Vertigo

[livingwith]

Has anybody heard of Gentamicin Injections (aka Intratympanic treatment) or have had this procedure done? I’ve been researching and battling with my vertigo for 10 months now. I did the whole, ENG, BRAIN MRI MEDS thing and everything came back fine. From the research I have done I believe this procedure is the next best thing to surgery. As much as I cry about how horrible it feels when I get a sudden dizzy spell I don’t think I am quite ready for surgery ( aks Selective vestibular ...Read the full article

[drschwarzer]

The gentamicin injections are supposed to be toxic to the balance nerve hair cells that are responding inappropriately (meaning they respond too much and cause the vertigo). I think most docs feel that a series of them are needed.

My Meniere's has gotten much much worse in the past few months. I've been on a low salt diet and on diuretics for years, and have used the Meniett device for 2 years (it worked wonderfully at first). But all the easy options have stopped working, and my doc said it was either gentamicin or vestibular nerve section surgery (he doesn't like the endolymphatic shunt surgery, as too often ineffective).

I had my first injection last week. I know it isn't enough, as I had a nasty attack several days later. The doc and I are going to try up to three injections. If that doesn't kill enough of the nerve hair cells, I'll have to go on to the nerve section surgery. Since I currently only have Meniere's in one ear, and doc thinks I stand a good chance of not developing in the other ear (I have perfect hearing in my left ear, while the right ear has about a 40% loss of hearing and tinnitus), it's worth it to do the surgery. I gather that left untreated, the cells eventually give up and die anyway, but I don't think I could stand all the vertigo attacks until that happens. I know I CAN drive while they're happening, but I hate it.

I just don't see a downside to trying them. There is a risk of some impact on hearing, but it's so less invasive than surgery worth a shot.