Cervical Spine Related Hearing Loss and Neck Pain Relief with Chiropractic
The classic story 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 clarify and corroborate the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic hears reports of improvement in Augusta chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted! Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic is ecstatic for them. Let us study this side-effect of hearing loss improvement 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 literature for years and years. In 1994, one author submitted a discussion 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 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) Augusta chiropractic patients recount such conditions sometimes, so Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic 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 cause 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 evidence 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 discovered projections from C2 dorsal root ganglion extending 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. Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic considers this when making a treatment plan for Augusta cervical spine pain patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Augusta 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 reported that those who had 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 linked to 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 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 Augusta hearing loss patients could embrace! Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic is prepared for the chance to help!
CONSIDER Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic eases cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Augusta chiropractic appointment to explore how Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic may help relieve cervical spine issues, neck pain and even potentially cervical spine related hearing loss.
