Any way to repair nerve damage in ear?

Question

About a year ago I was on a plane flight and experienced a horrible and excruciating pain in my left ear. Upon getting off the plane my ear bothered me a bit yet was a much more tolerable pain. Soon after that flighht I began to experience cases of feeling very imbalanced - both when standing and sitting that would occur totally randomly and cause to to grab onto whatever was closet in order to stablaize myself from the feeling that I was going to fall over. After going to a ear nose thorat Dr., had a couple tests and was told that I had some hearing loss and also nerve damage in the ear that was bothering me. Dr. told me that the ear is designed to repair itself, although many people suffer with this for years on end to no avail, yet said there was nothing he could do for me. Soudned crazy to me that there was no solution...and a year later my ear still bothers me, often feels plugged, and teh occassional dizzy spell continues. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Answer 1

I understand your problem, picked up an ear infection, whilst traveling in an auto with the windows open, after going to the hospital several times, lots of anti-biotic medicine it did get better. This has taken several months, was dizzy and it felt like my ear was plugged up, like descending from a flight. It's not over yet but have lost about 80% of my hearing, My Doctor felt some of my hearing might return, so far it's still the same..

Answer 2

I'm not sure that the nerve will repair itself, though sometimes it does. I did read an article a few weeks ago about a device that was being tested that might replace a damaged nerve, but I'm not sure it will work for balance purposes: It was to replair hearing.

You might want to get a closer look at what's going on there. It might be possible to get therapy. Otherwise, you might want a cane to help keep you stable.

Good luck!