Any more follow up on this Laxmom? I was thinking of seeing him but before I invest 700 I was looking for a success story. Thanks!!! Brian
I read a lot about Menieres and temporomandibular disorders and it makes sense that freeing the jaw area releases pressure in the inner ear. I have a budget version as I could never afford orthotics. When my ear feels full I wear the top tray of my teeth whitening guard overnight, it stops me grinding and creates space in the jaw. I also do a lot of mandibular opening yoga exercises and jaw release work, especially when stress makes that area seize up. Definitely helps, no question.
I have been seeing Dr. Alder since June. I got my appliance in July. I have not had any serious dizziness since I have had it. My ear felt stuffed up all the time and my equilibrium was off before the appliance. Now my ear is mostly clear. The weather still affects my ears sometimes. I see a chiropractor once a month because I have had a few severe car accidents. My neck is messed up. The chiropractor alone was not elevating my symptoms. These two treatments together are working for me. I’m not 100% but not being dizzy is huge. I was afraid it would get so bad I couldn’t drive or work. I figured I had more to lose if I didn’t give Dr. Alder a try.
I did see a TMJ specialist upon referral from my ENT early in my disease. He fitted me for an appliance, and it improved my jaw symptoms and pain as well as seemed to help with sleep apnea. Unfortunately, my MD symptoms continued and worsened. It is definitely worth a try though.
This is my feeling as well. I have dealt with this monster for decades and tend to be skeptical when I hear something like this. If someone was to come up with something that works for a large number of affected people, it would spread like wildfire. I'm not saying that there isn't something to this or that it hasn't helped a few individuals, but until more is known, it isn't something I would blindly jump into.
Hi Laxmom, Any update on how you are doing now that you have had the device for a few extra months now? Any feedback appreciated
It has been a year that I have been seeing Dr. Alder. I haven’t suffered from any vertigo or dizziness since last fall during. My ear is only a little stuffy during storms. My hearing which was declining has stayed the same for the last year. I have flown twice and been fine. I have tinnitus that I only notice when it is totally quiet now. Mine sounds like an open mike. My husband said the cost of seeing Dr. Alder was way cheaper than if I had to quit my job because of meniere’s. I am now wearing clear connect to fix my bite and pull my lower jaw forward.
I spent thousands on it. Dr. Adler reviewer my case and believed he could help. I couldn’t see him but saw someone who has he same theory here in MN. It didn’t help me. And I know for fact I have TMD and Eagles Syndrome. Both of which can cause all my symptoms except SNHL. That is the one thing that makes me believe it’s Menieres versus TMD or Eagles syndrome. I cheer on those who it has helped and keep searching for my answer which at this point is a laby. Cheers to all of us seeking our path to living our best life!! P. S. That group on FB is awesome. A few a re pushy with insisting it’s TMD but they mean well and come from a place of love. Their stories are real and am so glad people can find relief.
Who did you see in Minnesota? That's where I am too. I am on the FB group you are talking about too. They are a very supportive group.
I think it was Dr. Hakala. He is very sweet. It just didn’t work for me and got too expensive to keep going.
I was told by the doctor I saw at the House Clinic that TMJ could possibly cause tinnitus and a feeling of fullness/pressure in the ear but would not cause hearing loss or dizziness/vertigo.
Maybe it's just me, but I find it very annoying when someone gets pushy about something regardless of their motivation for doing it. We all want to hear success stories, but we will all make our own choices whether or not we want to try or are comfortable with a particular treatment. We don't need it rammed down our throats.
I agree with that. I had to defend my position that TMD treatment wasn’t helping me more than once. I eventually stopped posting in that group.
I had a similar experience in regards to the Upper Cervical Chiropractic adjustments. Someone on another board kept pushing it and pushing it. When I expressed skepticism, they became very nasty and defensive with me and even went so far as to tell me that if I didn't do it I would continue to suffer. There were also a couple of things that raised red flags with me--the link was to a commercial website, and when I asked questions, they were ignored. I called the person out on all of this--at which time they disappeared. I still go to that site occasionally and they have never posted again. Hmmmm.....
Hmmmmm indeed. I have to pull back from groups as sometimes I find them more hurtful than helpful. Which kinda sucks to be honest because I feel alone alot of the time. But guess I’d rather feel alone Han judged or have some theory crammed down my throat already full of the reality I live daily.
I've left groups for the same reason--other types of groups as well, not only Meniere's. I try to keep an open mind but at the same time I am not going to blindly accept something just because it happened to help a couple of people. I'm not going to blindly jump into something I know nothing about and which could prove to be very expensive---and which has a slim to none chance of being of any value. As I mentioned in an earlier post, if there was something that was helping large numbers of people who have Meniere's, it would be big news. Unfortunately there are lots of unscrupulous people in this world who are all too willing to take advantage of people like us. Let the buyer beware.