Do Jaw and Neck Movements Affect Your Tinnitus?

Hi all, I'm still trying to figure out how I developed tinnitus last September. Been seeing a few health care practitioners, trying a few things and reading up on it. I've had two hearing tests (hearing is absolutely fine) and an MRI (which showed nothing untoward. I had the MRI because I'd developed double vision hard on the heels of the tinnitus and my eye doctor sent me to a neuro-opthomologist, but the the specialist believes the two are unrelated, as the double vision is something I've had briefly in the past when my eyes are tired). And am now 99% positive the culprit is my jaw and neck. Nearly two years ago I'd begun clenching and grinding my teeth as a result of severe work-related stress. My dentist fitted me for a bite plane which protected my teeth but of course didn't stop the clenching/grinding. I had massage and chiro treatment for the jaw which helped immensely with the pain and tightness but the clenching never really went away. Those treatments had stopped well before tinnitus showed up, so I know they didn't cause the tinnitus.

Question: Does anyone else experience this - When you put your lower jaw forward, does your tinnitus get louder and/or go up in pitch? Then when you put your lower jaw back where it was, does the tinnitus actually become quieter for a little while? By 'quieter' I mean, quieter than before you even jutted your jaw out?

Also, does anyone else experience this - When you turn your head to the side, does your tinnitus get louder or go up in pitch? And then calms down when you face forward again?

I'm seeing an ENT this coming Monday, after a 7-month wait.

 

I can also produce a tinnitus-like tone in myself through jaw movements or head rotations. But I'm not sure whether these "tones" were already there before the permanent tinnitus...

 

Thanks for replying. How do you know your tinnitus is permanent?

 

My permanent tinnitus is not always equally intense. I have good days to be distracted for hours and days to fight for survival.
I haven't found a pattern yet, so some days are o.k. and other days are a horror.

 

@Bhríde Within this link, go to Table 1 of Movement/Maneuver. Within that chart go to the bottom and read maneuver of C1 and C2.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2633109/

Then go to this link and read the last three paragraphs
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~rswenson/NeuroSci/chapter_7B.html

Cranial nerves and nerve fibers in relation to the C1 and C2 can cause rolling problems throughout the face, jaw and neck, but the exact areas are always affected. There is a direct straight line from the C1 and C2 to the jaw. They are inline.

We can talk more if you wish. Be positive there's treatment that can help.

 

I an do the exact same thing with my jaw. You are not alone..

 

Thanks for those links. I don't think I ever saw these!

 

Hope your ENT appt. goes well. You could watch this video relating to TMJ/tinnitus:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/possible-tmj.26586/#post-307927

 

Hey thanks for all that info! I printed those resources off and showed them to my chiropractor who's been working on my C1 and C2. She also believes the culprit is my jaw and neck.

Last week I began a new treatment with my massage therapist who is certified to do Rapid Adhesion Release therapy. Interesting stuff. He told me we will know within 2 - 3 treatments whether or not this will help resolve the tinnitus.

It's difficult at times to keep up hope, but I'm determined to find a solution.

Thanks again.

 

Keep us updated on your progress!

 

@Bhríde RAR therapy should help you. The muscles of the jaw interact with cranial nerves. Muscles within the neck and the throat associate with the first three cervical vertebrae and movements of the jaw.

Good going. Let us know how it goes. Send me a PM - alert too.