A Difficult Week of Ear Pain, Ibuprofen Concern, and Worry about Hearing Loss

[Scrambled]

Having had trouble with my left ear for months, I then had a severe noise exposure incident, likely over 120 dB, in my right ear on Wednesday. This happened two days before I was scheduled to see the ENT about the left-ear issues.

Their hearing test showed high-normal hearing that was more or less matched in both ears about 40 hours afterward, but I know I have lost something, especially in the right ear. I used to be hypersensitive to high frequencies.

When the incident happened, I took arnica and Ibuprofen for the pain in my ear, which then spread into my face over the next day. I took two tablets at a time, semi-consistently over two or three days. I assumed that Ibuprofen would help reduce inflammation.

I have now discovered that it is ototoxic, so I may have worsened the condition of my injured ear in three ways:

1. the initial acoustic incident
2. added pressure from blowing my nose hard several times and doing the Valsalva maneuver 48 hours afterward
3. taking Ibuprofen, with the best of intentions

I already suffer from severe anxiety. The doctor's reassuring report helped briefly, but now the anxiety is back in full force.

I have quietly booked myself a second audiometry test at a private hearing clinic, but it is not until next week. I am praying I have not caused further damage beyond that first moment, and that I did not harm it further while trying to help it in the only ways I knew.

What would you advise for supporting further recovery of the ear?

 

[GregCA]

taking Ibuprofen, with the best of intentions

What I read on PubMed about NSAIDs causing ototoxicity is that the doses and duration are key. I typically don't worry about occasional use with "OTC dosage" (i.e., what the dosage on the box says).

 

[BeepBeep]

Don't worry about the Ibuprofen. Almost every medication in the world has tinnitus listed as a reported side effect. They might as well include people who were struck by lightning after taking the pill.

 

[Scrambled]

Thank you both.

One more concern, which I can't bring myself to get checked. I had a clear hearing test about 40 hours after the incident, and then I stopped Ibuprofen out of fear of its possible ototoxic effect, as I hadn't thought to ask the ENT about treating the pain when I saw him at the time.

Is it possible for hearing to still decline or be damaged from 48 to 72 hours after the incident? I worry that not treating the later inflammation may still have caused damage.