Have Hope, Positive Vibrations

Hello Everyone,

I've had noise induced tinnitus for 12 years. I have been drumming since the age of 4 and believe that the cumulative effect of playing for so many years is what led to my tinnitus and hearing loss at a young age. Also playing without hearing protection for so long. I also wonder at other potential causes (or at least things that may have expedited further tinnitus and hearing loss) such as poor diet throughout my twenties, jaw problems/grinding teeth (a lifelong problem), and some treatments I've tried.

I'm sure most of Us remember exactly when We first had tinnitus... I was playing a show and had only recently begun to use hearing protection when playing music. Of course, sometimes it is hard to hear with ear plugs in and I took mine out to better hear my bandmates and after that show the ringing in my ears (as usually happened when playing music) did not go away... I have tried various remedies to try to cure my tinnitus and it's symptoms but so far nothing has really worked. I have a number of theories as to some more Natural ways to help with Tinnitus but have not experimented with any of them long enough to see if they work. Perhaps my introductory post isn't the best place for some of my ideas and they may be better suited to other threads but I will mention them anyway and perhaps I can be directed to the more appropriate places on the forums.

I understand that birds and fish can regenerate their damaged hair cells and have wondered if it's because they are in the trees (higher elevation, more oxygen) and the water (more oxygen) respectively. I also read an account years ago of an older man who was on a ski trip with his daughter and when they were taking the chairlift his ears popped and his tinnitus disappeared. I attribute it to the higher elevation but of course it's only a story and I can't be sure. I have also wondered about people who are blind whose other senses are heightened after the loss of another. If people with (noise induced?) tinnitus were to stop using our eyes for hours, weeks, months, or even years, would our ears adapt and regain some of our hearing? Also, would being at higher elevations, in the trees, and in water help us regain/regenerate some of our ability to hear?

I have mostly habituated to my tinnitus but of course there are bad days and weeks even. My hearing and tinnitus seems to constantly get worse even though I have not played in a band in years and rarely play music anymore but it seems that once damage is done, any little thing can make it worse (I also have hyperacusis). Daily life is so noisy now it's hard not to be bothered by something everyday... Cutlery clanging, coffee steamers hissing at work, noisy vehicles/squeaky brakes while outside, etc... Also, the few doctors and specialists I have seen over the years seem to be so behind the times on tinnitus research and treatments it is quite disappointing... Sadly, I haven't had the money to seriously pursue any treatment in the last few years but have decided to make more of an effort this year to try to find some relief from this disease.

Anyway, I apologize for such a long and disjointed post but hope You all have a way of managing with your Tinnitus and Hyperacusis and that You continue to have hope because that's all that's left sometimes.

Positive Vibrations!!

Eric

 

I should add that I've been looking around the forums for a few weeks now and have looked at a number of threads concerning some of my thoughts (hyberbaric oxygen chamber, etc.) in the treatments and research threads but haven't really looked through the alternative treatments threads yet.

 

Eric,

Some good theories. I'm a big skier but haven't skied since receiving T. (Plus I now live in Florida) Maybe a trip to Aspen next year might do me some good?

Sorry you suffer so much and all because of loud music. That probably contributed to my T also. I just love loud music, coming out of good equipment! (Well, up until last year anyway!) }:-(

To bad God didn't give humans, the same regenerative hair cells, like so many of the lower species. I guess he figured we'd be smart enough, to figure out a cure eventually? I Just wish we had, 75 years ago, before the advent, of electric music!

Funny, we could land a man on the moon, in 1969 but can't figure out how to cure this maddening symptom?

God bless,

Sailboardman