Tinnitus Related to Stiff Neck and Back?

Hi there,

My high pitched tinnitus started the end of 2018. I’m not sure why and it seems to be predominantly in my left ear but my left ear has always been my stronger ear.

At the time I’d been to an Arctic Monkeys gig and also just gotten over quite a bad head cold so it could have been either or neither. I’ve had a CT scan, various hearing tests and blood tests carried out and then discharged saying there’s nothing they can do but I was wondering...

I’ve had a stiff back which affects how I walk and a stiff neck pretty much all my adult life, I’m 46 now, and I can’t tilt my neck sideways at all without my opposite shoulder rising up. I also dislocated my left shoulder many years ago.

Could any of these be linked to my tinnitus at all? Has anybody else had a similar experience?

 

HI @JodyB

Tinnitus can be caused by many things. The increase could be related to your neck, shoulder and back problems so it's best to see your doctor and probably referred to ENT for tests.

The most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise. The Arctic Monkey gig you went to probably caused it. Do you regularly listen to music through headphones or earbuds? Do you were a headset or work in a noisy environment? Any of these these things can cause tinnitus to increase. If you do use headphones even at low volume my advice is to stop using them.

Please click on the links below and read my posts that you might find helpful.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

 

Thanks for your reply, no I don’t wear headphones or headset or work in a noisy environment and the ENT all came back fine. At the same time my tinnitus started we had the process of buying a house which was incredibly stressful for various reasons and also I suffer from high blood pressure.

I have had the odd moments and I mean split seconds where it’s completely gone but only very very briefly

 

Stress can make tinnitus increase and with high blood pressure more so. I have high blood pressure too. When I was selling my house, buying and eventually moved, the whole process was very stressful. My tinnitus increased a lot and would constantly fluctuate. I found St John's Wort, a natural herb helpful and is good for stress. It is well known, big events like buying and selling a home, marriage, change of job creates a lot of stress. Have a word with your family doctor.

Best of luck.
Michael

 

Thanks. The doctors aren’t interested anymore and discharged me saying there’s nothing they could do other than give me ramipril

 

Please read my posts in the links I've sent you as there's something helpful information. Try to avoid quiet rooms and surroundings especially at night. The way to do this is by using low level sound enrichment, more information is in my posts.

Give it while see how you get on and if the tinnitus doesn't settle go back to your doctor.

 

Look into TMJ as well - you might find some answers there.