Can problems with your neck cause problems with the ears?

Image via Wikipedia

Meniere’s Disease, Cochlear Hydrops, Tinnitus, hearing loss, chronic ear infections and even vertigo can frequently be related to trauma to the nerves from the upper neck (lower brain stem area) that go into the ears.  Upper neck trauma can lead to a variety of different ear problems due to the neurological connection.  Dr. Michael Burcon in Michigan has done excellent work in researching the connection between the upper neck and conditions like Meniere’s Disease, tinnitus, vertigo and others.

Burcon has established a link to these conditions with whiplash injuries that misalign the base of the skull with the top of the neck creating a lesion affecting the Eustachian tube. About half of these traumas are caused by car crashes and the other half from injuries involving head trauma. Burcon believes that the correlation was not made because it takes an average of fifteen years from the time the patient was injured until the onset of symptoms.

Patients typically get diagnosed with these conditions in middle age. Their injuries most often happened during high school or college years from a car accident, sports injury or fall on their heads. Few patients list these old injuries on their doctor’s admission paper work. In fact, they have often forgotten about them, believing they were not hurt if they were not admitted to the hospital.
It is possible to have fewer than the four classic symptoms of Meniere’s Disease (hearing loss, fullness, tinnitus, and vertigo) yet be diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease; this is sometimes said to be “atypical” Meniere’s Disease.  Some Meniere’s Disease patients experience hearing loss, fullness, and tinnitus with no vertigo at all, a condition sometimes described as “cochlear hydrops.”

That is the situation with one of our recent patients.  Will had been diagnosed with Cochlear Hydrops by his EENT and told that it would continue to get worse and there wasn’t much he could do about it.  After reading an article that I wrote about upper cervical and Meniere’s disease, he found some hope.  After his initial 6 weeks of care Will had noticed a 90% improvement in his ear symptoms and chronic neck pain!

When the cause is addressed amazing recovery can take place.  But the cause has to be identified and addressed.

Have you been diagnosed with Cochlear Hydrops, Meniere’s, vertigo or other ear related conditions?

Have you ever had your upper neck thoroughly evaluated to see if the underlying cause could be there?

In Southern California give us a call 760-945-1345 or go to www.nuccawellness.com

Anywhere else in the world go to www.nucca.org or www.upcspine.org

Correct the cause and end the suffering!
Dr. William R. Davis Jr., D.C. is a Vista Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Specialist. He is in private practice in Southern California in the city of Vista. He specializes in correcting problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems. More information can be found on his website at http://www.nuccawellness.com

Related articles

• Meniere’s Disease Breakthrough (prweb.com)
• Meniere’s Disease (findmeacure.com)
• Tinnitus (onnurimedicine.wordpress.com)
• Botox, Brain Surgery or NUCCA? (nuccadoctordavis.com)

Read Full Post »

Botox, Brain Surgery or NUCCA?

Image via Wikipedia

Cranial Nerve Compressive Syndromes such as Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bell’s Palsy, Hemifacial spasm or palsy and others.  Are among the most devastating of all health conditions both in pain and social impact. 

The medical approaches to these conditions are extremely invasive, including botox injections.  Botox, or Botulinum toxin as it is known in the scientific community, is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. 

Another possibility for patients suffering from these types of conditions is a type of brain surgery called Microvascular decompression is a neurosurgical procedure that can have serious complications including death, stroke, hearing loss and facial weakness.  The surgery itself can cost as much as $70 K and has about a 20% success rate. 

If a person has a history of head or neck trauma another question should be asked.  

Is the dysfunction of these cranial nerves related to a misalignment of the upper neck?

New research is suggesting just that.  A recent article published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research  entitled Resolution of Hemifacial Spasm Following Specific Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care.  Dr. Lucian Henry describes a case study of a 48-year-old male who was able to find the solution to his condition without Botox, brain surgery or any of the side effects.

Here is his story…

48-year-old male presented with left hemifacial spasms of one-year duration, accompanied by neck pain and tension. He reported a tic causing the left eye to blink that sometimes forced the eye to almost close.  He described constant neck pain, centrally located, with tension and grinding on movement.  

He received a total of three chiropractic adjustments over a 13-day period of time, after which time he had a complete resolution of his symptoms. At a 3 month follow up the patient was still asymptomatic.

If you have these types of conditions get your upper neck properly evaluated by a specialist in the detection and correction of these misalignments in the upper neck.

If you are in the Southern California area go to www.nuccawellness.com for more info.  If you are located anywhere else in the country go to www.upcspine.com or www.nucca.org to find a specialist in your area.

Dr. William R. Davis Jr., D.C. is a Vista Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Specialist. He is in private practice in Southern California in the city of Vista. He specializes in correcting problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems. More information can be found on his website at http://www.nuccawellness.com

Read Full Post »

Face Pain or Numbness and the Upper Neck

Image via Wikipedia

The link between the upper neck and face pain or numbness, or what’s called Trigeminal Neuralgia or Tic Doulereaux has been studied for many years.  Face pain can be excruciating based on patient reports.  This is one of the most common reasons why depression and suicide are common with this debilitating condition. 

When a person suffers a head or neck injury such as a car accident or fall, the process can begin.  But even a long standing compression on the upper neck such as oral surgery or extensive dental work can be the initiating factor.  Frequently the trauma may have happened months, years or even decades earlier!  The body’s ability to adapt is phenomenal.  But the adaptation process only lasts so long and eventually symptoms will develop.  The symptoms that develop are unique to the individual.

Research is very encouraging to face pain patients.  In one study Dr. Hinson was studying the effects of upper cervical specific chiropractic care on 10 patients diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia.  After only 10 weeks pain measurements decreased by 77%!  Dr. Hinson also found that depression scores had decreased and all patients had seen there pain distribution decrease.  Of the 10 patients in the study 3 of the 10 had no more attacks by the end of the 10 weeks and the other 7 had much less.

In my own office I have seen great changes with Face Pain as well.  One patient who had suffered with excruciating pain following a dental procedure along the right side of her face head and neck found help through the NUCCA procedure, after trying Acupuncture, medications, general chiropractic manipulation and many other treatments.  We saw a 90% reduction in all symptoms in 8 weeks. 

If you know someone who is struggling with face pain or numbness or they have been diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia, then an upper cervical spine evaluation should be performed to see if a head or neck trauma could be the underlying cause.

Dr. William R. Davis Jr., D.C. is a Vista Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Specialist.  He is in private practice in Southern California in the city of Vista.  He specializes in correcting problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck).  This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems. More information can be found on his website at http://www.nuccawellness.com

Read Full Post »

NUCCA and Trigeminal Neuralgia-Headaches and Face Pain

Trigeminal Neuralgia has been called the suicide disease….because the pain is so intense that many long time sufferers choose suicide.  Here is an example of a patient from our office who found the help she needed….

“NUCCA is exactly what my body needed!”

 “I came to Dr. Davis’s office with the hope of getting to the root of a year long battle with headaches.  These headaches would feel like a nerve reaction where the pain would shoot from my upper neck into my head and right jaw and face.  I was spending 2-3 days per week in bed because of these headaches.  I had been to medical doctors, chiropractors for manipulation, massage therapists, acupuncture, shiatsu massage with no significant change.  My sleeping was greatly affected and I was tired all the time.

 I have been amazed at how much of my energy was going into the chronic pain in my head.  I have been sleeping so much better, waking up in the morning feeling good and I have energy to finish my day since my NUCCA treatments!

 My headaches have decreased significantly and the chronic pressure is gone!  The pressure on the nerves has been relieved!  It is very well worth taking the steps to see if NUCCA can help with your condition.  NUCCA is exactly what I needed!

 I really appreciate the care and patience of Dr. Davis.  He has taken the time explain my many questions.  I am leaving on a 6 month mission trip and as soon as I get back one of my first stops will be Breath of Life!”

Heather S.                                                                                                                                             June 10, 2010

Heather is going to be in Nicaragua for the next 6 months.  She was originally supposed to leave a month ago but she postponed her trip because she finally found the cause of her pain.  She is so excited about what upper cervical care has done for her that while in Nicaragua she is going to fly 2 hours to Miami to see a NUCCA specialist!

Tell a Friend or Family member who is struggling with their health today!   www.nuccawellness.com

Read Full Post »