Hello, and Thank You.

Hi all, I'm new to all of this. Started almost 2 weeks ago when I woke up with a lightheaded feeling and some hearing loss in my right ear. As the day went on I started to notice the tinnitus and distortion in my right ear. a few days after that I noticed that my right cheek felt tight, and a few days after that I noticed tension all over my face and scalp.

After a full week the tinnitus is in both ears and level now changes from hour to hour from a very high pitch that is easily masked by background noise, to a mid level tone that is very difficult to ignore. There's some pulsatile tinnitus thrown in there too. The facial tension comes and goes as does the light headed/dizzy feeling.

My Doctor told me to give it a few weeks as in most cases this kind of thing disappears. Of course, I'm struggling with anxiety through the whole thing. Worried about worst case scenarios that I know are the least likely outcomes, but it's hard to not think about them when everything is hitting at once.

Finding this forum has been helpful, as I can find many people who share similar symptoms, with no serious outcomes or scary diagnosis. If this doesn't go away, I feel I could learn to live with this as long as I know it's not the beginning of some serious health issue.

Anyway, just thought I'd stop in and say hello, and thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.

 

Hi @Grok -- I just made A POST last night that touches on some of the things you're talking about. In it I describe some of the somewhat "alternative" approaches I'm using. -- All the Best...

I posted the following in another post about 2 months ago...

"One thing I started recently is learning how to do self-acupuncture. I've only just started this past week, but feel it really holds a LOT of potential. I did a number of spots around my right ear/TMJ area, and the following day noticed more relaxation in my entire face than I have in probably years." -- Here's a link: Self-Acupuncture

 

Neurobiology of the trigeminal system is possible, but systemics as you note may take a multidisciplinary approach including orofacial pain disorder specialists. I hope that doctor ordered blood work, EKG, ENT and dental counsel and did a complete physical along with questioning any inquired injuries.

 

No tests yet. He wants to wait until the end of May as he expects it will likely go away on its own. This was very early on, before I was having much of the facial tension that I"m now experiencing. He mentioned that the likely course of action will be a hearing test and possible imaging (MRI) if tests warrant it.

 

It's interesting that you bring up the trigeminal system. I do have an impacted unformed enamel/dental deposit in my lower jaw. It is so deeply set that the dental surgeon recommended to leave it in place unless it causes any trouble. Apparently removing it will be quite a tricky procedure.

 

Your doctor is right. Even if it doesn't go away in a few weeks, there is a good chance that after 3 months it might begin to fade and in a year or two you will either get to hear silence again, or at least get to the "can hear it only in quiet rooms" stage.

Some tips that you might find to be useful:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

 

This could be your problem. From this facial, scalp tension and check tightness can come and go along with a light headed/dizzy feeling, distortion in the ear, somatic and pulsatile tinnitus due to infection deep in the jaw where the trigeminal system becomes aggravated. Tinnitus does not resolve or fade until infection is cleared in which it appears that several meds can easily clear this type of infection. Your dentist is correct in not wanting to remove the deposit.

A laboratory test, called the CTX (C-Telopeptide), measures the rate of bone turnover. Results of 150 to 600 pg/mL (picogram/milliliter) indicate minimal-to-no risk of deposit, but results of less than 100 pg/mL indicate a high risk of infection. The CTX test can be ordered by a dentist or physician and is performed by an outside laboratory, such as Quest Diagnostics or others.

Your situation is discussed in exactness on dental boards with membership for dentists and therapists. Not a dentist.

 

Few months later now and I’ve had some hearing tests done. Only some very small hearing loss in the upper frequencies was discovered. The ENT and my GP are both unfamiliar with what you’ve described and have never heard of the test you mentioned. They are chalking it up to me getting a little older and having been in bands during my twenties. They are understandably reluctant to order tests they don’t know of or are unable to read.

Unfortunately I no longer have dental coverage but I guess that might be the next best shot at getting someone to refer me for this test.