Recent Worsening of Tinnitus Connected to My Neck Issues?

[RonaldH]

I hate to admit this but this is the second group I have belonged to on the internet.

The first was people who suffer from panic attacks and anxiety. Not a lot of positive energy there.

My tinnitus has been with me 10 or 15 years but has never got to the recent levels like it has been in the last 3 weeks.

On a scale, it went from crickets to sirens. Like a 2 to 4 for the longest time that you don't notice it, and
more recently from 5 to 7. Levels I cannot accept.

In reflecting, I had to analyze what is happened to me recently.
First, I had a "moderate" heart attack in early December, that left me with weeks of "panic attacks" which I got over 15 years ago.

Second, due to the heart attack, I had all these new medicines and the possible side effects of those.

Next, I started a twice a week workouts with a physical therapist.

And when you think it cannot get worse, here comes the tinnitus back like a train.

I am 67, and retired, live in the NW and have a pretty boring life except for the traumas of recent.

I lived in Maui for the last 23 years and loved to surf, which I have been doing for 50+ years.

There, I developed a severe neck issues which set me off for a couple of years of rehab and possible surgery, but I found a physical therapist that brought me out it. From barely being able to pick up a coffee cut with one arm to getting out in the surf again was unreal. So, I know there are aways ways to "get back what you lost.

What Van Morrison says, "what you gain on the hobby horse, you lose on the swings".

Well, after weeks of screaming in my ears, with only a couple of days of relief, I kept thinking of what went wrong.

So, last night I tried my old medication, Cyclobenzaprine. A drug I hated to use for my neck injuries that was bone on bone.

I slept better than most nights, but I think my issues are related to my "out of adjustment" neck that I have heard "popping" a few times in the last month. So this is where I want share with all of you.

I know tinnitus can come from all kinds of issues, but for me, I am almost positive it is related to my neck and my body being "tweaked".

I am not endorsing the medication, which I have read numerous places can help. Try it, for yourself, even the low levels.

My next stop will be trying to find a really good body person, who knows my issues and see where that goes.

I will keep you posted on my journey and hopefully some of you can benefit.

 

[RonaldH]

I have had tinnitus for 15 years at very low levels and rarely noticed it. I did go to audiologist 12 years ago and they said it was caused by age.

As of recently, in December I had a moderate heart attack followed by weeks of panic attacks. I got three stints and was feeling great except for the anxiety. So that passed and just about 3 weeks ago I got tinnitus back in a level I never had before. From a level 2 it was now between 5 and 7 and I was not able to sleep at night. I did go back to the audiologist a couple of weeks ago and the tests were fine and he thought my issues were "stress related". Next I went to a chiropractor who did some work on my body and neck and I the tinnitus went back to a level 2. After the next meeting with the chiropractor, my tinnitus jumped back to a level 7. I thought I might have somatic tinnitus which was getting agitated with my neck issues.

So my question, to the group: Do you think my tinnitus is actually just the same level 2 BUT my stress/agitation "flared up" my sensors to read it as a level 7? OR, is my tinnitus actually fluctuating back and forth between the levels 2 and 7, causing my stress/agitation to feel it more because it is really louder?

 

[ajc]

Not what you wanted to hear but...

So my question, to the group: Do you think my tinnitus is actually just the same level 2 BUT my stress/agitation "flared up" my sensors to read it as a level 7? OR, is my tinnitus actually fluctuating back and forth between the levels 2 and 7, causing my stress/agitation to feel it more because it is really louder?

It could be either. The mind is very powerful. To our detriment sometimes.

How old are you now? Sometimes tinnitus gets worse as you age.

 

[RonaldH]

I am 67 now. So, let me ask this question. I did my first audiogram test in 2013 because the tinnitus was just starting and I was not familiar with it. The test came back normal with the exception of loss of hearing over 8000 Hz.

Now, I did the same test and it shows almost the same results, loss of hearing over 9000 Hz?

So, why the increase in tinnitus from 2 to a 5 to 7 on a scale of 1 to 10?

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum. When you said you saw a chiropractor, is it a upper cervical chiropractor? Some members post about being helped by upper cervical chiropractor for the tinnitus when their neck is the problem for it. As for why tinnitus can spike without obvious reason that is a question many find it hard to nail down. Tinnitus, especially new or during setback, tinnitus can be quite unpredictable and that is mostly due to the unstable ears.

 

[RonaldH]

This is a most interesting journey. I have seen a chiropractor who understands tinnitus but may not be a specialist. The outcome has a direct correlation between the treatment and relief from noisy tinnitus. Sometimes the chiropractic work worsens it right after and for next day after adjustments, but then resolves to quiet again. I am extremely happy with the outcome since modern medicine offers nothing. Also, I have seen a massage specialist with better results. For many sufferers who have neck or back related issues, I think good chiropractors and message specialist offer "great benefits". I feel you have to get in front of it, and learn to train yourself not to "over react". It reminds me of the panic attacks, once I realized what it really was, l learned to "wait it out" and the panic would subside. Of course those were minutes that seemed like hours. But with tinnitus the waits are longer, sometimes days until there is full relief. But then I get days of complete silence as a reward. Comfort comes from my control.

 

[Leila]

I did go to audiologist 12 years ago and they said it was caused by age.

Wow, that's one I haven't heard before and it really shows how little is known about what may or may not triggers the onset of tinnitus - even or especially by the professionals.

This is a most interesting journey. I have seen a chiropractor who understands tinnitus but may not be a specialist. The outcome has a direct correlation between the treatment and relief from noisy tinnitus

I'm happy to hear that you found a treatment that actually offers you relief for your tinnitus instead of merely treating the symptoms prompted by its onset. I've found a physiotherapist specialised in tinnitus treatment as well and, even though it probably is too early to tell, it seems to have a positive influence on my hyperacusis.

So fingers crossed for the both of us that things are going to continue to improve!