Avoid using greasy lip ointments, such as petroleum jelly, on an active cold sore. Such ointments can spread viral particles to neighboring areas of the face, leading to new sores. In severe cases, nausea and vomiting may occur, standing may be impossible, and hearing loss may become permanent. When episodes persist and seriously impair quality of life, one option may be destruction of balance structures that are sending contradictory messages to the brain. In most patients, this can be accomplished during an office procedure that involves injection of an antibiotic called gentamicin into the middle ear.
Patients usually recover their sense of balance within several weeks, aided by physical therapy.
As with other surgical methods, the procedure carries some risk of hearing loss in the treated ear.