Expert: Robert A. Arnone, DC - 4/21/2009

Question
Good AM,
Last August went to ER with severe vertigo & sudden & total loss of hearing in my left ear. Vertigo is better but still affects my every day life. Hearing loss is profound while some low dcb has returned but language & sounds remain distorted. MRI, caratoid artery & other tests were fine. Neurologist said it was both parts of the 8th cranial nerve that was affected.
So, is it possible that there is something having an effect on this nerve from a chiropractic point & if so will chiropractic possibly help? My left shoulder & left part of my neck are always on the slightly stiff side.
Thanks,
Jim
Chicagoland

Answer
James,
Here is a quick bit about the 8th nerve:
This is the nerve along which the sensory cells (the hair cells) of the inner ear transmit information to the brain. It consists of the cochlear nerve, carrying information about hearing, and the vestibular nerve, carrying information about balance. It emerges from the medulla oblongata and enters the inner skull via the internal acoustic meatus (or internal auditory meatus) in the temporal bone, along with the facial nerve.

What I want you to read over again is that it emerges from the medulla oblongata (which is the lower brainstem).  So in essence it is an extension of the brainstem that you are having trouble with, and you were tested and diagnosed this by a board certified doctor of neurology.  I love neurologists for the fact that they are wonderful diagnosticians, but that is where it all ends.  What you are in need of is a Brainstem Specialist, and we used to be in the Chicago area a few years but have since moved to St Louis to start up a practice on my own.  I do not believe that there are any Specialists in Chicago at this time.
You can look for an Upper Cervical Specific Doctor (which is a specialty within Chiropractic) and see if you can find someone in your area, if so, then that is where you would need to be.  A general chiropractor would most likely not be able to help you here and so you would need a specialist.
If you cannot find anyone in your area, you are welcome to come out to St Louis for a 1 day evaluation that if trouble is found, we can see you again later that day and possibly make the correction for you all in one day.  Keep in mind that this is not a one time event that cures all, you would be required to have some follow up visits if we found the cause of your problem and were able to help you.

Yours in Best Health,
Dr Robert Arnone
Upper Cervical Specific Doctor
"Brainstem Specialist"
711 Old Ballas Road
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314)995-5719