Dr Chin Checks out Understanding Cervical Spondylosis: Impact on Your Ears
Discover how cervical spondylosis can affect your ears and overall health. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatment options in our detailed blog post.
Cervical spondylosis, also known as neck arthritis, is a degenerative condition affecting the cervical spine, causing chronic neck pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. Symptoms can include tinnitus, dizziness, ear fullness, and difficulty with daily activities. The condition involves degenerative changes in facet joints, soft tissues, and vertebrae, often due to neck injuries, herniated disks, or abnormal growths. Cervical radiculopathy occurs when nerve roots become compressed, while spinal cord pressure can lead to cervical myelopathy or cervical spondylotic myelopathy, which can cause loss of bladder or bowel control, loss of feeling, or even permanent injury. Diagnosis often involves a physical exam and magnetic resonance imaging, with pain relief strategies such as a soft collar, traction, or radiofrequency ablation. Early management can prevent complications extending from the head to other parts of the spine.
What Is Cervical Spondylosis?
Cervical spondylosis, also known as neck arthritis, is a common condition in older adults caused by wear and tear in the neck’s discs and vertebrae. It causes reduced flexibility, neck stiffness, and narrowing of the spinal canal, affecting nerves and blood vessels. Treatments include physical therapy, steroid injections, epidural steroid injections, traction, or bone graft surgery. Causes include aging, injury, poor posture, genetics, low back pain, and degenerative disk disease.
How Cervical Spondylosis Affects the Ears
Cervical spondylosis can cause many ear problems. This happens because the nerves in the neck get pressed or the blood that goes to the area is less than normal.
Here’s how it commonly affects the ears:
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Tinnitus | Ringing or buzzing in the ears from irritated neck nerves. |
| Dizziness/Vertigo | Feeling off-balance or spinning due to reduced blood flow to the inner ear. |
| Ear Fullness | Sensation of pressure without fluid, caused by muscle tension or nerve signals. |
| Referred Ear Pain | Ear discomfort that actually starts from neck-related pain. |
| Hearing Changes | Rare cases of altered or reduced hearing linked to cervical nerve issues. |
Diagnostic Tools and Imaging
To find out if ear problems are related to cervical spondylosis, you need both a spine check and an ENT check.
Here are key diagnostic tools used:
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| MRI (Cervical Spine) | Identifies disc degeneration, nerve compression, and spinal canal narrowing. |
| CT Scan | Shows detailed bone changes and helps detect bone spurs in the cervical vertebrae. |
| Audiometry | Measures hearing levels to rule out inner ear causes of tinnitus or hearing loss. |
| Vestibular Testing | Assesses balance function and detects non-cervical causes of dizziness or vertigo. |
| Tympanometry | Evaluates middle ear pressure; often normal when symptoms are neck-related. |
| Neurological Exam | Tests reflexes, muscle strength, and nerve function to detect cervical nerve issues. |
Treatment Options
Referral to ENT: If you still have ear problems, it is important to see an ENT doctor.
Physical Therapy: Doing the right exercises can make your neck stronger and more flexible.
Medications: Some medicines, like anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants, can lower swelling in the neck.
- About the Author
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Dr Ronald Chin is an Australian trained Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon.
After graduating as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Dr Chin undertook further specialised training in Head and Neck Cancer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
He has published many research papers and is an active teacher and scholar.
As part of his subspecialty training, Dr Chin has training in Laser, Da Vinci Robotic, Flex Robotic and complex surgical techniques.
In addition to specialised Head and Neck Cancer, Dr Chin also enjoys general adult and paediatric ENT Surgery and practices sinus, snoring/sleep and general paediatric ENT Surgical procedures.
Dr Ronald Chin works as a general Otolaryngologist, offering a wide range of surgical and non-surgical treatments including ear surgery, nose surgery and throat surgery. He provides treatment for chronic conditions such as tonsillitis, sinus problems and problems with hearing.
He is also involved in the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions such as facial paralysis, head and neck cancer and sleep apnea. As well as performing surgery on children, he also provides specialist care for adults, including the treatment of throat disorders, voice loss and ear problems.
Dr Chin has also served as a Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, a Conjoint Associate Professor at Western Sydney University and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney.
