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 restoration 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. Wilson Family Chiropractic hears reports of improvement in Millville chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Wilson Family Chiropractic for chiropractic care. Patients are thrilled! Wilson Family Chiropractic is pleased 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 issues. The association of cervical spine and hearing has been considered in the medical literature for decades. In 1994, one author gave 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 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) Millville chiropractic patients recount such issues on occasion, so Wilson Family Chiropractic is not shocked at all.

Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves bringing about hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus. Cervical spine injuries can trigger pain and limits in range of motion. The chance 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) Additionally, 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 describe the pathway and understand better how spinal nerves like those of C2 (the second cervical spine segment) influence auditory responses (hearing). They have discovered 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 suffer with 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. Wilson Family Chiropractic considers this when making a treatment plan for Millville cervical spine pain patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.

CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Millville 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 had 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 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 issues 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 gratifying outcomes that Millville hearing loss patients could welcome! Wilson Family Chiropractic is ready for the opportunity to help!

CONSIDER Wilson Family Chiropractic FOR RELIEF

Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic relieves cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.

Schedule a Millville chiropractic appointment to explore how Wilson Family Chiropractic may help ease cervical spine issues, neck pain and even possibly cervical spine related hearing loss.