Tinnitus Spike After Being Exposed to Car Alarm

Hey guys. I've had tinnitus for around three years now. I got it after loud noise exposure at a party right before I started college, but I was lucky enough that after my onset, my tinnitus faded to the background(after about a month and a half), to the point where I often forgot it existed. I was still careful around loud noises, but I had some slip ups along the road, causing a couple spikes here and there that faded away again after usually one or two weeks.

I had a recent spike about two weeks ago. I was in my friend's car when she blasted her music, and I quickly turned it down but the damage was done. That night my tinnitus had spiked, but it wasn't bad enough to affect my daily life. I was confident it would fade.

However, three days later as I was walking to my car after the gym, someone accidentally set off their car alarm as I was walking past the hood of their car. The sound shocked me so much I jumped. I quickly plugged my ears, however upon getting home I knew that my right ear felt kind of funky, as it was the one closest to the vehicle.

It's been over two weeks now, and my ear ringing is the loudest it's ever been, specifically in my right ear. Even during the onset of my tinnitus, I have never felt this hopeless. Unlike my previous bouts with tinnitus, this spike has affected my ability to perform daily functions. I lay in bed all day praying the spike will fade but it seems that everyday it gets louder. I am a shell of my former self. My 21st birthday was a couple days ago, and I spent it in bed crying. I'm trying to be strong but I am unable to sleep, eat, or even think.

I am worried that this spike may be permanent, especially considering that my right ear is so much worse than my left.

Although I have frequently been a spectator on this forum, this is the first time I have posted. I am so desperate to feel happy again, but I am worried that this spike will never fade.

I would appreciate any advice. Thanks so much guys.

 

Most spikes are temporary, they can however last for weeks. All you can do now is take care of your ears and hope the spikes subside 2 weeks is too early to tell if a spike is permanent, changes are it won't be tough, the exposure doesn't seem to be a prolonged one so it is likely it will fade. You need to understand though that as someone who has had noise trauma in the past, your ears are more prone to damage and will be for the rest of your life, you need to remain mindful of those.

 

It may also fade too as your other spikes have. I know how you feel regarding the birthday. You can try avoiding loud noises for now and hope that it will eventually go back down.

Even if it doesn't, you probably have seen the treatments thread. There might be some things out there to help, or if not things on the way that might help such Neuromod's Lenire or Dr. Shore's device.

 

Nac and Magnesium, mayhaps some prednisone since this is potentially a fresh acoustic trauma.

 

Hey guys,
It’s been about 5 and a half weeks since my tinnitus spike. My left ear the spike had faded a little but my right ear(which was the one most affected by the car alarm) seems to get worse everyday. I am incredibly depressed and hopeless. My doctor has put me on Ativan temporarily to help with the anxiety attacks that I’ve been having everyday. I don’t do anything all day, I’m afraid to go outside and be exposed to noise, and I’m scared I’m going to be like this forever.

My classes start in less than a month and I’m worried I will not be able to return to college in the state that I am in.

I have been taking magnesium, NACs, and turmeric supplements daily but they have not helped, as far as I can tell. I take 1200mg of NAC, 400 mg of Magnesium glycinate, and 500 mg of Tumeric. (My doctor would not prescribe me prednisone).

I know it is unlikely the spike will fade at this point but I would love any advice you guys could give. I just want to be able to function again.

 

Maybe you can change some stuff in your life to accomodate to your current situation. I dont know hows you college, but in general they shouldnt be loud, although these days they may use loudspeakers for class, I dont know. Getting to college, physically navigating through streets and traffic to get there, could be more of a challenge, but if you have parking nearby you could just drive.

If your ears are sensitive I would advise you to always wear earplugs or earmuffs outside home (things like a car alarm going off are impossible to predict), and when you get home try to be surrounded by sound you like, music, or the radio on the background.

The cities have become largely unlivable for those with hearing issues, traffic, loud motorbikes, absurd repairs and construction works everywhere, sirens, loudspeakers everywhere, including inside public transport etc. Today there is a lot more information than say 20 years back, although the info is not of great quality and it does not offfer answers either. There is people in cities that realised the environment is super loud and instinctively started to use cotton on ears or earplugs decades ago. That's not such a bad way to go, in the sense that those people did not go to doctors or search for answers, they just coped the best they could.

 

Hi Pinklights,
Can you say when did you notice improvement in your spike?

 

@dan Sadly, this spike ended up being permanent (so far, at least).

 

@pinklights98

"I think my left ear has 80% recovered at this point, but my right ear, which was the ear closest to the car alarm, has not recovered at the same rate. However, I will say that even in my right ear I have noticed some improvement, as opposed to the beginning of the spike where it was exceedingly present."

 

@dan unfortunately I spoke too soon then, it ended up getting much worse again. I also suffered further traumas which sadly set me back even more

 

@pinklights98 I'm really sad to hear this. Was the worsening due to the new traumas or did it get spontaneously worse? Thanks for replying.

 

This condition is absolute garbage, how are we supposed to live like this I'll get a spike from every silly mistake I do whether significant or not, thanks to the further damage caused by an MRI.

 

Yep... MRIs should be given as a last resort. I emailed Siemens to ask about the db level in their “new” large core MRI. Two weeks now and my first spike in 15 years has not gotten better, and probably worse. All I know is my tinnitus was basically gone after 15 years, and now it is 10x worse than ever.

I am 17 days in, and I think I am f#$cked.‍♂️

Siemens seemed like they were concerned enough to reply and are now tracking my experience. Maybe the word on MRIs is getting out. I’ve been careful for 15 years but complacency with these MRIs have now ruined me for life.

But... what now? It sucks, there is no recourse....the MRI tech is probably getting high right now while I sit with this buzzing. I hate people who can’t do their jobs properly.

Oh well... pressing on... another day, another tired and zombie day and sleepless night.

Good luck to all.

 

Terrible. To have tinnitus gone only to come back 10x worse. OMG. Hopefully it dies down again.
Here's to quieter days ahead.

 

Yes, very frustrating and disheartening. Last year, I spiked from a ups truck, a horn blast from a big rig, and the alarm to wake up in the morning. Pretty ridiculous.

 

My tinnitus was also gone for two and a half years only to come back way worse by a car alarm.

 

Did your spike subside?

 

Hi all,

So yesterday was the worst day in a long time. I was out walking and had my daughter in a trolley. Was walking a quiet street so I had my noise cancelling phones around my neck. I wasn't using them as I’m trying not to overprotect.

Then, a car alarm goes off while I’m only a couple of meters away. It felt so loud!! And I couldn't get my noise cancelling headphones on at first, as the street is downhill and I had to put the breaks on the trolley first. I was exposed to five loud car alarm honks.

I experienced weird sensations in my tinnitus last night, a horrible new tone came on like fleeting tinnitus, only it didn't go away. My anxiety was through the roof. And today it seems to still be there. The weird part is I didn't get any ear pain from TTTS or hyperacusis, I usually do when something is loud and I freak out. This is definitely one of those episodes.

So, here I am, weekend ruined, in panic mode.

What should I do? Should I be scared? Like I said I was a couple of meters away, as far as I can remember it was five LOUD car alarm honks.

I'm scared to take prednisolone due to side effects, and also didn't find many people saying it helped, some even saying it worsened their tinnitus?

Thank you for any advice, I appreciate it.

Monica

 

This is discussion between us within your brief posting history. Review from starting at the top of this thread.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/posts/535390/

https://teachmeanatomy.info/head/cranial-nerves/accessory/

The cranial part of the accessory nerve is considered as part of the vagus nerve.

Note: The extracranial course of the accessory nerve is relatively superficial (it runs between the investing and prevertebral layers of fascia), and thus leaves it vulnerable to damage.

So it's possible that noise (many studies support this) that your sternocleidomastoid that is innervated by the accessory nerve has made you sensitive to impulse noise (beeps) or vibrations. Your sound video match is a strong indication of this. Ear wax or not friendly medications are about the only other two possibilities for a sound like yours.

Magnesium may help for two weeks use. Some studies say for 60 days. It's best to use 1/3 tablet - three times within 24 hours. Before use, research side effects.

 

Thank you @Greg Sacramento I’ll check this out as it might be the reason for my somatic tinnitus. My somatic tinnitus is always loud, but has not changed after this noise exposure. I don't feel noise ever had any effect on it.

The problem now is my high frequency noise induced tinnitus, it has definitely ramped up since yesterday's noise exposure.
I’m really scared. I will take some NAC and some magnesium and hope for the best.

Monica

 

How about a car honk in a garage that is sealed with the garage door closed?

I was at my parents house earlier and my mother's a bit impatient at times. Just entered the garage and she immediately honked the horn to get my attention to help her carry some groceries. As I mentioned, the garage door was closed. The walls and flooring are concrete and so it sounded super loud without any kind of sound insulation.

Any idea how loud it might be from 4-5 feet away in that scenario?