Tinnitus in cervical spine syndrome
A cervical spine syndrome typically involves pain in the shoulder and neck area that can radiate into the arm or back of the head and is often accompanied by other symptoms. These include headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears such as tinnitus or feelings of numbness or tingling (paresthesia). Tinnitus is a noise in the ears that seems a bit like a ringing.
It can either be permanent or recurring for short episodes and then disappearing completely for varying lengths of time. For some people, there are certain triggers (often, for example, stress) that cause the tinnitus to reappear, for others it comes back for no apparent reason. It is possible that one gets used to the tinnitus over the years and at some point the ringing is practically no longer perceptible.
For some, however, the noise becomes worse and harder to bear over time. In some cases, this can be a considerable strain on those affected, as they are no longer able to concentrate properly in everyday life, hear less well and are also simply annoyed and stressed by the constant noise. If the tinnitus occurs in connection with a cervical spine syndrome, many people hope that the syndrome will recede again if they do regular physiotherapy or have themselves set right.
For some, this may improve or even disappear the symptoms, but it may also not change the tinnitus at all. In addition, one must also consider that just because a cervical spine syndrome and tinnitus are present, this does not necessarily have to be caused by the syndrome. Therefore, it is always advisable to have a physician clarify a tinnitus that persists for a longer period of time, in order to exclude the possibility that another possibly treatable illness may be the cause.
Cause
Tinnitus, also commonly called ringing in the ears, can occur as part of the underlying disease of a cervical spine syndrome. The reason for this is related to the nerve connections or the blood supply in this area. In the brain there are so-called brain nerve nuclei, which are responsible for the different sensory qualities of the human being.
These brain nerve nuclei also exist for the nerves that are responsible for hearing and for the sense of balance. The nuclei represent the central switch from which the nerves lead to the respective organs. The course of these nerves is connected to the upper cervical spine, which is why a muscular problem, or a problem of the joints in this area can interfere with the nerves and then sounds can be perceived that are due to irritation of the nerves.
A further explanation for the occurrence of ringing in the ears with simultaneous presence of a cervical spine syndrome can be explained by the blood flow to the mentioned cranial nerve nuclei. The arteries that supply the nuclei run close to the vertebral bodies of the upper cervical spine. An existing cervical spine syndrome may limit the blood supply to the nuclei and cause the perception of ringing in the ears.
All articles in this series:
