Cervical Spine Related Hearing Loss and Neck Pain Relief with Chiropractic
The classic account of the first chiropractic adjustment by DD Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, details the hearing return of a deaf janitor after spinal manipulation. (1) Fascinating! Today’s research studies help describe and corroborate the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka hears reports of improvement in Sitka chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted! Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is pleased for them. Let us reflect on this side-effect of hearing loss improvement after chiropractic spinal manipulation.
THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION
Hearing loss is not that rare with cervical spine issues. The association of cervical spine and hearing has been discussed in the medical literature for years and years. In 1994, one author gave a discussion of the existence of a “vertebragenic hearing disorder” that comes with tinnitus, a feeling of ear pressure, otalgia and deafness due to functional deficit of the upper cervical spine. He linked conditions like cervical vertigo and hearing disorders in 15% of patients with cervical spine issues and hearing losses of 5 to 25 decibels in 40% of them. (2) Sitka chiropractic patients report such problems on occasion, so Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is not surprised at all.
Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves causing hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus. Cervical spine injuries can trigger pain and limits in range of motion. The possibility of hearing loss in patients with limited left rotation ability is high. Such hearing loss after a cervical spine injury is more usual in men. (3) Further, there is indication of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a pathway linking the cervical spine to hearing function. Researchers are seeking ways to define the pathway and understand better how spinal nerves like those of C2 (the second cervical spine segment) influence auditory responses (hearing). They have found projections from C2 dorsal root ganglion stretching to the cochlear nucleus. (4) Patients who have Kimmerle’s anomaly – an anatomical variant of the first cervical segment (C1) – often suffer with chronic tension-type headaches and neurosensory-type hearing loss. (5) What does this indicate about the connection between hearing and the cervical spine? A connection. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka considers this when making a treatment plan for Sitka cervical spine pain patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Sitka HEARING LOSS RELATED TO CERVICAL SPINE ISSUES
Since that first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, chiropractic has documented improvement for more patients with hearing issues. A study of 90 patients who experienced cervicogenic sudden hearing loss recorded that those who underwent chiropractic treatment in addition to routine medical care recovered their hearing and alleviated their neck pain effectively after 10 days of care. (6) A case of hearing loss and tinnitus associated with cervicogenic neck pain in a female patient whose hearing and tinnitus were improved after undergoing chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment. On a scale of 0 (no problem) to 10 (complete impairment), she rated her problems a 7 at the start of care and a 1 at the conclusion of 5 months of care. An audiogram was normal, too. (7) These are satisfying outcomes that Sitka hearing loss patients could embrace! Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is prepared for the chance to help!
CONSIDER Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic eases cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Sitka chiropractic appointment to explore how Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka may help improve cervical spine issues, neck pain and even potentially cervical spine related hearing loss.
