Sudden Onset Tinnitus from a Viral Infection / Cervical Instability

I got sudden onset of tinnitus from a viral infection in February. My daughter had a fever, I had foggy brain and a brief ear ache. We tested negative for COVID-19. Then the tinnitus wouldn't stop after we all recovered. I went to an acupuncturist and she helped rid me of the dizzy/foggy brain and relieved the tinnitus for a day. A 2-day session helped relieve the symptoms for 2 days. I traveled over mountain passes and in the air, and nothing changed the buzzing. A 3-day dose of a steroid helped for a while, then it came back.

An ENT says my ears are clear, no infection or inflammation.

A physical therapist says that an old whiplash/concussion injury is contributing to this and when he manipulates the neck, the tinnitus is relieved for a day.

I'm going crazy waiting for the next appointment when the cricket sounds return. I'm tempted to ask for another steroid.

I realize all our journeys are different, but looking for comments on similar experiences: viral and/or cervical instability.

Thank you.

 

Yes, very, very similar to what I’m experiencing - I too had the earache and fogginess but also sound distortion, nausea, and vertigo. My MRI was clear. I did antibiotics, steroids, muscle relaxers - nothing is really helping. Acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractor. Some relief of pain and soreness in my jaw but the distorted sounds continue which rob me of my livelihood as a music teacher. COVID-19 in January, lung infection in February, ear infection in March but also some dental work.

Check your jaw alignment! That’s my next step.

 

Thank you Elizabth. Sorry to hear of your story and that it impacts your music teaching! It is so awful.

I've checked my jaw alignment and while I do have some TMJ symptoms, it isn't the cause of my sudden onset. Similarly, I have some instability in my upper cervical spine from a whiplash injury, and while some exercises and physical therapy are helpful, it does not eliminate it. Same with antibiotics and steroids. Currently, I have an ear ache type pain in one ear and trying Eustachian Tube clearing exercises.

What is working remarkably well is this:

Optimal Liposomal Curcumin 6 Ounces
6 milliliter(s), twice per day

Optimal Liposomal Glutathione Plus 5 Ounces
1 teaspoon, once per day

Alpha Lipoic Acid 600mg 60 capsules
1 capsule(s), twice per day

I've been on them 2 days and the tinnitus is nearly gone. Praying it goes away completely.

 

Did you take antibiotics for lung infection and ear infection?

 

Thank you for this recommendation! I almost didn’t see your comment... Do you get these prescription or OTC? I’m seeing an upper cervical specialist chiropractor soon.

 

Yes. I’m allergic to Penicillin so I took two rounds of Azithromycin and one Doxycycline.

 

Which antihistamine have you tried that did not worsen your tinnitus?

 

I’m not sure which ones make it better or worse, sorry. I’m on a generic Zyrtec right now as well as generic Pepcid. I took Benadryl but it didn’t seem to do anything. I’ve taken Loratadine in the past.

 

How did you get rid of the lightheadedness/dizziness after the viral infection?

 

Hi @CC_16 -- I had chronic vertigo for years prior to getting COVID-19, which fluctuated but overall was moderate+. About 2-3 weeks after I thought I'd recovered from COVID-19, I began experiencing severe bouts of vertigo, which left me vomiting, and unable to get out of bed for long periods of time.

Fortunately, I received some acupuncture needles shortly after, and began doing self-acupuncture again, something I'd not done for over a year. Almost miraculously, my vertigo immediately improved, so that it no longer took me 10 minutes just to get out of bed.

After doing this for a few days, it felt the vertigo had just about gone back to baseline, what I'd had before COVID-19. So I quit doing the daily acupuncture. It didn't take long for it to come back, and fairly significantly. I of course went back to the acupuncture, and it again immediately stabilized. I now feel very stabilized at my prior baseline, and do acupuncture sessions on myself 2-3x/week.

Also, I ran across a testimonial by a man who struggled with long COVID-19 for several months. One of his worst symptoms was Orthostotic Intolerance, or Vertigo. He said after he took a single dose of Ivermectin, his vertigo disappeared within 6 hours. So it does seem possible to completely upend a lengthy COVID-19 recovery if you can find just the right thing that will work for your body. -- Best...

 

Oh wow. I am into acupuncture as well.

Which pressure points do you use to alleviate the dizziness?

 

Hi @CC_16 -- The first session I did that gave me a lot of vertigo relief involved only two points. These are demonstrated in the video below. There's quite a few YouTube videos that demonstrate a number of points. My own acupuncturist who taught me how to do this says that 70% of acupuncture only involves about 6 major points. I'll try to find a video on those points that I regularly do.

How and Why Acupuncture Works (Demonstration) - Dr Alan Mandell, DC

Also, check this post I just made.

 

Do you have ETD? I tried to pop but my right ear is hard to pop.