Stapedectomy as a Solution?

[RICK G]

New to the group and have struggled with TMJ and Tinnitus since 2009.

I had a filling done while I was going through ortho treatement and ever since then have had terrible TMJ which I believe led to my tinnitus.

I waited so long before actually getting it seriously looked at. I was hopeful that it would go away plus I was in college and just didn't have the money to spend on this sort of stuff.

It's gotten to the point where I can't let this go on unaddressed. I am in consistent pain and should not have to go through life like this. I feel super bad for my wife and loved ones because it certainly affects my mood and all I feel like doing when it flares up is collapsing.

I am going both to a TMJ specialist and a ENT. The ENT noticed I was losing my hearing in the affected ear. They recommended a stapedectomy which is what I just had the other day. It's probably too soon after the surgery to tell but I still have the ringing/roaring in my ears after the surgery and I'm nervous that this is not going to go away. The doctor said it may take a month but I am skeptical because I believe the tinittus is due to the tmj and not something with my ear.

I need to find a way to stop clenching my teeth and have been given a mouth card from my TMJ doctor but find I'm clenching on it more.

Anyone had a stapectomy before and experience relief? Really upset if this does not work...

 

[GregCA]

A stapedotomy (or stapedectomy) is useful to treat otosclerosis. Is that what you were diagnosed with? You don't mention it a single time, so your post is very confusing.

 

[RICK G]

yep I have otosclerosis but believe the ringing started when I started grinding my teeth

 

[GregCA]

T is very common with otosclerosis. If I had to bet, that's what I would say the culprit is (just from a statistical point of view).
Because of the slow progression of O, T may come later and may seem random, or associated with another life event that may have happened at that time.

Did you have mixed losses before your surgery? (i.e. conductive and sensorineural)

 

[GregCA]

BTW in my case T morphed into something that I think is an improvement, in spite of still being quite horrible.
And the big win for me is that the surgery got rid of my horrible hyperacusis, almost completely.

When did you do your surgery? Do you still have the packing in?

 

[RICK G]

Still have the packing in...I had conductive hearing loss

 

[GregCA]

@RICK G - well the good news is that statistically you are going to recover your hearing to a close to perfect state (since you don't have sensorineural losses). Congratulations! I hope it works well for you.

 

[PaulBe]

that the surgery got rid of my horrible hyperacusis, almost completely.

Greg. My take on otosclerosis is that it represents a breakdown or failure of the bone/fibrous window interface. I note you say that the surgery pretty much cured your hyperacusis, and that brought to mind older posts elsewhere about oval window reinforcement procedures that seemed to be fairly effective at reducing hyperacusis symptoms in people who apparently didn't have Otosclerosis. I've long thought that tinnitus and hyperacusis are related but different entities and I find myself wondering if hyperacusis has its origin in some way at the oval window interface. A different locus for H can go some way to explaining why T & H don't always occur together.

 

[GregCA]

Greg. My take on otosclerosis is that it represents a breakdown or failure of the bone/fibrous window interface. I note you say that the surgery pretty much cured your hyperacusis, and that brought to mind older posts elsewhere about oval window reinforcement procedures that seemed to be fairly effective at reducing hyperacusis symptoms in people who apparently didn't have Otosclerosis. I've long thought that tinnitus and hyperacusis are related but different entities and I find myself wondering if hyperacusis has its origin in some way at the oval window interface. A different locus for H can go some way to explaining why T & H don't always occur together.

It's definitely possible.
The other interesting part of your observation is that, in the case of a stapedotomy, the procedure does the "opposite" of a reinforcement as it essentially "frees up the stapes" by replacing it with a prosthetic piston that moves in a newly created hole in the inner ear (I know that you know this - just adding it for completion for other readers).
Like they say: "You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape; if it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40, if it moves and shouldn't, use the tape."

I'm not sure what they do with the window reinforcement actually. I need to go learn about it.

 

[Carol123]

Hi I had my Stapedectomy almost 3 weeks ago to treat my mixed hearing loss. I had timing in my ear on and off after surgery but for the last 5 days I have a constant high pitch buzzing. I can't sleep or focus on anything else. Anyone have a similar experience? Just wondering if it will ever stop.

 

[GregCA]

Hi I had my Stapedectomy almost 3 weeks ago to treat my mixed hearing loss. I had timing in my ear on and off after surgery but for the last 5 days I have a constant high pitch buzzing. I can't sleep or focus on anything else. Anyone have a similar experience? Just wondering if it will ever stop.

Did you have T before your stapedectomy?