Question
I just read your answer to someone about cranio-vertebral dysfunction.  I have something similar and have gone to several doctors who were at a loss or looked at me like I was nuts.  What seems to be associated with this is a ringing in my left ear.   Sometimes it is not so much a ringing in the ear but like I am hearing noise in my neck/head.  Is this truly related?  or, just a coincidence and a different problem?  I have had my neck x-rayed and nothing shows but arthritis (I am 52).  I have had my hearing checked and fine.  I don't know where to go next.  The noise is getting more bothersome.  Thank you for any advice you can give.

Answer
Dear Nancy,

Have you been evaluated by a chiropractic physician?  The experiences you have described do not usually correspond with the experience of a chiropractic patient.  As a chiropractor, I often have patients come to me after other doctors have written them off as a hypochondriac or just plain nuts.  Not to mention that a chiropractor is going to look at the x-rays from a completely different perspective than a medical radiologist will.  They look for pathology only and are usually not concerned with structure or subtle vertebral misalignments at all, however research has proven these misalignments cause movement dysfunction and neurological changes.

Your symptoms can be related to cranio-vertebral dysfunction as the nerves that are in this area of the spine are very sensitive to biomechanical changes and can become affected easily.  There is also a direct connection in this area to the trigeminal ganglion in the neck which has direct connections to the ear, and may create some symptoms. Adjusting in this area definitely has the possibility of relieving your symtomatology, if a biomechanical derangement is the reason you are having them.

Other things to consider are Menieres disease, as this can manifect with buzzing and ringing in the ears, and a possible intercranial pathology, but this would have to be evaluated with an MRI of the brain.

If you haven't been to a chiropractor, I would recommend that you try one out first and mention all the things you have described to me.  Get assessed/examined and see if chiropractic can help...make sure to take your x-rays with you.  Otherwise you may want to be seen by a neurologist or an audiologist, and possibly get the brain scan if nothing else if found.  Good luck Nancy.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net