From Vertigo to Balance: How Chiropractic Helped Restore Hearing and Quality of Life in a Meniere’s Disease Patient
Living with Meniere’s disease can feel like your world is spinning — literally. The dizziness, ringing ears, hearing loss, and exhaustion can make even simple daily activities feel impossible. Many patients are told there’s no cure, only management through medications or even surgery.
But research shows that the upper cervical spine — the top of the neck — plays a key role in how the brain and inner ear communicate. When that area is under stress or misaligned, it can affect fluid balance, blood flow, and nerve communication. Chiropractic adjustments can help restore balance where the body needs it most.
A Case Worth Sharing
A 51-year-old woman came to her chiropractor after years of suffering from Meniere’s disease, migraines, TMJ dysfunction, and vertigo. She had even undergone a suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy (a complex brain surgery) for her Chiari malformation, but her relief only lasted a few months before her symptoms returned worse than ever.
When she began chiropractic care, scans and imaging revealed upper cervical subluxations (misalignments) affecting the brainstem and blood flow around the craniocervical junction — an area crucial for balance, hearing, and cerebrospinal fluid circulation.
After receiving specific adjustments to the upper and mid-cervical spine, everything began to change. Over time:
Her vertigo completely resolved (from constant spinning to occasional imbalance only)
Her hearing was restored
Her tinnitus (ringing) faded to a faint hum
She could drive, shop, and sleep peacefully again
She said, “I have my life back.”
Two years later, she had no relapse of vertigo — and a renewed confidence in her health and independence.
Why the Neck Matters in Balance & Ear Health
The upper cervical spine (C1–C2) houses vital nerves and blood vessels that connect the brainstem to the inner ear. Trauma, tension, or misalignment here can interfere with how the body regulates fluid in the inner ear, affecting balance and hearing.
By restoring alignment in this region, chiropractic care can:
Improve blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow between the brain and spinal canal
Support vestibular function (your sense of balance)
Reduce nerve irritation contributing to dizziness, headaches, and tinnitus
Help the body regain proper communication between the nervous system and inner ear
The Bigger Picture
This case isn’t about just one patient — it reflects what happens when the body’s natural communication systems are restored. In a larger review of 1,000 Meniere’s disease patients, 97% reported significant improvement with chiropractic care, and 300 regained hearing after care focused on the upper cervical spine.
These outcomes suggest that the root cause of many chronic ear and balance problems may lie in the neck — not the ear itself.
A New Approach to Chronic Dizziness
If you or someone you love struggles with dizziness, vertigo, or hearing loss, there may be more hope than you realize. At The Catalyst Spine Co., we look beyond symptoms to the source — the nervous system.
Primary Source Citation:
Burcon, M. T. (2021). Resolution of vertigo, restored hearing, and improved quality of life in a patient with Meniere’s disease and failed craniectomy: A case report and review of the literature. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, 2, 10–19.
Supporting References:
Flanagan, M. (2015). The role of the craniocervical junction in craniospinal hydrodynamics and neurodegenerative conditions. Neurology Research International, 2015, 1–12.
Foster, C. A. (2015). Optimal management of Meniere’s disease. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 11, 301–307.
Rosa, S., & Baird, J. W. (2018). Craniocervical junction syndrome: Anatomy of the craniocervical and atlantoaxial junctions and the effect of misalignment on cerebrospinal fluid flow. InTechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72890.
