Elevated RBC / HCT — Polycythemia — Tinnitus / Pulsatile Tinnitus

Hello,

Recently for 7 months I have had constantly elevated (above normal) red blood / haemocrit HCT levels. This is a normally a diagnosis of Polycythemia Primary or Secondary, which generally isn't good.

The Tinnitus/Pulsatile Tinnitus was the reason behind my getting a CBC and finding the elevated levels. Apparently Tinnitus is a side effect of thick blood.

Anyone else out there experienced this?
Any info appreciated.

 

@melbournejeremy

Hi Jeremy: There's only been one case reported for this to cause PT and that guy had very high levels of iron and very low adsorption of B12 and D. He also had TMJ and a bad neck, but no specific neck problems mentioned. There's probably unreported cases.

From reading your history and the type of T input that you are having from your jaw and (cheek) facial, I would think this is causing PT by way of trigeminal. This probably all started from your C1 and C2 with occipital nerve stress. Over sensitive teeth is caused from clenching, but also with influence from SCM muscle spasms and with some input from other neck muscles and deep fibers.

This is all classic research of somatic, neck and facial with case study support.

Usually a thin mouth guard is recommended along with gentle neck stretching exercises and SCM muscle pulling. The stretching exercise: Sit in a chair and relax shoulders with good straight posture. Gently and slowly move head back about a half inch. Stretch head upwards and at the same time inhale. Then relax head and exhale. Don't move head forward. Do this a few times and at other times during the day as you wish. In weeks you may see improvement with PT.

Massage the bottom of your chin and then gently under your jaw. There's YouTube video's on how to gently pull the SCM muscles. As doctor Mandell has said, no high pressure exercises for the neck with tinnitus. Especially with PT. Don't force neck side to side against resistance.

The neck and facial is almost always in play with somatic and PT tinnitus, but PT can involve many things.

 

Hi Greg,

Thanks for your suggestions.

Before experiencing this myself I would have dismissed anyone who said they had tinnitus. I have found it to be absolutely debilitating and I sympathize with everyone who is going through this.

Non stop high pitched tinnitus that pulsates has certainly profoundly changed my life for the worse.

I have seen your posts and specifically the flow chart for imaging recommendations.

I wonder if you could offer your advice. I have had two scans MRI and MRA (head) in a 1.5T siemens big-bore machine without contrast. I have the images here and I have looked over them myself a few times and compared them with a 3T machine and the resolution is noticeably worse . I wonder if a 1.5T machine especially considering it is a big bore size (intensity of a field and inverse square law) can produce decent enough images to see nerves and any subtle interactions. Any thoughts?

What other imaging recommendations would you suggest? I was considering a c-spine xray and/or MRI c-spine and perhaps a TMJ specific MRI with bite changes during the scan.

I am in Australia and it is possible to just pay up-front around $300 for MRI and report, don't need specialist referral since non ionizing radiation. Specialists like Neuro etc are booked for months and months and mostly just end up relying on imaging anyway.

Thanks.

 

@melbournejeremy I would get a cervical X RAY. Then a cervical 3T MRI for nerves, tissues and muscles. You won't need a CT. This isn't my opinion - it's advice from radiological sites. MRI for TMJ is fine.

Update: Don't get a CT of jaw. The radiation can mess with the facial nerve.