Tinnitus from Mild Concussion

Hi,

I recently had a mild concussion in December 2018 and after about 4 days the ringing started. I’ve been to several doctors and an ENT, who found no hearing loss or earwax etc. It has been about 2 months, and it seems to have faded from the onset.

I was wondering if anyone has contracted tinnitus after a head injury like myself and what the odds of it going away are?

Thanks!

 

I had a concussion on Jan 21st. Stayed up for a couple of hours at the urging of my step daughter who is a Doctor half way across Canada, I'm in Nova Scotia. Was fine till 3am, got up to go to the washroom and had severe vertigo that lasted for an hour. Emergency doctor pegged the vertigo on either plugged Eustachian tubes or Meniere's Disease due to both eardrums being impacted and red, and said he was confident the concussion did not cause the vertigo, and the fact I did not pass out after the hit on the head. He put me on APO-Mometasone.

Fast forward to two weeks ago and the tinnitus started up. Mine is primarily on the side I had the concussion on, the left side, but sometimes leaves there and goes to the right side. It sometimes goes away for hours too. Matter of fact it was pretty bad a couple of hours ago, but better now. Barely audible yesterday. I attribute the change today due to extreme cold and very high winds.

My doctor thinks it's from a neck spasm, but I tend to agree with the Emergency doctor, considering I've been expelling some nasty stuff a few times over the last few days.

I'm hoping it's either the Eustachian tubes, or maybe even post concussion syndrome.

Can't tell you what the odds of it disappearing are, but this may help if it is post concussion syndrome:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-concussion-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353352

 

I too am in the same boat as both of you.

Concussion at beginning of December, also punched int he jaw/head etc. I was physically assaulted on the street.

Mainly on the left side but can sometimes jump to the right. Sometimes it settles down, sometimes it is impossible to ignore. I find if I do not focus on it or avert my attention, it is not as noticable.

I think all we can do is wait. I have read that it usually goes away in 3-6 months but can take up to a year. Of course, some cases are permanent but those, from what I have read, are the minority (10%-25% continue to have tinnitus after a year following a traumatic brain injury or concussion).

I find meditation helps, along with Klonopin / Clonazepam 3x throughour the day and MIrtazipine for sleep.

 

Mine has reduced quite a bit in the last two days. I'm on a regimen of Vitamin B12, zinc, magnesium, and Ginko. I also drink 3 glasses of apple cider vinegar. I use Mometesone cortisoid steroid spray daily too. In addition I do the exercises that Austin Goh has on youtube. They have helped a lot. I'm leaning towards an infection in my case. I have expelled some nasty stuff in the last couple of weeks. Not a lot, but enough to lead me to this thought...

 

3 month update:

My tinnitus for the past week has been reduced to almost zero. I’m hoping I’m in the final stretch and it gets better from here.

 

Update:

My tinnitus has been consistently about a 2 or 3 for nearly a month now. I’m optimistic but also cautious given that it has gone down for extended periods of time before. I’m hoping it gets better from here, but I think I can live with this if no more improvement. I am scared of it getting worse but I am trying to stay positive and not let this fear rule over me. I really hope im reaching the other end of the tunnel here.

 

@Chase G -- Are you familiar with the following test--at THIS SITE? It looks like something that could give you some clues on how well you're recovering from your concussion. And in turn how well you might be recovering from your tinnitus, the direct cause from your concussion. -- Best...

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News From the Food and Drug Administration
February 19, 2019
Eye-Tracking Test Approved to Help Diagnose Concussion
Rebecca Voelker, MSJ
JAMA. 2019;321(7):638. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0509

FDA approval to help diagnose concussion in children and adults.

A noninvasive test that doesn’t require comparison with a baseline assessment before an injury occurred has received FDA approval to help diagnose concussion in children and adults.

Research has correlated certain eye movements with a higher likelihood of concussion. Abnormalities in eye movements also have been linked with elevated intracranial pressure.

 

Looks like @Chase G hasn’t been on in a bit, but your case seems much like mine. Did your tinnitus ever fade away?