Ear Spasm / Deep Flutter

[BobDigi]

Hi. I was wondering if anybody could help me.

Over the last month, in the ear I have tinnitus in, I have been experiencing an noise and feeling in my ear.

The best way I can describe it is as a spasm or vibration with a fairly deep noise. I have no noticeable hearing loss, it doesn't react to noise, and it seems completely random.

It happening roughly 50 percent of the time. It can last for hours or minutes at a time.
Apart from this noise and feeling, nothing has changed.

Has anybody had this? And does anybody know what it could be?

I have a doctor's appointment on the 10th of next month. But personal experience makes me think he/she won't know!

 

[annV]

Hi. I was wondering if anybody could help me.

Over the last month, in the ear I have tinnitus in, I have been experiencing an noise and feeling in my ear.

The best way I can describe it is as a spasm or vibration with a fairly deep noise. I have no noticeable hearing loss, it doesn't react to noise, and it seems completely random.

It happening roughly 50 percent of the time. It can last for hours or minutes at a time.
Apart from this noise and feeling, nothing has changed.

Has anybody had this? And does anybody know what it could be?

I have a doctor's appointment on the 10th of next month. But personal experience makes me think he/she won't know!

Do you have eustachian tube dysfunction? Could that be it?

 

[BobDigi]

Do you have eustachian tube dysfunction? Could that be it?

Yeah I think it might be. I just months know. Perhaps when the doctor looks in my ear he may see fluid. But who knows?
I was hoping maybe somebody may have had the same thing, and have some answers!

 

[Starthrower]

This happened to me years ago. For my case it was that weird flutter/spasm low rumble sound. It was a sinus infection that needed antibiotics.

It went away for me when the infection cleared up.

There may be several other reasons and I hope you clear it up with your doctor's appointment.

 

[Lane]

The best way I can describe it is as a spasm or vibration

Sounds a lot like Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS).

Here's the introduction to the article:

Tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) is abnormal activity of the tensor tympani muscle of the middle ear that is responsible for protecting the inner ear from loud sounds.

The tensor tympani muscle (in combination with the stapedius muscle) is a reflexive, involuntary muscle contraction that occurs when you speak, when you chew food, and when an external loud sound occurs, to protect your ears from hearing those sounds at damaging levels.

When the muscles contract in response to the potentially damaging sound, the tiny bones of the middle ear (ossicles) move to tighten the eardrum (hence the name tensor tympani), which in turn reduces the level of transmission of the sound to the inner ear. It is a protective reflex used to protect the ear from sudden loud noise.

When the tensor tympani muscle is reacting properly to sounds, you don't even know it exists. The word "tonic" in the description of this syndrome refers to continuous muscle contraction. With tonic tensor tympani syndrome, the reflex threshold for the muscle contraction is reduced and you become aware of the muscle's frequent spasms (hypercontraction). The increased activity of the tensor tympani muscle is activated by the perception, or even anticipation of loud sounds and is anxiety-driven.​

 

[Gman]

Sounds a lot like Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS).

Here's the introduction to the article:

Tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) is abnormal activity of the tensor tympani muscle of the middle ear that is responsible for protecting the inner ear from loud sounds.

The tensor tympani muscle (in combination with the stapedius muscle) is a reflexive, involuntary muscle contraction that occurs when you speak, when you chew food, and when an external loud sound occurs, to protect your ears from hearing those sounds at damaging levels.

When the muscles contract in response to the potentially damaging sound, the tiny bones of the middle ear (ossicles) move to tighten the eardrum (hence the name tensor tympani), which in turn reduces the level of transmission of the sound to the inner ear. It is a protective reflex used to protect the ear from sudden loud noise.

When the tensor tympani muscle is reacting properly to sounds, you don't even know it exists. The word "tonic" in the description of this syndrome refers to continuous muscle contraction. With tonic tensor tympani syndrome, the reflex threshold for the muscle contraction is reduced and you become aware of the muscle's frequent spasms (hypercontraction). The increased activity of the tensor tympani muscle is activated by the perception, or even anticipation of loud sounds and is anxiety-driven.​

Yep. It's psychosomatic and pretty terrible if it becomes chronic, as it did for me, although starting to get past it after a year and a half (fingers crossed).
Sometimes a flutter, sometimes thumping and even complete seizing up of the muscles for days and days with other nasty side effects.
Just know it's not doing any damage.

 

[BobDigi]

Yep. It's psychosomatic and pretty terrible if it becomes chronic, as it did for me, although starting to get past it after a year and a half (fingers crossed).
Sometimes a flutter, sometimes thumping and even complete seizing up of the muscles for days and days with other nasty side effects.
Just know it's not doing any damage.

Are you just getting used to it? Or does it get better?

 

[Gman]

Are you just getting used to it? Or does it get better?

@BobDigi Im at a stage where I know what's going and what it means, so I don't get concerned about it. But it's annoying and there's no telling how long it's going to stay contracted unless I take clonazepam (which I haven't for quite a while now).
I've recently enjoyed days of the lowest T and H for 1.5years (both almost non existent), with no tensor tympani issues, so I know it can be ok. It cycles from becoming more and more sensitive to reverting to normal again.
Overall I think it's slowly getting better, but still happens every week or two. It impacts on me less and I just get on with it. Currently as I write this it is jammed up again.

Yours could even be middle ear myclonus, maybe. If there's no reaction to sounds.
Do you take magnesium citrate or glycinate?

 

[BobDigi]

I'm taking a vitabiotics cheap magnesium, vit d, zinc suplement. Is magnesium citrate better?

 

[Gman]

I'm taking a vitabiotics cheap magnesium, vit d, zinc suplement. Is magnesium citrate better?

I've read that glycinate is the best one to be taking, as it is absorbed better than the other kinds. It's what I take. Also I think citrate might be good too.

 

[BobDigi]

I've read that glycinate is the best one to be taking, as it is absorbed better than the other kinds. It's what I take. Also I think citrate might be good too.

Thanks, after doing a little research online I decided to buy some citrate on Amazon. These things never work yet I always try them! Thanks again.

 

[Flutterlug 77]

Hey G man and Bob digi, and everyone else who has just shed light on my ongoing quandary which would now appear to be indicative of TTTS, I've had similar symptoms in a lesser intensity for years but the last 18 months have become a real issue and after getting a ct scan of my napper and explaining everything you guys are talking about to the ENT specialist I've still not been informed of any results (scan being April!) the mention of anxiety makes particular sense as it becomes part of the problem when so called specialists don't realise how much it is affecting your mental health and your loved ones!! Not to mention that kettle chips are off the menu forever! . Seriously though feel better finding this chat, Flutterlug 77

 

[Gman]

Hey G man and Bob digi, and everyone else who has just shed light on my ongoing quandary which would now appear to be indicative of TTTS, I've had similar symptoms in a lesser intensity for years but the last 18 months have become a real issue and after getting a ct scan of my napper and explaining everything you guys are talking about to the ENT specialist I've still not been informed of any results (scan being April!) the mention of anxiety makes particular sense as it becomes part of the problem when so called specialists don't realise how much it is affecting your mental health and your loved ones!! Not to mention that kettle chips are off the menu forever! . Seriously though feel better finding this chat, Flutterlug 77

ENTs won't be of much help. A good audiologist might be, although in my experience they both made things worse for me. A CT scan won't show up anything TTTS or middle ear myclonus related because there's nothing actually wrong. It's a malfunctioning reaction of the middle ear muscles mostly to sound, but can even be from head/neck movement, or stress. It's a psychosomatic issue. Take comfort from the fact that there's no damage being done and is just really annoying.

You should not let them perform a tympanometry, sound tolerance (LDL) test, or any test that involves sound that can be rather loud. Be cautious about any tests that are suggested, because there's a risk they may just make things worse.