My Tinnitus Is Suddenly Worsening

@friend74 Often with either neck and/or jaw associated tinnitus, cause is from muscle tension with nerve fibers pressing on jaw joints or c spine - moving these hard surfaces that then pressure other nerves, veins or arteries. Joints of either neck or jaw may have been getting weak before hand from posture issues. So issues from this would be a form of whiplash that's somatic in nature.

For some there's is so much other stuff to consider besides whiplash-c spine/jaw pressure to a bad wisdom tooth-infection and if there's hearing loss (how much) hyperacusis or muffled ears. Whatever the problem is, trauma must be established for treatment.

For TMJ/D, a mouth guard may help, if there's no other problems of mouth that could include hundreds of things.

Most important for TMJ/D is mouth posture. Not to open mouth too wide for too long and having the lower jaw not pushed forward. This is needed not to over stretch muscles. A controlled tongue is also important.

Cool moist compresses - a washcloth rinsed in cold water may help. Magnesium - 1/3 tablet taken three times a day not taken at the same time as other meds may help. A multi vitamin one or twice a week. Vitamin levels should be tested. One full magnesium tablet and a multi vitamin should be taken one hour before dental work or when going to a noisy place where hearing protection can't be always used.

Cold applications (ice pack wrapped in a towel) – can help with the swelling and inflammation.
Warm applications (compress or heated towel) – can help to relax the constricted muscles of the jaw


The best to you.

 

@Makrohn
Sorry to hear about your situation - in your case it seems like there is very little you can do. My t is due to migraine meds the dr gave me - I know it's not really my fault but I feel like I could've done something to prevent it. Either way I'm dealing with it now, and that's all I can do. I do miss my life before all of this shit.

 

@Greg Sacramento,

Is your tinnitus caused by TMJ or neck issues? My ENT thinks my bilateral tinnitus sounds maybe TMJ related. I end up getting a lot of pain in my ears and according to my ENT, your ears rarely cause you pain unless you have an infection or something, which I do not have. But TMJ pain can be experienced as if it is in the ear. Jaws are often on the sore side. My jaws are tight and it’s hard to open my mouth wide. Lots of popping and cracking.

I also have developed major neck problems. Partly due to horrific posture since COVID-19 and being forced to work from home. I’m in physical therapy for my neck. But it still hurts and my ears are still ring.

Just wondering what your experience has been and whether or not a mouthguard helped you? The mouthguard is my next step.

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi Makrohn-can I ask you what your genetic hearing loss is? I have one copy of the GJB2 gene mutation, also called Connexin 26. I often wonder if this is why I am pre-disposed to tinnitus. Interestingly, although I must have inherited it from one of my parents, neither one has tinnitus or significant hearing loss. (I am in my early 40s and they are in their mid-70s). It didn’t come out of the blue for me though, was caused by an acoustic trauma/blast injury.

 

Hi there,

I presume you've had another audiogram (extended)?

If you have any (neuro) inflammation, give curcumin a try (take a look at the threads) and consider low dose naltrexone. I'd be throwing nicotinamide riboside at it too.

Would you share how you meditate please?

 

Yes mine was stable for 5 years. Then it got suddenly louder. Give it 8 weeks.

 

Hi there!

Actually I dont know what type of genetic hearing loss I suffer from. All I know is that my great grandfather had it, probably gave the mutation to his daughter (my grandmother) and she passed it on to my father and 3 of his brothers. The hearing loss is often called cookie-bite loss because of the shape on the audiogram. My father is almost deaf, he is now 73, and I just turned 40 and have a loss in both ears about 60-70db. My father does not suffer from tinnitus, but him and me lived completely different life and in a different time.

My T also first appeared after an acoustic trauma when I was 16.

 

Think you answered your own question

You can totally show symptoms of stress without feeling stressed mentally -- it's your body expressing what your mind isn't expressing. And it is such a stressful time at the moment, it's no wonder we're all suffering!

Hope you feel better soon.

 

You don’t know that for sure!!!

 

On my second week of tinnitus spike. Can’t wait for it to settle down to baseline.