Ménière’s Disease

Consistent Outcomes

Upper cervical care has shown significant consistent positive outcomes for people suffering from Ménière’s disease. Dr. Michael Burcon, an upper cervical chiropractor who has published a number of research papers and lectured internationally at Ménière’s Disease conferences, has shown consistent outcomes through correcting misalignments in the upper neck. In one published study, he showed a 97% dramatic improvement of vertigo symptoms in 300 consecutive patients. He also found that all of these patients had a history of whiplash an average of 15 years before the onset of Ménière’s. It is the consistent nature of improvement through upper cervical care that has caught the attention of the medical community shedding light on the importance of the upper neck in Ménière’s disease.

The Problems Behind the Condition

There have been many mechanisms proposed for the cause of Ménière’s disease. These causes are often symptomatically addressed one by one. However, Dr. Burcon has identified six primary issues associated with the symptoms of Ménière’s that are intimately connected to a misalignment of the craniocervical junction (the joints between the skull and the upper neck).

Pressure on the Eustachian Tubes

The Eustachian tubes help regulate the air pressure within the ear. A misalignment of the craniocervical junction can compress on the Eustachian tube, causing improper air pressure regulation within the ear, which can deteriorate the ear drum and can lead to hearing loss over time.

Tension on Cranial Nerves

The lower brainstem and spinal cord are suspended in the spinal canal with small ligaments called dentate ligaments. A misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae can put tension on the nerves that control hearing and balance.

Diminished Brainstem Blood Flow

The vertebral artery supplies blood to the brainstem, which controls functions like balance, influences coordination, and more. A misalignment of the craniocervical junction can cause spasm or compression of these vertebral arteries, leading to balance issues and contribute to vertigo.

Inflammation of the Upper Neck Joints

A whiplash injury, which is strongly associated with Ménière’s Disease, can injure the joints of the upper neck. This ofter leads to inflammation, joint adhesions, and nerve irritation that can cause symptoms including neck pain, headaches, dizziness, and hearing loss.

Turbulent Cerebrospinal Fluid

The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by a protective fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A misalignment of the craniocervical junction can cause the CSF to become forceful and irregular, leading to irritation of nerves that control balance and eye movements.

Poor Immune Function

Nerves from the upper neck control the immune function of the inner ear. A misalignment of the craniocervical junction can send sympathetic signals to the inner ear, leaving it vulnerable to infection over time.

Comparable Results

Much of the medical literature still acknowledges that the cause of Ménière’s disease is still largely misunderstood, but treatments are still consistently proposed. Some of these treatments include:

• Low salt diets
• Surgical shunts to the inner ear
• Ventilation tubes to the middle ear
• Symptomatic management of vertigo with steroids
• Cutting the vestibular nerve

These treatments (other than salt regulation) have not shown consistent and reproducible improvements, and have potentially negative side effects. Upper cervical chiropractic care has shown repeatable improvements with hundreds of consecutive patients and is becoming increasingly well known.

Correcting the Root

Realigning the craniocervical junction through upper cervical care can open the Eustachian tube, decrease tension on cranial nerves, improve blood flow to the brainstem, reduce inflammation in the upper neck joints, improve CSF flow and restore immune function tot he inner ear. Proper upper cervical care will focus on ensuring the long term stability of the craniocervical junction, which keeps these functions working properly. The combination of these improvements over time can lead to improvement in Ménière’s disease. This is why upper cervical care is one of the most essential parts of recovery from Ménière’s disease.

Get Help Today

Cerebral Chiropractic Center is located in St. Petersburg, FL. If you have Ménière’s disease and would like to see if you are a candidate for care, please call the office at (727) 677-0001. We will schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Slininger. This initial visit will include specific set of X-ray of your upper neck. Depending on your case, additional imaging may be necessary. If you are a candidate for care, your doctor will tailor a plan, sit down and explain your care, and start the correction process. We care about you, we understand you want the root of the problem corrected, and we are here to help.

REFERENCES

1. Boneva D. Two Case Studies: Meniere’s Disease and Cervical Spine Trauma Post Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic Care. 15th Annual Upper Cervical Spine Conference, Life University, Marietta, GA, November 21-22, 1998.
2. Burcon MT. Upper Cervical Protocol for Ten Meniere’s Patients. 9th Annual Vertebral Subluxation Research Conference, Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, Spartanburg, SC, October 13-14, 2001.
3. Burcon M. Upper Cervical Protocol to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation in Ten Subjects with Menieres: A Case Series. J Vertebral Subluxation Res, June 2, 2008:1-8.
4. Burcon M. Cervical Specific Protocol and Results for One Hundred and Thirty Nine Meniere’s Patients. 2008 International Research and Philosophy Symposium, Sponsored by Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, Spartanburg, South Carolina, October 17-19, 2008.
5. Burcon MT. Upper Cervical Specific Protocol and Results for 139 Patients with Medically Diagnosed Meniere's Disease. J Vertebral Subluxation Res, November 14, 2010:1-10.
6. Burcon MT. Cervical Specific Protocol and Results for 300 Meniere’s Patients Over Three Years. 8th Annual International Research and Philosophy Symposium, Sherman College of Chiropractic Spartanburg, South Carolina, October 22-23, 2011.
7. Jones MA, Salminen BJ. Meniere’s Disease Symptomatology Resolution with Specific Upper Cervical Care. J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res, March 29, 2012:31-9.
8. Pennington D, Miller JD. Successful Chiropractic Management of a Patient with Meniere’s Disease post Vestibular Nerve Section: A Case Report. J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res, November 30, 2015:34-40.
9. Burcon MT. Health Outcomes Following Cervical Specific Protocol in 300 Patients with Meniere’s Followed Over Six Years. J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res, June 2, 2016:13-23.
10. Chung J, O’Connell C. Resolution of Symptoms in a Patient Suffering from Meniere’s Disease Following Specific Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: A Case Study & Review of Literature. J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res, January 9, 2017:1-7.
11. Gartner M, Bossart W, Linder T. Herpes virus and Ménière's disease, ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2008;70(1):28-31; discussion 31. doi: 10.1159/000111045. Epub 2008 Feb 1.