What Are Chronic Ear Infections
Ear infections are a horrible experience for people of all ages. Everyone gets them every once in a while, but for some people, it is a chronic problem. If you have earaches that last longer than they should, or that recur frequently, you may be suffering from chronic ear infections.
While chronic ear infections are a pain that nobody wants to endure, there is a more serious concern as, over time, infections can cause permanent hearing damage.
Ear infections should never be ignored; you should always seek treatment from your healthcare provider when you suspect you have one. If you have a chronic problem that you want to take care of permanently, you should also consider making an appointment with an upper cervical chiropractor.
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Ear Infections
Usually, there are some subtle signs when an ear infection is starting, such as feeling pressure in the ear or feeling itchy and irritated down in your ear canal. You may feel like there is fluid moving around in your ear when you move your head, or some may leak out of your ear.
If you managed to not notice or ignore the symptoms, after a while you will likely experience some pain in your ear. People describe the pain as sharp or stabbing, or sometimes as a deep ache down in the ear.
Fever, fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms are also common for people suffering from an ear infection. In severe cases, you may experience dizziness, vertigo, or loss of hearing.
How the Upper Cervical Spine is Related to Chronic Ear Infections
The upper cervical spine consists of the seven uppermost vertebrae from the base of the skull down the neck. This part of the spine is very close to the eustachian tubes, which are very narrow tubes that allow for airflow and fluid drainage from the inner ear.
A misalignment of the upper cervical spine may cause swelling and inflammation in the neck area. This can compress those tiny eustachian tubes and cause fluids to get trapped in the inner ear. In time, bacteria that get into this moist, warm place begin to multiply, causing it to become infected.
Having the upper cervical spine will reduce the swelling and inflammation that compress the eustachian tubes, allowing the air to flow and the fluid to drain again. If your chronic ear infections are due to a misalignment of the spine, the only permanent solution is to have the spine corrected.
How We Treat Chronic Ear Infections
At Upper Spine Knoxville, we like to get to the root of the problem. Dr. Bejian Shamloo is an Upper Cervical Specialist who treats patients for chronic ear infections, among a wide variety of other conditions caused by misalignments of the spine.
Many chiropractors are still using black-and-white X-rays to examine patients and assess the problem. Dr. Shamloo uses cutting-edge technology in his office, such as 3D diagnostic imaging scans and infrared tomography, so that he can get a more accurate understanding of your unique anatomy and make adjustments with more precision.
Once Dr. Shamloo has made corrections, your body's natural healing processes will take over and begin to repair damage and restore wellness. Many patients begin to notice a decrease in symptoms and far fewer ear infections, if any. Regular check-ups with Dr. Shamloo can help ensure the adjustment is holding and your spine remains in a healthy state.
Contact Dr. Shamloo to talk about your chronic ear infections before any irreversible damage is done to your hearing. Dr. Shamloo's areas of coverage include Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Lenoir City, Karns, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls, and Fountain City in Tennessee, as well as the surrounding areas.