Tinnitus Spike After Neck Strain and Physiotherapy: New Baseline?

[Karatekutya]

Hello everyone,

I've had a stable, high-pitched tinnitus in both ears for about 15 years. It was always low and steady, and I managed to live with it without major problems.

About 10 years ago, I also developed another tone in my right ear, but over time it faded and almost disappeared.

Now, in September 2025, something new has happened:

After some neck tension and gentle physiotherapy (light manipulation and massage), my tinnitus suddenly became much louder and more disturbing.

• The sound is now stronger, more intrusive, and sometimes fluctuates in tone (ringing, chirping, irregular high-pitched noises). Most of the time it feels louder in the left ear, but sometimes I hear it in both.
• I tried Ginkgo Biloba (120 mg daily) and physiotherapy, but instead of helping, both seemed to make the tinnitus worse.
• I have no hearing loss, no ear pain, and no dizziness, only the louder tinnitus.

It has been about a week now and it hasn't faded. I really don't know if this is just a spike that will calm down, or if it's turning into a new baseline. That uncertainty makes me very anxious.

Has anyone here experienced something similar, such as a tinnitus spike after neck strain, bad posture, or physiotherapy/chiropractic adjustment?

Did it eventually improve, and what helped you?

Any advice or shared experiences would mean a lot.

Thank you.

 

[TLD]

Hello @Karatekutya,

I have had tinnitus in my left ear for 16 years, and recently I developed a spike like you. I have never had one before, and I am here looking for support after having a throat virus and laryngitis. I posted about this before but received no responses.

It has been exactly a week since it started, and for the past 5 days I have been focusing on it constantly. Before this, my tinnitus did not bother me, and I had habituated. I think it has gone back to baseline, but I cannot stop thinking about both the spike and the baseline. I feel anxious, and the uncertainty is setting in just like it is for you. I hear it loud and clear as I type. I have reached out for support with the anxiety, started doing breathing exercises and meditation focused on my breath, and I have begun using sound therapy to help me sleep and get through this spike. It is still early days.

From what I have read and from the experiences shared on the forum, it seems that with time spikes do eventually settle, and people are able to forget about them and stop thinking about their tinnitus. Is this your first spike as well?

My question to the forum is for those who have had spikes and recovered. How did you manage it? What helped you stop focusing on your tinnitus once it returned to baseline? I would really appreciate some shared experiences and advice on how to get through this.

I hope with anticipation that I recover, and that you do too, @Karatekutya.

Take care.

 

[Karatekutya]

I'm really sorry to hear what you're going through. I can relate, because this is actually my first spike (if it truly is a spike), and mentally it has been quite overwhelming for me as well. My baseline was always manageable before, and I lived with it without too many problems, so this new change feels very unsettling.

I'm trying to stay positive and hopeful that it will eventually return to the level it was before. One thing I've noticed is that if I place a pillow under my neck and let my head fall slightly back, the sound sometimes becomes quieter for a while. It makes me think there might be a physical or neck-related component involved.

Like you, I've read that with time spikes often calm down, and people usually habituate again. I truly hope that will be the case for both of us. In the meantime, I'm focusing on staying calm, using background sounds when needed, and trying not to let my anxiety spiral.

You're not alone in this, and I wish you all the best in getting back to your baseline soon.

 

[withintention]

I had a similar experience. I was in an accident on a scooter where I injured my back and neck. During that time, I also took 2400 mg of Advil over the course of 24 hours.

I am not sure if it was the Advil or the muscle strain, but since then my tinnitus has been slightly more intrusive and now fluctuates a little. It was enough to really set back my habituation. It has been two months now, and I am still noticing it much more than I used to.