New — 2 Months In

Hello all, I have been REALLY struggling with my Tinnitus for ~2 months now. I have been very depressed (suicidal) and currently am doing IOP (CBT) 5 days a week to try to handle this. Also using antidepressants and Xanax.

My Tinnitus is in my left ear and I can modulate the heck out of it with jaw movements and some neck movements. It is otherwise constant except for the peaks.


Here are some facts that surround my situation.

• Traveled (flight) Dec 23 - Got off the flight with and was fine but had weird pulsating headache on right side of head. These headaches would come and go for at least a month. They are gone now though.
• Around Dec 28 I had an ever so slight cold that lasted for a day.
• Woke up on Jan 5 with Tinnitus.
• Saw my ENT on Jan 8 and he said that I had some liquid in my middle ear that may have been from a virus. Nothing conclusive and I was otherwise OK and no need for antibiotics. He said to go to an audiologist and revisit him in 4 weeks.
• Saw audiologist on Jan 15. No hearing loss and ear drum was pliable. No seen issues outside of Tinnitus.
• Saw Neurologist Feb 7 and did an hour of different tests. Here are his quick notes:

"Patient manifests an asymmetry of upper cervical spine biomechanics. Clear element of somatically-modulatable tinnitus with various jaw and neck maneuvers."

"Medications: medrol dosepak in an attempt to break current symptom cycle."

• The steroids didn't do anything.
• Doing PT on my neck and jaw currently. 5 Weeks and no real change.
• Visited dentist on March 9 and told I have "some crepitus bilaterallyh" (TMJ/TMD). I will be following up with a jaw expert soon even though I really have no pain or anything outside of the Tinnitus.

So there it is. I am so struggling here and holding onto the hope that this can go away.......

 

For TMJ etc exercises can help and a mouth guard to wear at night and a soft food diet and don't over byte food like Apples slice them up.
Love glynis x

 

@dayma The package of things that you have going with no hearing loss is not unusual for physical tinnitus. It may not matter as to the cause, a dental experience, head trauma, from falling down or whiplash which could had happened many years ago. If the liquid in your ear is fresh, then a recent trauma may have happened.

There are 30 pressure points from the top of shoulders to top of head that can modulate tinnitus. If modulation decreases volume within the neck with maneuvers which is often the case and if modulation increases volume by jaw maneuvers then your jaw may have been the start point of your problem and that has lead to the neck. This may involve your C1 and C2 discs in your c -spine and than other spine discs. These discs can be placed out of alignment from jaw manipulation, but not a big deal. This could place pressure on different neck muscles. The trapezius, temporalis and semispinalis capitas muscles are known for high levels of jaw and neck tenderness, but many other muscles could be involved. One sided ringing could involve mastoid pressure. Don't focus of any of this stuff, as to was it the jaw first, the neck first or both at the same time. Let testing and valuations direct your care by professionals.

A x ray of neck, seeing a specialized dentist, maybe a CT of neck and jaw should help with therapy plans to the road of recovery. It may take a little time. It's harder for me being in your situation because I have wear and several diseases in my neck. I'm old. You have everything to live for. Place a small folded pillow under neck for support while sleeping and try to sleep more on your back than on your sides. Stay in touch, there's many here that have ideas for coping.

 

@Greg Sacramento ty for the informative feedback. I need to ask my neurologist again if they can do an MRI/CT scan. Last time I talked to him he wanted to continue trying PT before going on to next steps.

 

I just scheduled an appointment for TMJ and TMD specialists at the Cleveland Clinic. They have a wing that specializes in Tinnitus. Hoping that this may be TMJ even though it never bothered me in the past at all. I was having weird headaches on one side of my head which may have been the TMJ but who knows......

TY for the feedback!

 

@dayma Yes, get some testing. Radiologists are smart doctors. They will often note what is causing tinnitus. On my tests it was noted that muscle spasms causing neck to straighten from dental surgery with indication of noticeable pressure to jaw probably caused the tinnitus. More noted details were given. My jaw is primary and my neck is secondary, but my neck does hurt a lot and my c spine cracks. The radiologist is correct because I walked out of the dental office with somatic physical tinnitus.

So I need to place a curve back into my neck which will help my C1 and C2 to adjust, but focus must be made for jaw improvement. That would include keeping mouth closed with just keeping a little space between bite. Sleep on back. No extreme forward head bending.