Tinnitus Started in May 2020 from Unknown Causes: MRI, CT and Hearing Test All Clear

Hello everybody,

My tinnitus began in May this year. I had a clear MRI and CT scan and no hearing loss which was tested twice.

I noticed my ears did not equalise when flying and I have been unable to pop my left ear. I have a feeling of fullness and its blocked since April. The tinnitus is in my left ear and am being fitted for a splint for possible TMJ.

On occasion I feel as if this ear has water but ENTs have confirmed everything is fine.

For some reason I was convinced I had ETD and wonder if any members can kindly respond.

I have never used headphones.

Many thanks to everyone in advance.

 

So... did it get any better from May? What is your question anyway?

 

HI @Felix6666

Welcome to the forum. The fact that you have mentioned never using headphones could eliminate that you have noise induced tinnitus. I suspect that you have been reading posts in this forum and therefore know, noise induced tinnitus is the most common cause of the condition and typically headphones are responsible for the onset in many instances. If you haven't used any form of headset and don't listen to loud music at home, in the car, clubs or concerts prior to your tinnitus starting then, it's likely to be caused by an underlying medical condition. It could be related to TMJ or ETD as you suspect or something else. Stress, hearing loss, medication and pulsatile tinnitus can cause it too.

I try to help with Noise induced tinnitus as that's what I'm familiar with. I mentioned headset and exposure to loud music just to jog your memory.

Hope you are able to get some help soon.
All the best.

Michael

 

@Michael Leigh
Many thanks I took great comfort from reading your posts when I was in turmoil like many others here and would like to thankyou and others for the great care and concern you show to those in need. If I rule out noise induced I'm left with Tmj and or ETD and as you pointed out earlier those I have seen so far in the medical profession have not left me with much hope. Fortunately I'm now much calmer and do wonder why my left ear is constantly blocked.
Hopefully the splint will make a difference.
Wishing you the best.

 

Thank you for your kind comments @Felix6666 I'm pleased that you have found my posts helpful. Whilst many ENT doctors do not have an in depth knowledge of noise induced tinnitus, please understand this is not their area of expertise. They are qualified physicians and experts in knowing about the Ear, Nose and throat and any underlying medical conditions that affect them. They will try to treat these conditions medically or surgically. When no underlying medical problem within the Ear, Nose and throat is causing the tinnitus as in noise induced, the patient should be referred to Audiology to see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that's trained in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management.

If your tinnitus is caused by ETD then the right person to see is an ENT doctor.
Best of luck.
Michael

 

I was initially told I had ETD due to hormonal changes from pregnancy, this may have been the case (it might still be however my tests have been normal).

I have had tinnitus for 6 weeks now, no known cause apparently other than suspected stress/hormones.

I've seen 2 ENTs whom were not that helpful. The person who was most helpful was the audiologist I saw who actually sat me down and explained what was going on and how I needed to try and manage and of course everyone on this lovely forum who have got me through this so far xx

 

HI @Kirstystired

Many things can cause tinnitus but the most common is exposure to loud noise. Typically, this is caused by using headphones at too high a volume or using a headset. If you don't use headphones or headset and don't listen to loud music, then your tinnitus probably isn't noise induced. As I've explained in my previous post and many times in this forum: ENT doctors do not specialise in treating tinnitus because this is not their area of expertise, they treat underlying medical problems within the auditory system and Ear, Nose and Throat that might be causing the tinnitus.

Your Audiologist knows more about tinnitus because often, they specialise in treating tinnitus when no underlying medical problem is causing it. It is not unusual to find some Audiologists have tinnitus, either they were born with it or acquired it at some time in their life.

You might find the articles in the links below helpful.
All the best

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

@Alex Vorn @Kirstystired @Michael Leigh
Thanks everybody, Michael I read all your attachments many thanks.
In May I consulted a tinnitus specialist who asked me to try hearing aids. Like most folk on here at the beginning it's trial and error but if I have a very bad day I used the aids they then provide relief and a few quiet days(then I don't wear them) could this be residual inhibition?
My T is loud some days then mainly quiet.
On my ear front can anyone suggest a reason why my ear will not pop or unblock, I can't help but think it may be ETD. I'm also seeing a dentist for Tmj and am in the process of being fitted for a splint.
I know the proverbial horse has bolted but I'm wondering if the hearing aids are providing a similar effect to using white noise hence residual inhibition. I'm new to this so forgive me if this doesn't make sense.
Thanks to everyone on here. Any comments are appreciated.

 

If it’s blocked, it’s ETD.

I got ETD and my nostrils are ridiculously clean so it must be a muscle issue, so TMJ. I’ve had the hardest time ever to find a TMJ specialist but I think that’s going to be the solution to mine. ETD in my case seems to be helped by electrotherapy, laser and manual trigger points therapy in the upper back and neck (it all connects to the jaw so I think it can aggravate it which is why many modulate their tinnitus with neck movements). I was assured that unless you have a problem in the c1 and c2, the rest below can’t be the cause of tinnitus or a nerve issue.

Also without intense pain, it can’t be the trigeminal nerve. So it’s most likely that an inflamed TMJ/jaw (or whatever the hell it is called) is messing something up in the ear area. Now, is it a muscle of the ear messed up? Muscles of the jaw not working right? Pressure against the ear? Pressure causing bad blood circulation (some say the hiss is actually blood flow)? Imbalance causing ETD and ETD alone causing tinnitus?

 

@donotringatme thanks for this. I have a continuous static and Crackling sound in left ear so could this be Etd? Left hear has not unblocked since March, I got a splint for bottom teeth but it's making the T louder, I have Tmj but no pain only clicking when I open my jaw (right side) everything is such a conundrum. Thanks for your reply and hope things get better for you and indeed for everyone on this forum.

 

Thank you @Felix6666, I wish you the best as well. I’ve just woken up from a terrible sleep, this thing rings. There’s no way to fix this with neck therapy, neck isn’t the issue at all. It’s the damn jaw. I’m concerned that your splint made it worse, I wonder what your doctor would give as an explanation.

I found some posts from an old Reddit thread regarding TMJ, I don’t know if they help but here they are.

 

You mean you feel a leak? Or did you mean just fullness? When I say a leak I mean do you feel there is a little bit of liquid deep inside?

 

Hello: I notice that you placed yourself on my follow list, so I decided to read your posting history. Thanks for all the ratings. Since your tinnitus is not severe, it may be your that lower jaw has changed position. There's a possible 32 causes for jaw tinnitus. Can we discuss this more? Rarely has there been a confirmed case of severe tinnitus with just the jaw or TMJ, unless main nerves are involved.

For many with jaw stress or complication, the cranium cervical mandibular system, called the hanger system has involvement. If tinnitus is somatic, then the hinge is most likely involved, even if tinnitus can be modulated by moving jaw. If tinnitus was severe and somatic with modulation then either the C spine has strengthen, or the C1 C2 (atlanto-occipital joint) is off balance and muscles of neck are in spasm. This hanger system also includes the hyoid bone. Neck muscles may not feel discomfort. All this starts with at least some bad posture - head bending and then back, shoulder and neck muscle spasms happen. Whiplash or hitting head is also often noted, but that can really cause severe tinnitus.

If you are not hearing a bruit or hum, then blood circulation is not part, unless contractions of the tympanic membrane are experienced.

Dysfunction of the eustachian tube is often described as a roaring sound that coincides with breathing.

 

Hello Greg and thank you for the reply, I will update my thread with a response to your post as I don’t want to hijack this one. I’m looking forward to your input.