Tinnitus and Neck Pain

Hi all
I have had tinnitus since May 2016 and my concern is that it's in some way coupled to my neck.
The strange thing I experience is that certain sounds, especially lower frequencies at times cause upper neck discomfort. It's almost as if my neck gets intermittently stiff and then eases up again. I cannot say if its my neck causing tinnitus or the tinnitus causing the neck pain. I don't know if it's related to a possible Hyperacusis.

The other issue is at times I experience the hissing sound either in the middle of my head and at times it seems that its moved to my to my right ear, however, this comes and goes. Some days the Tinnitus is barely noticeable especially after a warm shower.
I went to a hearing specialist that did extensive testing on my ears and he noted that he cannot find any fault with my hearing.

Does anyone perhaps have a similar symptom.

 

Hi @Ferdinand . Have you been diagnosed with Hyperacusis? I have friends here who suffer from that. They have never mentioned an association with neck pain, just the extreme discomfort and pain caused by the associated sound sensitivities.

@Michael Leigh has a great post on Hyperacusis ( https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/ ). It may provide some information on that for you.

That is common. While I have some hearing loss, my ENT did not connect that to my tinnitus. In fact, they still have no idea why I have (and always have had) tinnitus.

If you have not, I would recommend using the search functionality of this forum and search the term "neck pain". It may help you find other mentions of symptoms similar to yours. You can try posting on their threats, and tagging them with the @ symbol and their user name (as I did with you and Michael). They will be alerted that they were tagged and, assuming they are still active on this site, will probably read your reply.

I wish you luck. I hope you find the information you are looking for here. And, please keep us updated on your progress.

 

HI @Kolisar

I hope that you are keeping well. I just wanted to say that you are doing a great service in helping people with their tinnitus at this forum. Please keep up the splendid work.

Take care and wishing you all the best
Michael

 

Thank you Michael. Unfortunately I am not, which is why I have not been here as often as I would like. I will, hopefully, be getting some help (I have a dr. appt in an hour), and will be able to address the issues and hopefully be more active here once again.

 

HI @Kolisar
I hope everything goes well for you at the Dr.
Take care
Michael

 

Yes, the neck can definitely be involved. Lots of nerves.
@Greg Sacramento knows extensively about this. Maybe read some of his posts.
Doesn’t sound like hyperacusis to me, unless you feel very sensitive to sound.

 

Yes. I have head T, mine also goes to the top of my head, and travels to my neck. Also more then not it is at the lower part of my head. At times I have a pain on top of my head But it is left ear, but has gone to the right. I mostly have a hissing, but have gotten other tones. I also have no hearing problems. There are different T sounds.

 

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All that you mention is the same with me. To my knowledge there's only a few areas of the neck that are primaries in connection to tinnitus. Although each of these areas can cause domino effects as in reaching to other areas. Sometimes the DCN is involved and sometimes not.

An accident, whiplash- occipital neuralgia or forward head bending causing tighten muscles in the back of the head that can also entrap nerves and can also cause compression of oxygen supply.

Injury to the c spine that can lead to other muscle soreness such as the SCM and can cause these muscles to get unbalanced. The C1 for TMJ.

If sound changes with movement then it's often the mastoid emissary vein or the upper m. trapezius. Besides causing disability within the neck it can also cause jaw disability. The trapezius and temporalis is the major source of neck discomfort. One sided ringing can be made worst by mastoid pressure or by the mastoid emissary vein. The masseter muscle and modulation of the dorsal cochlear nucleus can be an indication of bilateral tinnitus.

Besides an accident that includes muscle spasms, the vagus nerve can cause tinnitus. When the vagus nerve is of concern, then that's considered a major reason for tinnitus anxiety and stress. Problems with the vagus nerve can cause tinnitus. The vagus nerve tells you when you need food. When you need to relieve the bladder quickly, the vagus nerve is considered a possible reason. Stomach problems, intestinal problems, heart problems and pulsate T can be connected to the vagus nerve.

Everything above can often be corrected by PT and life changes. If there's not major hearing loss, tinnitus could be lowered by simple physical therapy. It's easier for younger people.

On the flip side, the pherygoids can cause neck pain.

Neck pain is often just caused from stress. Relieve the stress and T may resolve considerably or completely in note to the person who started this thread.

I have narrowed by T problems down to my c spine being twisted with connection to trapezius muscles and a problem with my vagus nerve. Since I'm older, PT will take time.

 

I know PT it will take time with me. I'm older but I'm going to look into, I fell and hit my head and back from the chair lift skiing but I wore a helmet back in February and I got T end of June, I also now think the fall from skiing had something to do with it. Thank you for your advice.

 

Thanks for the detailed message Greg. Very informative.
My T started out of the blue. I did suffer from extreme headaches prior. I used to wake up with Headaches. One day T was there and it hasnt left since.

In 2015 I fell on a very slippery floor. It might be related.