[Neck-induced myoneural irritation pain--a recommendation for therapy by the ENT physician]

A number of typical ENT complaints which do not involve organic signs or symptoms are presented, such as sinusitis-like headache, otitis-like earache and tonsillo-pharyngitis-like dysphagia. Since patients with such complaints usually visit an ENT specialist first, an introduction of additional diagnostic and therapeutic measures is imperative. Without having been trained in chirotherapy, it is possible to identify painful locations, myogeloses and functional disorders in the craniocervical area. In many cases treatment of these disorders leads to disappearance of associated irritational complaints. In addition to local treatment of the neck, the ENT specialist may employ a procedure as described. Superficial infiltration of the mucous membrane is performed with a local suprarenin-free anaesthetic in an area around the upper wisdom tooth and on the palatoglossal arch. This procedure often leads to spontaneous and lasting relief of symptoms. It is assumed that this has the effect of inhibiting the pathologically irritated afferents and thus of interrupting an altered reflex arc. Relief from the complaints is improved by physiotherapy and by avoiding the detrimental influence of bad posture, nervous stress, air draughts, cold chills etc. Extensive massage therapy can result in worsening of complaints.