Tinnitus After a Bicycle Accident (Concussion, Whiplash, Fractured Facial Bones)

I got full blown tinnitus in September 2013, so for 3 months now. It began with a bicycle accident and concussion and whiplash and fractured facial bones. I have been a lurker and not a member for some time now and it worries me that I don't see anyone in my category of causation. My tinnitus has been up and down, daily and throughout the day. I do have good days but lately more bad than good days. I was on anti-anxiety meds and muscle relaxers for my injuries and that seem to calm the tinnitus down but I dont want to become dependent on drugs so I am avoiding them as much as possible. I would appreciate to know if there is anyone out there that began somewhat like I did after brain and somatic trauma.

 

Member carlover has somatic tinnitus. Like myself, he doesn't check the forum as often as others do, but when he does, he is always helpful.

Somatic tinnitus is tricky to deal with. But there is some evidence that trigger point therapy is helpful. There is further evidence that for trigger point related tinnitus, injections with procaine can be of further benefit than just the normal therapy commonly used for trigger points (ie. massage and/or shock therapy). You need to seek out a specialist who knows about somatic tinnitus. If you go to a normal doctor asking for procaine injections for trigger point related tinnitus, they will not have a clue what you are talking about. I speak from experience.

It is important to start the therapy as quickly as possible. If you do, there is some chance the tinnitus may go away.

There is of course also the possibility that your tinnitus is related to the concussion, and not the whiplash, in which case, the outlook is more complicated.

 

Thank you so much for replying to my introduction. I will follow up on your advice. Can you explain a little when you say the outlook is more complicated if the cause is concussion related?

 

By "complicated", I mean it can be difficult for a doctor to reach a diagnosis for what is causing the tinnitus when it comes to head trauma. And without a diagnosis, a doctor usually cannot treat your condition. And even with a diagnosis, treating (somatic) tinnitus is tricky.

I imagine that you at this point already have had an MRI scan done. If not, that is probably a good starting point. You need to have a follow-up with the doctors who treated you. They probably know best how to help you.

 

Thank you very much. I will do some follow-up then. And yes in the emergency room they did the MRI's and CT scans of my head and neck.

 

This is what I was prescribed for my pain, post bicycle accident.....OBJECTIVE: Acetaminophen/hydrocodone, a commonly used analgesic preparation, has been linked to rapidly progressing sensorineural hearing loss in human patients. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the ototoxic effects of this drug combination are currently unknown, but are usually associated with high doses of hydrocodone. This study was aimed at identifying the specific agent responsible for hearing loss from toxic killing of cochlear sensory cells....