Ear pain affects people of all ages. We think of ear pain as an ear infection, but there can be different reasons for ear pain. The first two bones in your neck (C1 and C2) have nerves that control the ear and ear drum. Pain that feels like it is in the ear can actually be a result of a spinal problem, food allergies, or jaw pain!

When you go to the MD, the doctor will typically look in your ear and give you a prescription for an antibiotic. If that doesn’t take care of the pain, eventually they will schedule you for tubes.

Did you know that the only way to determine if you have a bacterial or virus infection is to puncture the ear drum and cultivate the fluid?… Most physicians just go ahead and prescribe an antibiotic instead of figuring out what is causing the problem.

The problem with just blindly prescribing antibiotics is that antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections. In about 60% of cases there are both virus and bacteria involved. So, you may be able to treat the bacteria portion of the ear infection, but the virus will still be present.

Classifications of Ear Infections

Ear infections are typically a result of a cold or upper respiratory infection. Rhinovirus is a common cold that plays the main role in causing ear infections. Almost a third of all infants and toddlers that have an upper respiratory infection go on to develop Acute Otitis Media.

Acute Otitis Media (AOM) is an inflammation caused by bacteria that infects the middle ear by trapped fluid in the Eustachian tube. Otitis Media Effusion (OME) occurs when fluid becomes trapped behind the ear drum in one or both ears. Even when there isn’t an infection. OME is typically not painful and the only clue there is a problem is that you will feel like you are “under water”.

The primary setting for middle ear infections is in the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the nose and upper throat. It is shorter and narrower in children than in adults, so they are more vulnerable to blockage. It is also more horizontal in younger children and therefore does not drain as well. (Adults are also prone to ear aches and infections!)

Chiropractic Care

The chiropractic adjustment is focused on the upper neck. Typically C1 and C2 (or the first two bones in your neck) are the ones that are adjusted, to help with the tight musculature and misalignment in the neck. They directly affect the ear and can help with drainage, as well as, prevent ear aches or infections. If you haven’t tried chiropractic, do so before trying tubes! (Tubes have a list of possible side effects and do not guarantee that you will not continue to get ear infections!)

Problems with the ear or sinus issues can also cause dizziness. We also address dizziness by adjusting the upper neck. (Just like having some types of headaches is addressed by adjusting and working on the upper neck.)

If you have any question on how chiropractic can help, give us or a chiropractor near you a call!

~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, INC.
El Reno, OK 73036