What are Ear Problems?
As a general term, an ear problem refers to any condition affecting the ear or the inner ear. Some common ear problems include earaches, tinnitus, or outright hearing loss. Ear problems are often painful and difficult to treat given the number of potential causes. One such cause of ear problems is a vertebral misalignment in the upper cervical spine.
Signs and Symptoms of Ear Problems
The signs and symptoms of an ear problem will ultimately depend on the cause of the condition. That being said, there are some symptoms that are commonly experienced across many different types of ear problems. Some of these symptoms include vertigo, a feeling of fullness in the ear, coordination issues, frequent headaches, nausea, and feeling off-balance.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Ear Problems
While it’s not immediately obvious, the ear and the upper cervical spine are closely linked, with misalignments in the upper cervical spine often having a direct impact on inner ear function.
The upper cervical spine encompasses a vast network of musculature and nerves. When the vertebrae in the upper cervical spine are out of alignment, the vertebrae can compress the nerves and muscles in the immediate area. If the musculature around the eustachian tube remains compressed, it can begin to flex irregularly, causing inflammation and irritation within the inner ear, upper throat, and nose. Over time, the local inflammation can cause a build-up or blockage of fluid in the eustachian tubes of the inner ear, often resulting in painful swelling, infections, and other ear problems.
How Our Treatment Works for Ear Problems
Dr. Gordon Elder, our resident ear problems expert, is a specialist in using the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique. The Blair technique focuses on re-engaging the body’s natural healing mechanisms and restoring the upper cervical spine to its natural alignment.
Dr. Elder takes a multi-step approach when investigating a patient’s ear problem.
Firstly, patients will attend a 25–30-minute consultation to give Dr. Elder the chance to gather information about the patient’s medical history. Dr. Elder will also determine whether a misalignment is present in the upper cervical spine and whether it could be contributing to a patient’s ear problems. The diagnostic process will typically include the use of advanced 3-D imaging techniques to narrow down the exact location of any misalignments.
Following your first consultation, Dr. Elder will propose a comprehensive treatment plan and will give you time to ask any questions you may have about your treatment. During your first treatment, Dr. Elder will use a range of gentle and precise corrections to push the vertebrae back into alignment, employing low-force, Blair-approved manipulation techniques. By restoring the upper cervical spine, the impacted muscles and nerves will begin to relax, easing flexion and inflammation in the inner ear and eustachian tubes.
To ensure that your adjustment is holding, most of Dr. Elder’s patients return for regular check-ups (for at least 3-5 months). To achieve long-lasting/permanent results, we recommend between 10 and 15 appointments with Dr. Elder.
If you’re suffering from ongoing ear problems, get in touch today to speak with Dr. Gordon Elder about the health of your upper cervical spine. Located in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Elder also services Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.