Tinnitus from Upper Cervical Issues — Sleeping on My Back Stops My Tinnitus

[r2_hello]

Hello, this is my first post in these forums. I've had tinnitus since 2016, and I'm pretty sure it's caused by upper cervical issues. The ringing is mostly in my left ear.

Several months preceding the onset of tinnitus I was using a two pillows stacked in bed to keep my head at a high angle—always sleeping on my side. I did this to prevent straining neck muscles when using a more flat pillow. I'm not sure why the straining started happening in the first place, but the high angle seemed to remedy the problem. Eventually the ringing began, and here I am three years later.

Recently, I've noticed what makes the tinnitus stop: Sleeping on my back. It's a rare morning when I wake up on my back, but when I do, it's silent. And I began to notice this. So the past three weeks I've been training myself to sleep on my back, all through the night. I've managed to have a few consecutive days of absolute peace, and it's been incredible.

However, last night I ended up on my side, and it's loud today. Having that stretch of peace, and now today—the recurrence of noise, makes me realize just how much I'd like to solve this issue. I feel like I'm getting closer. I believe it's due to upper cervical issues, and I'm guessing some of you may agree after reading my post.

Have any of you had this experience? Sleeping on your back can stop the ringing?
Has anyone had success with upper cervical chiropractor adjustments? Or even just stretching?

There are a couple of practitioners in my area, but they come at a high price. Just curious to get input from whoever is willing...

Thanks.

 

[JohnAdams]

You seem like a great candidate for recovery. Be very cautious about chiroquacktors. Just take it easy, get some specialists' opinions. If you do an MRI just know they are very loud and can damage your cochlea.

 

[Tybs]

Or even just stretching?

My tinnitus has some similar behavior: when I lie down/sleep on my right side, the tinnitus slowly reduces and most sounds eventually vanish, sometimes all of them. I've been analyzing this behavior for as far as I could, and noticed some other postures that have a definite impact as well (lying on left side eventually increases one tone, but reduces others a bit as well). Most tones have gone pretty quiet after some months of physio exercises, I'd say I'm at a scale of 0-3/10 now, with 3 being a rare case, originally coming from at least 8/10. These were indeed stretching exercises. Their effect took a few weeks to kick in, and the exercises themselves actually cause a minor tinnitus spike for a short time period. Scary at first

I agree with @JohnAdams concerning the chiropractors: though I'm sure there are a few that can help, I've read about a lot of cases as well where tinnitus got worse. The neck and back are very sensitive body parts, one minor maladjustment can completely mess up the system of the body. Make sure to get a scan though, keeping John's remark in mind that a MRI can be quite loud.

 

[r2_hello]

Thanks for this info, @JohnAdams and @Tybs. I'd certainly rather do exercises than visit a chiropractor. I'll have to see what an MRI would cost on Medicare though. And thanks for the warning on how loud it can be.

@Tybs Interesting that you have similar resolutions. What types of physio exercises are you doing? I've just started to look into trigger point therapy.

 

[Tybs]

Thanks for this info, @JohnAdams and @Tybs. I'd certainly rather do exercises than visit a chiropractor. I'll have to see what an MRI would cost on Medicare though. And thanks for the warning on how loud it can be.

@Tybs Interesting that you have similar resolutions. What types of physio exercises are you doing? I've just started to look into trigger point therapy.

I have the exercises summarized in my responses on this thread. Make sure to read all of it, there are some things to watch for while doing the exercises, such as what to do if an exercise triggers pain. Didn't happen to me personally, but it's good to keep in mind.

And one disclaimer: in my case the neck muscles apparently have an important catalyst effect on my tinnitus, against which the exercises help. There is no way to tell if that counts for you as well, although I'd say that it's definitely possible when reading about your situation. Can you alter your tinnitus with neck movement?

 

[r2_hello]

@Tybs Thanks so much for providing the link. I'll study it for sure. It doesn't seem I can alter the tinnitus with neck movement. However, I went to a massage therapist a couple of weeks ago, and I had her focus on neck and shoulders. Wow, did that increase the ringing!

 

[JohnAdams]

Thanks for this info, @JohnAdams and @Tybs. I'd certainly rather do exercises than visit a chiropractor. I'll have to see what an MRI would cost on Medicare though. And thanks for the warning on how loud it can be.

@Tybs Interesting that you have similar resolutions. What types of physio exercises are you doing? I've just started to look into trigger point therapy.

Maybe even change pillows. If you have a stiff one get a soft one and vice versa. Please watch out for the MRI loudness. Please.

 

[JohnAdams]

However, I went to a massage therapist a couple of weeks ago, and I had her focus on neck and shoulders. Wow, did that increase the ringing!

Interesting. You seem to be in a very precarious situation. Proceed with extreme caution with whatever you do.

 

[JohnAdams]

though I'm sure there are a few that can help

I am too, but how can you figure that out before they start cracking your neck?

 

[r2_hello]

Well, I'm going to start slow with the stretches first before I even think about a chiropractor. I am experimenting with a different pillow that allows me to remove filling to my liking. So far that's been very helpful for sleeping on my back.

 

[Tybs]

I am too, but how can you figure that out before they start cracking your neck?

No clue, so I never really considered to get it done by one.

 

[Mathew Gould]

My tinnitus has some similar behavior: when I lie down/sleep on my right side, the tinnitus slowly reduces and most sounds eventually vanish, sometimes all of them. I've been analyzing this behavior for as far as I could, and noticed some other postures that have a definite impact as well (lying on left side eventually increases one tone, but reduces others a bit as well). Most tones have gone pretty quiet after some months of physio exercises, I'd say I'm at a scale of 0-3/10 now, with 3 being a rare case, originally coming from at least 8/10. These were indeed stretching exercises. Their effect took a few weeks to kick in, and the exercises themselves actually cause a minor tinnitus spike for a short time period. Scary at first

I agree with @JohnAdams concerning the chiropractors: though I'm sure there are a few that can help, I've read about a lot of cases as well where tinnitus got worse. The neck and back are very sensitive body parts, one minor maladjustment can completely mess up the system of the body. Make sure to get a scan though, keeping John's remark in mind that a MRI can be quite loud.

What exercises did you do?

 

[Tybs]

What exercises did you do?

You can find the info in my posts in this thread. Make sure that you don't feel pain during an exercise, the posts describe what to do if that occurs.

 

[Mathew Gould]

You can find the info in my posts in this thread. Make sure that you don't feel pain during an exercise, the posts describe what to do if that occurs.

Started this exercise a few days ago and I can already see results with my range of motion up and down (range of motion is fine left and right). Also the stretch is helping neck muscles and it feels good. Did your tinnitus go away with these or just improve? You said your tinnitus got worse for a few weeks, can you explain?

 

[Tybs]

Did your tinnitus go away with these or just improve?

Some sounds vanished, others improved to low levels that are easily masked.

You said your tinnitus got worse for a few weeks, can you explain?

Which specific worsening are you referring to? I usually had a small spike after exercising, but these always vanished.

 

[Mathew Gould]

Some sounds vanished, others improved to low levels that are easily masked.

Which specific worsening are you referring to? I usually had a small spike after exercising, but these always vanished.

Not sure yet. I usually have annoying tinnitus for 5-6 days in a row and then tinnitus where it's so low it's not even annoying for 5-6 days in a row... I still have to see.