know how to convey to him that my quality of life is garbage at this point. I just want at least some sort of normalcy back.
LifeandOtherTragedies I'm with everyone else. I think it just depends on you and the current conditions. I've gone through several rounds of steroid shots. The first time it worked great. The second and third time I got little relief. I believe it all depends on your body's ability too process the steroid. If you body uses it up fast, you'll see relief for a shorter time. (Although I'm not a doctor, but they don't tell us much either.) I think it also depends on your circumstances, like where you are in an "outbreak". If you were on the way to recovery, it might be helpful. If you were just starting a bad spell, it may not do any good. Good luck in your journey. And don't forget that stress is a trigger.
You may want to check to see if you can get into the trial for OTO-104 http://www.otonomy.com/pipeline/oto-104/
My first steroid shot gave me 11 hours of bliss--no roaring and less dizziness. The second one was a disaster. Immediately after I got very sick with vertigo that lasted several hours, and a loud roar that I have to this day. I left that ENT. Currently, I have been on a different suite of steroids through a tube in my left ear for two months--the results are not great, but some. I have less fullness and dizziness but the roaring and hearing distortions continue with headaches and still some dizziness at very weird times. Tonight I am having a horrific bout of tinnitus, headaches, and hearing distortions. I am getting ready to go on the anti-virals. My quality of life is not good.....sometimes I want to end it all, but I am hanging in there.