Earaches are one of those pesky ailments that seem to come out of nowhere and linger far longer than they’re welcome. Whether it's a dull throb, a sharp stabbing pain, or that incessant feeling of pressure, an earache can disrupt your day, your sleep, and your sanity. While most people turn to pain relievers, antibiotics, or warm compresses, there’s another potential remedy that might surprise you: chiropractic care in Beaver Dam or Watertown.

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Common Patients With Ear Aches

Children who are teething often get earaches. There is a lot of inflammation in the mouth that can refer pain to the ear. Teething children will also have a runny nose which can clog the eustachian tube, the tube in charge of clearing fluid from the sinuses and the inner ear. Eustachian tubes in children are more horizontal and as kids grow, they become more vertical. When the tissue in the ear and surrounding the eustachian tube becomes inflamed, it will swell up and block the drainage from the eustachian tube. Chiropractors are trained at gently unblocking this tube to allow the ear and sinuses to drain. We see children all the time at our office to help with ear pain while teething.

In adults, there are many reasons for pain in the ears. The simplest is that you have been using a Q-tip to clean out the ear wax and may have accidentally been compacting it against the eardrum instead. This can be a simple fix of seeking medical treatment to flush the built up wax with water. Another common reason for an earache is an ear infection caused by a virus similar to the common cold. Just with any virus, it needs to run its course. It will take time for the body to fight the virus before you start feeling better. That being said,Chiropractic care has been proven to strengthen the immune system, so receiving an adjustment when you don’t feel well is highly recommended.

Another reason someone might experience ear pain is from problems with the jaw. The joint in the jaw has a specific way it should move and when this way is disturbed, it can lead to pain in the jaw which can feel a lot like an earache. Chiropractors are able to assess this joint by looking at the way the mouth moves when it opens and closes. You can do this as well by standing in front of a mirror and slowly opening and closing your mouth. Your bottom jaw should move evenly. If it seems to track to one side or the other, you need to get your jaw checked out. Also, if you have popping or clicking while yawning or eating, even without pain, you should still have your jaw accessed for improper movement before it becomes a problem. A chiropractor will work with the joint as well as the muscles around the jaw to help improve jaw movement and decrease pain.

Misalignments in the neck also frequently cause ear pain. Many of the same muscles surrounding the upper neck also influence the ear and even the jaw. Improper movement in the neck can affect the function of the ear and jaw inducing pain. If you have cracking or grinding sounds upon moving your neck along with ear or jaw pain, you need to see a chiropractor. Even if you currently don’t have pain in those specific areas, waiting to address this issue can lead to further problems later on in life.

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How Can Chiropractic Care Help?

In addition to chiropractic, we also use cold laser therapy at our office. This device is specifically made to help decrease inflammation in the body. If you have pain, then you definitely have inflammation. By using the laser on the ear, jaw, or even nerves that go to these areas, we are able to give our patients relief from their pain. Our cold laser is safe to use on all ages and treatment only takes a couple minutes so it’s not a problem for those kids who can’t sit still very long.

Chiropractic care offers a unique, non-invasive approach to managing earaches by addressing the underlying issues related to the ear, jaw, and spinal alignment. While it may not be the first treatment that comes to mind, its potential to alleviate pain, improve eustachian tube function, and reduce the frequency of ear infections is promising. For those seeking a more holistic path to relief, chiropractic care can be a valuable addition to their overall health strategy, providing a safe and natural way to support ear health and well-being.

At our Wellness Class we will discuss the different treatments and lifestyle changes to address earaches and jaw pain. As always, I will be available to answer questions, so bring your questions and get ready to learn! Please join us at our Beaver Dam location for this FREE class on Tuesday, September 17th at 5:30pm. You do not need to be a patient to attend.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Stephanie Tyjeski

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Dr. Stephanie graduated in December 2016 with her Doctorate in Chiropractic at Logan University. She continued on at Logan University to receive her Masters in Nutrition and Human Performance. She is also certified as a Digestive Health Professional through the Loomis Enzyme Institute. She currently works at Tyjeski Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center.