Cervical Spine Related Hearing Loss and Neck Pain Relief with Chiropractic
The timeless 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 studies help clarify and confirm the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Connected Chiropractic hears stories of improvement in Elgin chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Connected Chiropractic for chiropractic care. Patients are elated! Connected Chiropractic is excited for them. Let us consider 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 issues. The relationship of cervical spine and hearing has been discussed in the medical publications for decades. In 1994, one author gave an idea of the existence of a “vertebragenic hearing disorder” that accompanies 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) Elgin chiropractic patients report such issues on occasion, so Connected Chiropractic 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 trigger 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 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 working to define 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 extending 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 indicate about the connection between hearing and the cervical spine? A connection. Connected Chiropractic considers this when making a treatment plan for Elgin cervical spine pain patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Elgin HEARING LOSS RELATED TO CERVICAL SPINE ISSUES
Since that first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, chiropractic has documented improvement for more cases of hearing issues. A study of 90 patients who had cervicogenic sudden hearing loss reported that those who had 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 issues 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 gratifying outcomes that Elgin hearing loss patients could welcome! Connected Chiropractic is prepared for the opportunity to help!
CONSIDER Connected Chiropractic FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic eases cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Elgin chiropractic visit to experience how Connected Chiropractic may help improve cervical spine problems, neck pain and even possibly cervical spine related hearing loss.
