Cervical Spondylosis & Tinnitus

Last year I had RF neuro ablations to my lower cervical facet joints, but I believe they used dexamethasone injections to my upper cervical facet joints. I sure would like to be rid of my loud left ear hissing and hope this is the answer for some of us. I will consult with Advanced Pain Management who did the RF neuro ablations last year.

It seems like I'm constantly changing my viewpoint of the source my tinnitus, but maybe this time it will pan out.

 

I am seeing someone tomorrow at Advanced Pain Management to discuss neuro ablation of the C2 facet joints to see if there is a possible connection to my tinnitus. I would have forgot the appt. if I hadn't talked to a nurse there today, as it was made months ago. The noise is very disturbing and I need to at least look at this possible treatment. My ablation last year was up to the C3 level I was told today.

 

I have a appt. scheduled for April 10th for a cervical (C2-C3) nerve test block injection to see if that helps my tinnitus. I guess it is thinking somewhat out of the box like @Per mentioned, but we have to do that sometimes instead of thinking only of inner ear hair cell damage that gets mentioned so much here. I am also trying Nasonex for a month or so for possible ETD.

What are the choices for us chronic sufferers? I tried SoundCure and hearing aids, but neither one was effective for me. I suppose Neuromonics or TRT is a possibility, but at this point neither one sounds too appealing to me.

 

Just updating on my C2-C3 nerve block test injections on April 10th. I am unsure if the nerve block injections helped my ringing as I fell asleep and woke up with loud left ear buzzing, so probably not I would say. I just talked to someone at Advanced Pain Management and they said I had steroids injected also at the C2-C3, so I will have to evaluate my tinnitus at a later time as they could take longer to take effect I was told.

Somewhat confusing information, but anyway I have a evaluation on April 24th to discuss if the steroids helped my tinnitus then. The nerve block only lasts about 5-6 hours I'm told.

 

I found these articles today and will inquire tomorrow at my appt. with Advanced Pain Management on the possibility of this causing tinnitus at the C1-C2 level.

http://www.tinnitusjournal.com/detalhe_artigo.asp?id=304#

http://bniembarcadero.com/tinnitis-ringing-in-the-ears-and-vertigo/

 

May I humbly recommend seeing a different NUCCA or Atlas Orthogonal chiro? Mine took a total of six x-rays (five and one re-shoot) after an extensive history and battery of tests, and after each one left the room to check the film saying that she wouldn't continue unless she thought she could help. She showed me and my family the x-rays, talked me through exactly what was wrong, and did exactly ONE adjustment. I've seen videos on YouTube where an AO does an adjustment, feels the neck, does another...no. There's a complex formula they are supposed to apply based on the angle of your C1 and any abnormal rotation. The adjustment itself is basically imperceptible, but shortly after mine I could feel the effect on the muscles of the back of my neck. "Feel" as in with my hand, not the neck itself.

I'm talking about Atlas Orthogonal, so some experiences my be different, but after the adjustment I was told to take no exercise for fully three weeks and then add in bodyweight training one movement at a time. My doctor has repeatedly reminded me that nerves heal very slowly. I'm in my third week of recovery now and feel much more energetic. Had two weekends of very mild tinnitus already, and things really are looking up. It'd be a shame to give up on a promising therapy just because of one bad practitioner.

EDIT: Thanks for all the research, btw. Any update on your nerve block?

 

@rtwombly

That's great your having good luck with upper atlas treatments for your tinnitus and thanks for the update. I would never say never on looking at anything to help my tinnitus as it is so annoying. I would gladly be humbled and have less or no noise if it works. There is a local upper cervical doctor that I could see if you think it's working for you. The other one was 1 hr. 40 min. away.

The last visit I was told was not a nerve block but dexamethasone injections I believe. Tomorrow morning I will have a nerve block test injection in the C2-C3 area. It is required for insurance before doing the radio frequency neuro ablation.

 

All the best on that. Please keep us posted. Ablation sound like a radical step to me, but the nerve block itself should be a good diagnostic tool, whatever you decide to do with it. Have you read this?

http://www.chiro.org/ACAPress/Cervical_Spine_Trauma.html
"The vertebral nerve (sympathetic) courses along the vertebral artery within the arterial foramen of the cervical transverse processes. Irritation to this nerve can occur from mechanical irritation to the vertebral artery anywhere along its course producing symptoms of a vasomotor nature; eg, headache, vertigo, tinnitus, nasal disturbances, facial pain, facial flushing, and pharyngeal paresthesias. Cailliet points out that although sympathetic fibers have not been found along the cervical roots, surgical decompression of an entrapped nerve root relieves symptoms attributed to the sympathetics. The mechanism for this effect is unclear."

Later, on the same page:

"Irritative lesions involving the cervical articulations may in turn irritate the sympathetic nerve plexuses ascending into the head via the vertebral and carotid arteries. Some cases of visual and aural symptoms are related to upper-cervical distortion where the arch of the atlas snugly hugs the occiput, thus possibly irritating the sympathetic plexus near the vertebral artery as well as partially compressing the vessel. To appreciate this, note that the visual cortical area of the occipital lobe requires an ideal blood supply dependent on the sympathetics ascending the great vessels of the neck, and this holds true for the inner ear as well. To test this syndrome, De Rusha suggests having the supine patient read some printed matter while the examiner places gentle traction on the skull, separating the atlanto-occipital articulations. A positive sign occurs when the patient, often to his surprise, experiences momentarily enhanced visual acuity or reduced tinnitus."

It astounds me that so many ENTs, GPs, and others tell us that nothing can be done. I think what they're really saying is, "I don't know what to do, and I don't think your insurance will pay me to find out."

 

Hopefully you and I can find some relief! I will update on the neuro ablations if I get them done (need approval first). Please do update on your upper cervical progress as I may revisit that if it works for you.

It only lasts about a year as the nerves grow back, so not that radical. Appt. today was cancelled as they did not have the insurance done. First time I ever had to go home after being ready to have the procedure done. Loud hissing today.

 

@rtwombly

Just was wondering if upper cervical adjustments are still helping you? My tinnitus is really punishing me today, so I will see a upper cervical chiropractor Monday. I will have new x-rays taken to see if my atlas is off, causing me so much agony lately.

The neuro ablation procedure was approved they told me today, but got pushed back to mid-May.

 

What do you mean, what is an ear popper? I'm sorry I don't know what that is.

 

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-earpopper-machine.1061/#post-36294

I hope your doing better @Littlebailey; sometimes it can be a battle not knowing how to lessen you noise. I tried Gabapentin + Klonopin and also Nasonex, Sudafed, & Claritin and finally I am calming down the noise somewhat, but not sure what all helped? Oh I think I also took 1000 mg of niacin.

 

Thanks for that link! I have some ear pressure issues myself. Hope you're doing well.

 

i went to a nucca 4x and i was out of alignment... didnt help with my tinnitus though, i quit going ....

 

Am considering the atlas orthogonal as the tinnitus started after I fell on my left side and I believe I jarred my neck! Have you continued to have positve results?