MRI, MRV, MRA, Doppler, CT — All Came Back Negative

Hi, RGS, and welcome!

I'm a three-year pulsatile tinnitus sufferer.

Like you, I've had tinnitus for many years, in the right ear only. Three years ago, I took a blood pressure drug that caused my tinnitus to increase in severity, and the pulsating tinnitus began as a result. I've had the same tests you've had, all of which came back negative. I'm still searching for a cause for my pulsating, and have an appointment with another neurotologist soon.

Currently, I'm going to a chiropractic neurologist who is working with me to improve my condition. He has already improved my balance (I had some vertigo and balance issues, and those are gone now!), and is now using cranial therapy techniques to try to calm the pulsating. I don't know if this will work, but at this point, I'm willing to give it a try.

I have a high-pitched, hissing type of tinnitus, and a constant pulsating tone which never waivers. My ringing and pulsating are calmest early in the morning, build up during the day, and seem worst in the late afternoon/early evening.

Do you have a time of day when yours is at its worst? Are you continuing to have sleep problems, or have you found ways to cope and to get some sleep? I'd like to hear more about your condition, and what you think may have caused your pulsating to begin.

 

Hi, RGS,

Thanks for responding. Yes, I do think stress could have something to do with our condition, and it could have exacerbated an already-sensitive ear (or ears) to cause the pulsating. At least, that's my theory. Mine started suddenly, after being on a blood pressure drug for a few days, and I don't believe I have any vein or capillary problems.

I'm also an older adult (almost 67), and still working. My job is sometimes stressful, but I believe that, in my case, it was the stress and fear resulting from the blood pressure meds' side effects that caused my pulsating to begin.

Could yours have been stress-induced? Did anything happen around 5 years ago that might have caused yours to begin?

Will be interested to hear if you find out that you have a TMJ condition. Often that can be a cause of PT.

I'm glad to hear that you've found a formula for sleep that works for you. It has taken me nearly 3 years to finally be able to sleep again. I had insomnia for quite awhile, and it was really wearing me down. Sleep really makes it a lot easier to cope, that's for sure!

I hope you are able to find a good chiropractor, if you decide to go that route. My chiro specializes in neurological conditions, and has really helped me a lot. While I do still have the pulsating, it seems to be much calmer, and I am better able to cope with it now. I wish the same for you!

 

Hi, Rick,

You've brought up some interesting points. I'm so sorry for the loss of your girlfriend, and that must have been a very stressful time for you. It does make sense that the stress during that period could have set off your pulsating. Perhaps there is a physical component to it, and the stress just sets it off.

I have read that, too, about the pulsating being reduced when you lower your chin to your chest. But I've tried that, and it doesn't change mine at all. How I wish that would work for me!

I agree with you about the "sound of your heart beating". It seems that, if that were normal, we would have noticed it a long time ago. Also --- I have pulsatile tinnitus in only ONE ear. There is absolutely no whooshing, no heartbeat sound, in my "good" ear at all. So, why would I hear my heartbeat in one ear only?

My pulsating has calmed down quite a bit from what it was 3 years ago. But I have a very annoying, high-pitched hissing ringing along with it. That is particularly bothersome in the late afternoon, and for some reason, watching television is very hard. My sound is reactive, and the pitch of the TV just makes it a whole lot worse.

More than one of my doctors has told me I have conductive hearing loss in my tinnitus ear, and that stapedectomy surgery would correct the hearing loss (not the pulsating). So far, I have decided not to try that, as I'm afraid it might make my ringing and pulsating even worse.

The chiropractic neurologist I'm going to is very good, and there are not a lot of chiropractors trained in this field. I found him through a naturopath that I was going to for awhile. You might wish to look up chiropractic neurology to see if there are any with this specialty in the Chicago area. I'm in the Atlanta area, and there is a school here where Dr. Carrick (prominent in this field) trains other chiropractors in this field, which they also refer to as "functional neurology".

I'll be interested to hear what your cardiologist says, as to whether yours could be caused by a partially blocked capillary near the ears.

 

Rick,
Here is a link to a functional neurologist in the Chicago area, if you should choose to go that route:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/titus-chiu-dc-ms-dacnb/7/137/2ba

It may, or may not, work for you, but if all else fails, it's worth a try! I still have pulsating, but I also had balance issues, and my doctor has pretty much cured my vertigo/balance problems.

 

Rick,
This is a chiropractic, alternative-medicine type of thing. It's a different route, if other things don't work. I've recommended it because you mentioned the possibility of seeing a chiropractor.

Yes, I have also heard that pulsatile tinnitus has a vascular cause.

Please do keep me posted on how you're doing, and on what you find out. I hope you're able to find a cause for the pulsating!

 

Rick,

Thanks for the update! It's encouraging that the doctor did find something that could be causing it, and that he is trying to get more information by consulting with the oral surgeon. At least he didn't just dismiss you, so that's good news.

Yes, I think seeing a cardiologist might be a good next step, in case nothing comes of the oral surgeon/dental/jaw possibility. I hope you're finally able to get some answers. Don't give up; there must be a good reason for the pulsating!

I am doing better these days. My ringing and pulsating are both less bothersome than they were at the start. I still have both, but I'm either habituating to it, or something in my body is changing/calming down. My blood pressure is now very good all day. Three years ago, it was pretty high in the afternoons/evenings. That has made a big difference in how I feel and how I am coping with the ringing/pulsating.

I'll be interested to hear what happens when the orthodontist gets back to you in a couple weeks.

 

Hi, @cogen1965,

I'm sorry to hear that you have the hissing and pulsating, too. Do you know how yours started?

Yes, I've had a Doppler ultrasound, and it did not make my condition any worse. I hope yours will result in some answers for you. Have you had any other tests? How long have you had the hissing and pulsating?

 

@cogen1965

My pulsating and high-pitched hissing started after a drug, too. In my case, it was blood pressure medicine. The doctor said he didn't think it was the medicine in my case, either!

Good luck with the carotid Doppler, and I hope you'll update us when you get the results of the test.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

Hi, @cogen1965,

I'm glad everything came back fine. That is good news, and thanks for the update.

Are you going to consider having any more tests, or going to any other doctors?