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) So interesting! Today’s research reports help explain and corroborate the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center hears stories of improvement in Manahawkin chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Manahawkin Chiropractic Center for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted! Manahawkin Chiropractic Center is excited for them. Let’s contemplate this side-effect of hearing loss recovery after chiropractic spinal manipulation.
THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION
Hearing loss is not that uncommon with cervical spine problems. The association of cervical spine and hearing has been considered in the medical literature for years and years. In 1994, one author presented 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 attached issues 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) Manahawkin chiropractic patients recount such problems occasionally, so Manahawkin Chiropractic Center is not surprised at all.
Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves resulting in hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus. Cervical spine injuries can produce 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 joining the cervical spine to hearing function. Researchers are seeking ways to describe 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 have chronic tension-type headaches and neurosensory-type hearing loss. (5) What does this say about the connection between hearing and the cervical spine? A connection. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center considers this when making a treatment plan for Manahawkin cervical spine pain patients with a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Manahawkin HEARING LOSS RELATED TO CERVICAL SPINE ISSUES
Since that first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, chiropractic has recorded 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 improved their hearing and relieved 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 having chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment. On a scale of 0 (no problem) to 10 (complete impairment), she rated her problems a 7 at the beginning of care and a 1 at the end of 5 months of care. An audiogram was normal, too. (7) These are satisfying outcomes that Manahawkin hearing loss patients could embrace! Manahawkin Chiropractic Center is up for the chance to help!
CONSIDER Manahawkin Chiropractic Center FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic relieves cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Manahawkin chiropractic visit to explore how Manahawkin Chiropractic Center may help relieve cervical spine problems, neck pain and even potentially cervical spine related hearing loss.
