Head Trauma, Neck and TMJ Issues Since.

[Shera]

While cleaning snow off my chicken cage roof/coup my ladder slipped and fell straight down. The ring came immediately after I came to. I immediately popped my nose in place and latter that day pulled my jaw back. I couldn't afford to go to the doctor, my insurance doesn't cover it and won't until I hit an amount I don't have. I was in so much pain that I didn't worry about the T noise until a bit later. Made sure I hadn't done anything bad to my jaw and then had a hearing test to make sure it was all good and well.

I never considered that I might have TMJ issues. This all happened around December and the winter noises of the house helped to cover up most of the noise and by the end of February the T noise was pretty quiet. Not sure if I had gotten use to it or it settled down. I was having a lot of ear pain and thought it was an ear infection. I slept with a heat pad on my ear for an hour each night for a week and tried to help the ear pain. It apparently loosened the muscles of my jaw and it nocked my poor jaw out of place. The noise was insane. The hearing place that I went back to check my hearing and ear giving it all a clean bill. Even saying I had super hearing. They advised me blowing 300 dollars (at the least) on an ENT wouldn't be wise and actually advised me to go to alternative medicine.

I've been getting treatment for TMJ which has been helping with the amount of noise. Sadly it's still out as I now have pressurize issues since the heat pack incident. Though that's gotten better, standing up no longer makes my ears pop, though elevations changes are still hard. I know when my neck and jaw get to certain positions, inflammation, and so on the ring intensifies. I'm going to a chiropractor and massage therapist, the massage therapist most recently which has been a blessing on the TMJ.

March I went of the deep end as the winter noises left the house in silence. I kept it together to the middle of April until sever depression hit. I've never really been depressed before. Mildly during my parents health issues, but never like this. Even experienced some suicidal thoughts to which I immediately told my mother and got help. May was bad as I struggled and mid way I decided I wouldn't be beaten by T.

I had tried to keep noise going, but I've been trying to be okay in the silence of the house more and more. Most of my favorite activities involve quiet (and I was a huge quiet person before this). My T can over power the TV, but I resist turning up the volume because I know if I can lose myself in the show I don't notice it much. I've also been getting back into reading (my love) and have even tried to not fear reading in silence.

It's been very hit and miss with my good days. I know that I'm focusing too much on the T and I've kind of made a habit of it. Normally I'm a mind drifter and it keeps going on the T. I've been able to get back to sleeping and it doesn't take too long to sleep. I can't use masking noises to get to sleep, and now that the physical pain is going down and the muscle spasms I'm slowly catching up on sleep.

I know my biggest issue is that I'm listening too and for the ring way too much. Even when I know I can't hear it.

My mom has had it for a long time and she can chill in the silence like a champ. I feel so guilty for handling it poorly and for reminding her that she has it all the time. Recently now that I'm no longer depressed I've accepted that it's there and that it may always be there. The positive person in me holds out hope that it will get quieter and maybe someday even go away.

Now the weather is better I'm gardening, doing projects, reading, and taking on some jobs again.

Thanks all, reading threads here is what really kicked my butt into getting over the T and moving on.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

The first thing that I thought of after reading your post is a mild case of tonic tympani. If your vision is fine along with your balance and not having severe headaches, you should be fine within a year. Usually in months, but sometimes it takes longer. Try sleeping carefully with pillows not to high and sleep on either side with shoulder resting towards neck. Try not to bend your neck forward for more than a few minutes at a time.

Have someone using two fingers very gently with no pressure move their fingers on an angle from the top of the back of your neck slowly down under ear to the sides of your jaw. Have them do this very softly for 10 minutes. If this helps just a little, then have someone continue this treatment three or four times a day. While it's being done, relax, sit straight and keep a straight neck. Focus on nothing, close your eyes and don't hold much of a conversion with the person doing this. Complete relaxation is needed. After this is done be careful with neck and jaw movements for another 15 minutes. The neck picks up signals of stress and tension.

 

[billie48]

My mom has had it for a long time and she can chill in the silence like a champ. I feel so guilty for handling it poorly and for reminding her that she has it all the time. Recently now that I'm no longer depressed I've accepted that it's there and that it may always be there. The positive person in me holds out hope that it will get quieter and maybe someday even go away.

Welcome to the forum Shera. Acceptance is a powerful way to help calm the nerves and the negative reactions to tinnitus, which is bad for T. So the more positive and calm you are, the more likely that your T is less intrusive. Your mom has obviously gotten over the initial phase of fear and worry about T and has accepted the new normal of living with T. This actually will help the brain by keeping the 'fight or flight' limbic nerves off. By so doing, we can cope with T much better. When we learn to accept the new normal, things will improve. But acceptance takes time. So you need not push yourself too hard to be like your mom who has had years and years to absorb T in her life. Take it easy a bit to let your body to some healing.

 

[Shera]

If your vision is fine along with your balance and not having severe headaches, you should be fine within a year.

@Greg Sacramento I hope so. It had gotten really good at the end of Feb/beginning of March but I made it flare up! I hope it will. It's slowly getting better. I never had balance or vision issues. (Though I did have a bit of blurred vision a week ago, but my chiro put me in place.) The massages have been a huge help and things do get calmer with them. Though I find at night or if I sit on the couch my T get very intrusive (AKA louder). Strangely I can now sleep in total "silence" and I actually prefer that. Though when I'm really working hard it sometimes gets quieter or louder. (See to focused on it. ^_-)

@billie48 Thanks. I know my panic attacks and depression have not helped it. Now that I'm getting to a calmer place I feel better. Though trying too be in silence too much may have been to rash a decision just coming out of my anxiety. So I'm playing music more and trying to focus on the nature noises outside while gardening and taking care of my girls (chickens). It's odd that the nature noises outside make me more aware of my T noise. When before it blocked it out.

My mom is a trooper and she did confess to me that it drove her crazy when it first came on and that's been decades ago. My grandfather even confessed that he still has "bad days" and turns music on after more than 50 years and his doesn't have a change in volume like I do. So that helps.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Shera

I received a telephone call from a neck surgeon and specialist who I have seen as a patient. He has been reading my posts here. He said that I was totally correct with my advice to you including that you have a mild case of tonic tympani. However, he said that I need to write you back and add this:

For your last hour of sleep or rest, lay on your back with good posture. Your neck should be in-line with a straight relaxed body.

He also mentioned for those who also have back problems to use a thin board under your pillow. In this case to use a slightly thicker pillow.

 

[Shera]

@Greg Sacramento

Thanks, I keep hoping since an accident caused it it would go away. I probably should have been put in place right away. I do know the TMJ keeps bothering my ears now and that even a slight drive to town my ears don't naturally pressurize anymore. Though its better because they had issues just standing up. (Shouldn't have listened to my local doctor about the heat packs, and other things to cure my ear infection.)

I use a foam pillow. I'll try to remember that. I was sleeping on my back due to the broken nose, but now I try to sleep on my side because I can sleep longer. I know in the morning the T noises settle down and I think I only hear my "fuzz" T until I get up. I do sleep with one of those knee pillows to try and keep me more aligned. Though I'm sure I do spend a good part of the night on my back. (I move a lot.) Though if I lounge or lay it seems like the spasms from my neck start up and decide to travel.