Tinnitus After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) — I Hit My Head Against the Wall

My tinnitus started on January 7th, 2017 at 11 PM after I hit the back of my head against the wall, hard enough to knock me out for a couple minutes. Immediately afterward I had tinnitus in my right ear. One year later the tinnitus started in the left ear as well. Left ear is bearable but constant, right ear comes and goes but is high pitched and very, very loud when it's going.

It was listed as a Traumatic Brain Injury by my physician and a neurologist, however multiple ENTs will not touch the event that started this tinnitus with a ten foot pole. They say I have upper ear damage according to my audiology tests and to just deal with it.

What is wrong with these doctors? Not one will bring up my TBI triggering event and basically tell you to "deal with it." Nothing we can do. I've been to 4 ENTs and I'm done with them.

How is it that we have learned how to split the atom and go to the moon, yet none of us have any doctors to help us with something that if they had it, they would be researching like hell to figure out relief for what can be debilitating?

Sorry, my ears are really screaming tonight which is why I joined. I'm sure I'll be calmer tomorrow.

 

@Fightorflight,

Welcome! My GP does have tinnitus. He said his will never go away because his is associated with hearing loss. He seemed surprised when I asked him what his sounds like? It doesn't surprise me the ENTs won't touch it. I have found for specialists they are not very knowledgeable about the ears.

Best to you,
twa

 

Welcome to the forum. ENTs are not trained to deal with tinnitus unfortunately and they are also not trained to be sympathetic to our sufferings. That is why besides not able to help us, they can say things that really hurt. My ENT told me that the only thing he could stop my tinnitus is to shoot me. Gosh! So I understand your feelings. Perhaps go to the Treatments and Research News sections of the forum and see if if you can find some encouraging treatments. FX-322 is one that I heard often that may help some sufferers. There are people who have done stem cells and have good result.

In the Success Stories category I know of one poster who had suffered head injury from a fall and then developed bad tinnitus, so bad that he was suicidal and his fiancee even left him. But apparently after some time he has found new joy in life and travelling often. I provide the link to his success story below. All the best to you and good luck. God bless.

Who Said Our Life Is All About Tinnitus? I Share With You Some Pictures I Took After.

 

Hi @Fightorflight

Tinnitus can be a complex condition when it becomes severe as in your case. Your ENT doctors are physicians and experts in their field. From what you have written I think they have examined you and don't want to take things further, as your condition could be made worse. I think their bedside manner "deal with it" could have been better.

Perhaps a referral to Audiology to see an Audiologist that is trained in tinnitus management will help you. Counselling, white noise generators, mindfulness, medication are avenues to explore. Please read my post: Tinnitus, A Personal View, in the link below.

Hope you start to feel better soon.
Michael

Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Thanks to all who answered. Glad I found this group. My T is giving me a slight break today... so ill take it. again, thank you.