Could I Have Caused My Pulsatile Tinnitus with Aggressive Water Squirting Into Ear Canal?

I have had pulsatile tinnitus for the last two months in my right ear (55 year old male). I've seen an ENT consultant and am waiting for an MRI appointment in the next few weeks.

A few months ago I was getting wax build up in my left ear. I used a water squirter with a thin hose that I put in my left ear canal after using oil for a few days to soften up the wax and it did a good job in clearing out the wax. I did the right ear while I was at it and also got some wax from there. Five days later the pulsatile tinnitus started in the right ear. My GP said I shouldn't have used the squirter as it's not precise and targets the whole ear canal. The ENT consultant was non committal when I asked him if this could have been the cause of my pulsatile tinnitus. He was quite brusque. I think he doesn't want to comment until after the scan.

Has anybody heard of somebody triggering pulsatile tinnitus like this, and if so, did the injury clear up? My pulsatile tinnitus has been consistent since it started, getting no worse or better. Is it a coincidence or a self inflicted injury? I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.

 

Hi KTC1966.

Pulsatile tinnitus is the rhythmic sound of the heart beating through the blood vessels around the neck and outer ear. A doctor can hear this by placing a stethoscope at these locations. Have you been diagnosed with pulsatile tinnitus? If you haven't then your tinnitus could have been caused by squirting water into your ear. It wasn't a good idea to do this, as you may have caused some irritation to your ear.

Although the ear is a delicate organ it is quite resilient and with time heal itself. For this reason many ENT doctors prefer to leave it alone to allow this to happen, before considering any treatment particularly with tinnitus. Providing you are not experiencing any deafness, problems with your balance, acute pain in the ears or dizziness? It is likely your doctor will suggest, to wait and see how things progress once nothing shows up on your MRI.

Please click on the links below and read my posts that you might find helpful.

All the best,
Michael

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Thanks Michael, I'll wait and see what the scan shows up, or hopefully it will sort itself out in the meantime if it's a mild injury.

 

I believe you'll be alright KTC. Try not to use any type of headphones even at low volume. Use low level sound enrichment especially at night. More information about this is in my posts.

 

I would wait some months with the MRI...

 

I got pulsatile tinnitus from using the same kind of device to clean ears....I used oil for a week and then irrigated my ears...I have had pulsatile tinnitus for 12 months now which has not changed in volume...very upsetting.

 

I am sorry to hear about your discomfort Neil, and hope the tinnitus improves in the future which is possible. Have you been examined at ENT and diagnosed with pulsatile tinnitus? If you have, that's fine, but if not, then you probably have normal tinnitus better known as subjective tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus which is objective, is the regular sound of the heart beating through the blood vessels around the neck and outer ear as mentioned in the post above.

There are treatments for both types of tinnitus. Since I am familiar with subjective tinnitus my advice is to see an audiologist or hearing therapist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management. Sound therapy, counselling, relaxation therapy and medication can help relieve tinnitus symptoms. One or a combination of these treatments might be helpful.

If you do have subjective tinnitus and had some trauma to your inner ear, my advice is not to use any type of headphones even at low volume. If you are not using sound enrichment as night, it's probably a good idea to start. More information is in the links in the post above.

All the best,
Michael

 

Hello Michael thank you for your sympathy and advice. Yes I have been to a specialist private ent and the gp and they all said that nothing can be done without invasive tests which I am not willing to do as it can make the situation worse. I had normal tinnitus for 3 months then silence for 5 days and then the pulsatile tinnitus started and has been there for 9 months with no change. People say that pulsatile is a vascular problem but it can also be caused from squirting water in your ear as that is what caused mine. I don't want an mri as I do not believe I have a vascular problem as it was all linked to the irrigation procedure. What makes it worse is I did this to myself. Yes I am using sound enrichment which helps but I think the best thing to do is protect my hearing and give my ears time to heal without further invasive tests only to be told that yes I do have pulsatile tinnitus from irrigation but there is nothing they can do. I see you trying to help lots of us on here which is nice of you....thank you

 

Thank you for your kind comments @Neil Butcher, and I understand your reasons for not wanting further tests. I also believe the increase in your tinnitus was caused by squirting water in your ear but you didn't know this could cause problems. Improvement can happen so give it time for your ears to heal.

I agree with you to continue using low level sound enrichment whenever possible and particularly at night. Protecting your hearing is the right approach but advise against overusing hearing protection, especially using foam earplugs which often cause more harm than good. Please read my post: Hyperacusis, As I See It.

Take care and wishing you all the best,
Michael

Hyperacusis, As I See It | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Hello agin Michael....I have read a lot of the advice that you have given to others and I implement it. As you said I will give it time and protect my ears with ear defenders but only when around noise or potential noise. I wont use earplugs or headphones at all and I will keep you updated of any changes if that's OK. To the original poster....sorry for typing so much on your thread but you got your tinnitus the same way I did so I thought it was relevant to your post. Mine is very upsetting but others have it worse. Good luck everybody...stay strong.

 

Just as a follow up to my original post:

I had an MRI at the start of January which showed nothing obvious amiss apart from a slightly deviated septum.

This week, over a period of a couple of days the pulsing in my right ear started to fade and I would now say it's at about 10-20% of the original level, reducing to such an extent that I'm barely aware of it at night time and not at all during the day. I hope it may clear up fully in due course.

I'm sure it's coincidental but I developed a fungal infection in my left ear a week ago. That's nearly cleared up with the use of prescribed drops, there's a bit of buzzing that I believe should clear up in the next week or so.

It's a great relief not having to wear headband earphones playing soundscapes all night (a train !!) in order to get to sleep, and I hope the improvement is permanent.

Lesson learned as well about the sensitivity of the ear and I will never again use the water squirter or any other aggressive treatment.

Thanks for your advice Michael and I hope Neil that your symptoms will also clear up in time.

 

Hello. I am so happy that your tinnitus is improving as it gives hope to others who got tinnitus from irrigating their ears. My pulsatile tinnitus is still with me but I am coping better and still hoping for some improvement.

Can I ask has your tinnitus improved even more since your last post? I really hope it has totally gone away.