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, involves the hearing return of a deaf janitor after spinal manipulation. (1) So interesting! Today’s research studies help explain and confirm the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn hears reports of improvement in Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted! Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is excited for them. Let us reflect on this side-effect of hearing loss recovery after chiropractic spinal manipulation.
THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION
Hearing loss is not that unusual with cervical spine issues. The connection of cervical spine and hearing has been considered in the medical literature for years and years. In 1994, one author submitted an idea 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) Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic patients report such problems on occasion, so Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is not shocked at all.
Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves causing hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus. Cervical spine injuries can produce pain and limits in range of motion. The likelihood of hearing loss in patients with limited left rotation ability is high. Such hearing loss after a cervical spine injury is more common 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 find the pathway and understand better how spinal nerves like those of C2 (the second cervical spine segment) have an effect on 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 modification of the first cervical segment (C1) – often experience 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. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn considers this when making a treatment plan for Ashburn and Herndon cervical spine pain patients with a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Ashburn and Herndon 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 bettered 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 having chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment. On a scale of 0 (no problem) to 10 (complete impairment), she graded her problems a 7 at the beginning of care and a 1 at the conclusion of 5 months of care. An audiogram was normal, too. (7) These are satisfying outcomes that Ashburn and Herndon hearing loss patients could welcome! Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is up for the chance to help!
CONSIDER Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic alleviates cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment to explore how Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn may help relieve cervical spine issues, neck pain and even potentially cervical spine related hearing loss.
