|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Posted by Mike
I would like to know (especially from the doctors out there) what the opinon
is on hearing/balance/tinnitus issues in regard to the cervical spine.
I'm starting to think that my problems (constant imbalance (not
vestibular)/distorted hearing without hearing loss/almost constant headaches
with and without nausea) may be cervical in nature.
From my research I have seen two interesting "Threads" of thought in
relation to the neck and hearing disorders.
There is the obvious problem of vertebral arterial insufficiency (such as
vasculitis or cervical spondolysis (spelling may be incorrect)) and
dessication (injury) which are well known to cause these problems in general
and can also precipitate migrainous attacks known as Basal Arterial
Migraines that can have long-lasting neurological effects, or worse yet,
even strokes. Recently a possible diagnosis for my bizzarre condition is
"repeated complicated migraine," maybe BAM (I do have a history of migraine
with and without oaura, and once had a hemipalegic migraine which mimics a
stroke). I have mentioned to my doctors the possibility of vertebral artery
problems, and they told me I would be alot "sicker." This response is not
supported in the medical literature I have read, which indicated that milder
brainstem symptoms (like mine and others that I have not mentioned like
trouble swallowing) may be present either constantly or intermittently. In
addition, Migraines (such as my possible complicated ones) can be triggered
by tension in the neck and face (I guess the trigeminal nerve is a strong
part of the migraine process). I also wonder if neck muscle spasms can
limit the amount of blood sent via these arteries.
On the other hand, there is a school of thought that fells that hearing and
balance probelms (such as tinnitus) can be caused by a disruption of the
parasympathetic nervous system (for example Horner's symdrome with a loss of
sweating and miosis of the pupil, etc. is a disruption of the
parasympathetic nervous system ususally caused by a cervical problem, not a
probelm in the brain) caused by irritation of the cervical nerve roots
and/or spasm of the muscles. Disruption of these nerves sends faulty
prioperception signals to the brainstem for balance, and distruption of the
parasympathetic system casues all sorts of havoc with the face and ears and
eyes, one of which is interference with the "perception" of sound also
causing tinnitus of central origin (createds confusion within the central
auditory processing centers of the brain). TMJ/TMD problems can cause or be
casued by the cervical connection, with irritation causing muscle spasm and
pressure points everywhere in the face, neck, and throat further destroying
orientation capability and disrupting sensory input. I definately know that
TMJ/TMD and the neck has a connection/symbiosis, for physical therapy on my
neck helps my TMJ-ish myofacial pain and spasm problems immensely, and I
don't clench. Some say that the tinnitus from TMJ is not from the TMJ
itself, but from the neck spasms that invariably come with it. In addition,
symptoms like pressure in the ears and myofacial/craniocervical muscle
dysfunction as well as tension headaches are usually part of the package.
These problems are well known in whiplash patients, but can also have an
idopathic cause.
Is this BS or is there something to this. Everything I've read about the
second theory seems to fit my situation and experiences (problems worse in
the day which are typical for muscle probelms, problems get worse riding in
a car from vibration, muscle relaxants helping "open up" the ears and reduce
distortion and dizziness, problems worse after physical therapy, but better
the day after), but the second theory comes mostly from chiropractic
journals, which, in my opinion, diminishes its value. Also, I am worried
about treating the problem via chiropractic manipulation (and even the
physical therapy I am doing now), due to the fact that I may be at high risk
for vertebral arterial dessication which primarily occurs after neck
manipulation in young males with a history of migraine. This may have
already happened to me--I don't know, because my doctors refuse to consider
it a possiblity (no MRA or ultrasound on the arteries) and also refuse to
look at my neck as a source of my problems.
I guess the last possiblity is that I am leaking spinal fluid from my neck
or spine, since my symptoms became worse after a spinal tap during the
spinal headache period (an unlikely scenario, but I am throwing it out
there). Spinal headaches are gone--so it seems unlikely.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
