Constantly Popping Ears Caused Tinnitus?

[avocadoo]

I'm sixteen and have pretty bad tinnitus in both ears. Can't sleep without a fan on.

When I brush/poke my right ear my left ear makes a rumbling sound (what is this?).

Anyway, to the point- I started popping my ears like 3 years ago and then my tinnitus progressively got worse and worse. Did I damage my ears by popping them so much? What's even happening when I "pop" them? Even when I don't pop them on purpose they pop now when I yawn/swallow/burp.

At random times (only happens maybe once a month or so) the ringing will get really loud for a few minutes and then go back down.

Another weird thing: when I would pop my ears my right eyelid would start twitching randomly? Doesn't happen anymore but how is that connected??

Sorry for panicky post, I was just doing my math homework when I had this sudden panic attack about how I've totally screwed up my ears forever. I can't find much online about people popping ears voluntarily + tinnitus.

big thanks to anyone who takes the time out of their day to read this mess

 

[Luman]

Probably not, an ENT that I went to, who has tinnitus himself, said that gentle ear popping is safe.

 

[Sven]

I don't know why, but when I have periods of increased (or imagined increased) tinnitus, I tend to try popping my ears all the time. It has never ever worked, but still I keep trying.

And, funny you should mention it, when I was home sick with the flu last week I tried again and then I felt a blood vein twitch in my right eyelid as well. I believe popping somehow increases blood flow in the head and that they're being connected that way. I never experienced that before, and it was a little scary, actually.