Acoustic Shock/Trauma from Sudden Industrial Noise — Result: Heaps of Symptoms from Tinnitus to...

[Tessie]

Hi - 3 weeks ago my life changed forever. I received an acoustic shock from a very loud & sudden industrial noise.

I've experienced:

Headaches, dizziness, full ear feeling, hollow ear feeling, pain in ears & Eustachian tube, Eustachian tube crackling, mucus from nose, tinnitus 24/7, dulled hearing, sensitivity to noise, and anxiety because of all of these symptoms.

I had a 7 day treatment of prednisolone on the 2nd week after the incident.

I have seen a GP, Audiologist and an ENT who told me everything "looks" fine and was told to "wait".

Seeing as I'm experiencing all the above mentioned symptoms, how is one expected to just "wait".
I fear I am not getting better at all & it feels like waiting is torture... nothing changes!?

Beyond the professionals advice, what am I supposed to do? There is almost NOTHING in the way of advice when you put "recover from acoustic shock" into Google.

Feeling hopeless

 

[Michael Leigh]

HI @Tessie

I and many people in this forum know how tinnitus can affect a person in the early stages and beyond. Things will get better but I want to suggest a few things that I believe will help you. First, I advise that you don't listen to music through headphones or earbuds even at low volume. I explain the reasons in posts that I have written in the links below. Try to avoid quiet rooms during the day and especially at night by using sound enrichment. More about this is explained in my posts.

Please don't be tempted to try any tinnitus treatments other than what your doctor has prescribed.

Take your time and read my posts as I think you'll find them 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/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

[Backpacker]

Hi - 3 weeks ago my life changed forever. I received an acoustic shock from a very loud & sudden industrial noise.

I've experienced:

Headaches, dizziness, full ear feeling, hollow ear feeling, pain in ears & Eustachian tube, Eustachian tube crackling, mucus from nose, tinnitus 24/7, dulled hearing, sensitivity to noise, and anxiety because of all of these symptoms.

I had a 7 day treatment of prednisolone on the 2nd week after the incident.

I have seen a GP, Audiologist and an ENT who told me everything "looks" fine and was told to "wait".

So you don't have any hearing loss on your audiogram?
Ok.

Can you describe your dizziness and headache? And do you have dizziness on and off? And do you feel better while you just sit peacefully comparing to walking around or lying in bed?

 

[Tessie]

So you don't have any hearing loss on your audiogram?
Ok.

Can you describe your dizziness and headache? And do you have dizziness on and off? And do you feel better while you just sit peacefully comparing to walking around or lying in bed?

Sorry yes a slight dip in hearing and muffled hearing but "apparently" nothing of major concern.
Dizziness is when I stand up from sitting or laying down, and sometimes just feel whoozy walking around the house, the dizziness disappeared for a week but came back.
Headaches present as soreness on top of skull & painful enough to make me want to just lay down.

 

[Gman]

Hi - 3 weeks ago my life changed forever. I received an acoustic shock from a very loud & sudden industrial noise.

I've experienced:

Headaches, dizziness, full ear feeling, hollow ear feeling, pain in ears & Eustachian tube, Eustachian tube crackling, mucus from nose, tinnitus 24/7, dulled hearing, sensitivity to noise, and anxiety because of all of these symptoms.

I had a 7 day treatment of prednisolone on the 2nd week after the incident.

I have seen a GP, Audiologist and an ENT who told me everything "looks" fine and was told to "wait".

Seeing as I'm experiencing all the above mentioned symptoms, how is one expected to just "wait".
I fear I am not getting better at all & it feels like waiting is torture... nothing changes!?

Beyond the professionals advice, what am I supposed to do? There is almost NOTHING in the way of advice when you put "recover from acoustic shock" into Google.

Feeling hopeless

So sorry that this happened to you. Just know you aren't alone. There are plenty of us who have suffered acoustic injuries.

It can take a long time for things to start to improve, but everyone is different. You need to be careful of too much loud sound exposure now and in future, which is actually something everyone should be doing anyway.

You took prednisolone which is a start in the right direction. Some people take NAC and other supplements to try and mitigate further oxidative stress caused by loud sound.

For now, if possible, I would be staying at home as much as possible to let your ears rest.

I would also be avoiding any invasive tests or procedures from audiologists or any doctors, aside from a standard hearing test. Even though some doctors are well intentioned (ie not just lining their pockets with money), they can/do inadvertently cause further issues.

Finding someone who actually understands issues like acoustic trauma is hit and miss. ENTs are notoriously bad in general unless there's an obvious medical issue, so being careful with medical advice is advisable from my experience. I wouldn't be letting them to do microsuction, ear syringing, loudness discomfort level tests or other things like that.

There are some good ones out there who know a thing or two. I found reading stuff like this helped somewhat in terms of understanding what could be going on: https://dwmaudiology.com.au/services/acoustic-shock/
https://dwmaudiology.com.au/services/hyperacusis-and-misophonia/#tonic-tensor-tympani-syndrome-ttts

Those symptoms you describe are ones that I have had too and I believe some can be attributable to the middle ear muscles (Tensor Tympani and Stapedius), which can become overly reactive/sensitised to sound as a way to protect the ear.

Getting plenty of sleep is very important. If you have trouble with this then your GP would hopefully be able to help.

 

[Backpacker]

Sorry yes a slight dip in hearing and muffled hearing but "apparently" nothing of major concern.
Dizziness is when I stand up from sitting or laying down, and sometimes just feel whoozy walking around the house, the dizziness disappeared for a week but came back.
Headaches present as soreness on top of skull & painful enough to make me want to just lay down.

Keep your head elevated when you lie down (put two pillows) and also when you are up (do not bend over to pick up anything). Avoid any straining for at least a month or more. Also avoid coffee and salt, and if I were you I would drink dandelion root tea three times a day because it is a mild diuretic.

 

[Digital Doc]

Most important thing is to avoid further noise damage. This includes avoiding the exposures when possible, and using protection when you can't.

 

[Tessie]

So sorry that this happened to you. Just know you aren't alone. There are plenty of us who have suffered acoustic injuries.

It can take a long time for things to start to improve, but everyone is different. You need to be careful of too much loud sound exposure now and in future, which is actually something everyone should be doing anyway.

You took prednisolone which is a start in the right direction. Some people take NAC and other supplements to try and mitigate further oxidative stress caused by loud sound.

For now, if possible, I would be staying at home as much as possible to let your ears rest.

I would also be avoiding any invasive tests or procedures from audiologists or any doctors, aside from a standard hearing test. Even though some doctors are well intentioned (ie not just lining their pockets with money), they can/do inadvertently cause further issues.

Finding someone who actually understands issues like acoustic trauma is hit and miss. ENTs are notoriously bad in general unless there's an obvious medical issue, so being careful with medical advice is advisable from my experience. I wouldn't be letting them to do microsuction, ear syringing, loudness discomfort level tests or other things like that.

There are some good ones out there who know a thing or two. I found reading stuff like this helped somewhat in terms of understanding what could be going on: https://dwmaudiology.com.au/services/acoustic-shock/
https://dwmaudiology.com.au/services/hyperacusis-and-misophonia/#tonic-tensor-tympani-syndrome-ttts

Those symptoms you describe are ones that I have had too and I believe some can be attributable to the middle ear muscles (Tensor Tympani and Stapedius), which can become overly reactive/sensitised to sound as a way to protect the ear.

Getting plenty of sleep is very important. If you have trouble with this then your GP would hopefully be able to help.

Omg thank you for this! I panicked when you mentioned the experts doing certain tests as the audiologist did the tinnitus test which involved loudness discomfort levels

In hindsight not a good idea, I'm just praying I didn't do more damage or set myself back in my healing process?!

I have cancelled my follow up appointment as I feel I just don't want to be poked and prodded anymore and I want to give myself the best chance to just rest.

I've noticed that I jump when doors in the house slam shut or I am faced with another loud noise. It's like my body is on high alert and I've developed PTSD.
Perhaps I need to try and stay as calm as I can instead!

I am wondering you said that you have suffered from the same symptoms, did yours go away or get better?

Besides the obvious tinnitus and dizziness it's the headaches that I get everyday that have been pretty unbearable.

I was also reading about ETD and wondering if I had this as I feel like my Eustachian tubes are sticky, blocked & they aren't clearing.

I will check out the links.

Thank you truly

 

[Tessie]

HI @Tessie

I and many people in this forum know how tinnitus can affect a person in the early stages and beyond. Things will get better but I want to suggest a few things that I believe will help you. First, I advise that you don't listen to music through headphones or earbuds even at low volume. I explain the reasons in posts that I have written in the links below. Try to avoid quiet rooms during the day and especially at night by using sound enrichment. More about this is explained in my posts.

Please don't be tempted to try any tinnitus treatments other than what your doctor has prescribed.

Take your time and read my posts as I think you'll find them 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/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

Thank you Michael, I've started reading!

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you Michael, I've started reading!

Things will get better Tessie.
All the best.

Michael

 

[Gman]

Omg thank you for this! I panicked when you mentioned the experts doing certain tests as the audiologist did the tinnitus test which involved loudness discomfort levels

In hindsight not a good idea, I'm just praying I didn't do more damage or set myself back in my healing process?!

I have cancelled my follow up appointment as I feel I just don't want to be poked and prodded anymore and I want to give myself the best chance to just rest.

I've noticed that I jump when doors in the house slam shut or I am faced with another loud noise. It's like my body is on high alert and I've developed PTSD.
Perhaps I need to try and stay as calm as I can instead!

I am wondering you said that you have suffered from the same symptoms, did yours go away or get better?

Besides the obvious tinnitus and dizziness it's the headaches that I get everyday that have been pretty unbearable.

I was also reading about ETD and wondering if I had this as I feel like my Eustachian tubes are sticky, blocked & they aren't clearing.

I will check out the links.

Thank you truly

I too had the loudness discomfort level test at a time that I now know I shouldn't have. Don't over think it too much now.

PTSD is spot on really. It's not just soldiers who can get it. You are right about trying to stay calm and reducing anxiety (which is easier said than done!). Not over analysing sounds or being scared of sounds is important as well, because there's a psychological component to it as well. Positive thinking, as hard as it can be, is important.

By the way, the middle ear muscles and their associated nerves, such as the trigeminal nerve, are involved with eustachian tube functioning, which is one way that can cause them to become dysfunctional. Issues with these can cause the dizziness, head pains, full and hollow ear feelings, crackling, fluttering, clicks, dulled hearing. etc.

Having said that I don't know how loud the sound was that you were subjected to or its duration. So, it's difficult to know if the dulled hearing is just temporary conductive hearing loss due to the middle ear muscles being overprotective.

A lot of the worst issues from acoustic trauma have improved over time for me. There are still challenging times, but I can mostly function relatively normal albeit with some lifestyle changes such as avoiding loud places and carrying ear protection just in case.

Getting past the anxiety and getting over the bulk of loudness hyperacusis (sound sensitivity) were significant positive steps and took time. You're in the very early days and you need to be patient. There's probably some kind of inflammation going on that will take time to settle. Ears are super slow to show any kind of improvements. If you are able to find an audiologist that specialises in this area (like the links I posted), it would probably be beneficial.

 

[Tessie]

I too had the loudness discomfort level test at a time that I now know I shouldn't have. Don't over think it too much now.

PTSD is spot on really. It's not just soldiers who can get it. You are right about trying to stay calm and reducing anxiety (which is easier said than done!). Not over analysing sounds or being scared of sounds is important as well, because there's a psychological component to it as well. Positive thinking, as hard as it can be, is important.

By the way, the middle ear muscles and their associated nerves, such as the trigeminal nerve, are involved with eustachian tube functioning, which is one way that can cause them to become dysfunctional. Issues with these can cause the dizziness, head pains, full and hollow ear feelings, crackling, fluttering, clicks, dulled hearing. etc.

Having said that I don't know how loud the sound was that you were subjected to or its duration. So, it's difficult to know if the dulled hearing is just temporary conductive hearing loss due to the middle ear muscles being overprotective.

A lot of the worst issues from acoustic trauma have improved over time for me. There are still challenging times, but I can mostly function relatively normal albeit with some lifestyle changes such as avoiding loud places and carrying ear protection just in case.

Getting past the anxiety and getting over the bulk of loudness hyperacusis (sound sensitivity) were significant positive steps and took time. You're in the very early days and you need to be patient. There's probably some kind of inflammation going on that will take time to settle. Ears are super slow to show any kind of improvements. If you are able to find an audiologist that specialises in this area (like the links I posted), it would probably be beneficial.

Ah! You're a voice in the darkness that is my mind atm!

Thank you, thank you!
I've made an appointment with said link. Will keep you posted.

I'm so glad that things have mostly resolved for you!!! Sounds like a long and trialling journey for most people experiencing this.

When you're in the thick of it, hard to see a way out and remain positive. But thank you for the reminder. I have never wanted anything more in my life than to be well again.

What I do know is the universe has a sick SOH. Interesting that it took this experience for me to appreciate being healthy, able bodied and see the joy in life. I was chronically depressed before this happened, now I feel "awake" whatever that means and imagine myself doing normal things again. Like wouldn't it be nice to go for a walk...ah one can dream.

It's also made me think deeper into bringing awareness to AS. Shouldn't we be educating kids in schools about noise safety and protecting our "delicate" ears? Prevention vs the extreme aftermath.

I've been doing things for years that required ear protection just out of a lack of awareness. Shoulda, woulda, coulda!

Noise was from a high velocity kitchen aid milling nuts for like 5-10 seconds...hard to believe but it was the loudest noise I've ever heard in my life. Lady demonstrating gave me no warning just switched on the machine as I was standing right next to it and blew me out of the water. Way to deliver a service safely right? I've been trying not to hate her every other minute for the rest of my days I know this won't serve me.

Only took an hour after for the migraine to set in followed by all other symptoms.

You're right about inflammation, I can pretty much feel it. It's not nice. I've already had the steroids which helped a bit at the time but I feel like I'm back to square one now at week four. I don't know what else to take besides Panadol atm which doesn't chip into the head pains & aches much. Some days I feel like my brain is hemorrhaging


Cheers

 

[Tessie]

Most important thing is to avoid further noise damage. This includes avoiding the exposures when possible, and using protection when you can't.

Thank you

 

[Gman]

Ah! You're a voice in the darkness that is my mind atm!
I've made an appointment with said link. Will keep you posted.

Yes, please do. I would very interested to know what they advise.

It's also made me think deeper into bringing awareness to AS. Shouldn't we be educating kids in schools about noise safety and protecting our "delicate" ears? Prevention vs the extreme aftermath.

Too true! There's such a lack of understanding and it's a very noisy world, especially when you see it from this side of things. Lack of awareness is rife at all levels of society. When you see things on the news like police throwing flash bang grenades into crowds of protesters it makes you realise how ignorant we are as a species.

Noise was from a high velocity kitchen aid milling nuts for like 5-10 seconds...hard to believe but it was the loudest noise I've ever heard in my life. Lady demonstrating gave me no warning just switched on the machine as I was standing right next to it and blew me out of the water. Way to deliver a service safely right? I've been trying not to hate her every other minute for the rest of my days I know this won't serve me.

Damn that's terrible. There are a lot of idiots out there I'm afraid. 5-10 seconds doesn't sound like too much exposure, but really depends on how many decibels. If it was industrial size I can imagine it would have been loud and workplace safety should have required hearing protection. I don't suppose she was wearing any? If she wasn't, then she's either has seriously strong ears, already deaf, just lucky, or a robot.

You're right about inflammation, I can pretty much feel it. It's not nice. I've already had the steroids which helped a bit at the time but I feel like I'm back to square one now at week four. I don't know what else to take besides Panadol atm which doesn't chip into the head pains & aches much. Some days I feel like my brain is hemorrhaging

The rawness should subside if you treat your ears kindly. Just take it slowly and know there can be set backs at times. Calm awareness of noise levels is key and if you're somewhere where it's uncomfortably loud, just leave. I've found blocking my ears at times when there's unexpected loud noise to be helpful and, seriously, the benefits outweigh any social stigma or embarrassment.

Also take it easy on the panadol, it's not good for the ears if taken every day for long periods of time. Not sure exactly how, but it does lower glutathione levels (the body's master antioxidant), which possibly leads to oxidative stress. This is why people take NAC, as it boosts glutathione levels. Interestingly, it is also used as a treatment for paracetamol overdose.

 

[Tessie]

Yes, please do. I would very interested to know what they advise.


Too true! There's such a lack of understanding and it's a very noisy world, especially when you see it from this side of things. Lack of awareness is rife at all levels of society. When you see things on the news like police throwing flash bang grenades into crowds of protesters it makes you realise how ignorant we are as a species.


Damn that's terrible. There are a lot of idiots out there I'm afraid. 5-10 seconds doesn't sound like too much exposure, but really depends on how many decibels. If it was industrial size I can imagine it would have been loud and workplace safety should have required hearing protection. I don't suppose she was wearing any? If she wasn't, then she's either has seriously strong ears, already deaf, just lucky, or a robot.


The rawness should subside if you treat your ears kindly. Just take it slowly and know there can be set backs at times. Calm awareness of noise levels is key and if you're somewhere where it's uncomfortably loud, just leave. I've found blocking my ears at times when there's unexpected loud noise to be helpful and, seriously, the benefits outweigh any social stigma or embarrassment.

Also take it easy on the panadol, it's not good for the ears if taken every day for long periods of time. Not sure exactly how, but it does lower glutathione levels (the body's master antioxidant), which possibly leads to oxidative stress. This is why people take NAC, as it boosts glutathione levels. Interestingly, it is also used as a treatment for paracetamol overdose.

After learning the cost I've had to rethink...$375, phone call, zero rebate available

 

[Gman]

After learning the cost I've had to rethink...$375, phone call, zero rebate available

Further evidence of how ignorant society is about hearing related matters, when it's not worthy of medical rebates. I think @DebInAustralia has spoken to DWM audiology before, so may be able to give you a better idea.

 

[DebInAustralia]

Further evidence of how ignorant society is about hearing related matters, when it's not worthy of medical rebates. I think @DebInAustralia has spoken to DWM audiology before, so may be able to give you a better idea.

The above is correct. No Medicare rebate.

 

[Gman]

The above is correct. No Medicare rebate.

Sorry, I was a bit unclear when I mentioned you. I meant that you might be able to give a better idea of what DWM may recommend for someone with acoustic trauma like @Tessie.

 

[Tessie]

Sorry, I was a bit unclear when I mentioned you. I meant that you might be able to give a better idea of what DWM may recommend for someone with acoustic trauma like @Tessie.

I just wanted to ask you a couple of things:
1) Do you recommend I stop using my electric toothbrush re: noise vibrations in my head?
2) NAC - I was reading that is only beneficial if taken shortly after the incident?

Plus I read this article linked below, I have no doubt you've already read it. But what stood out to me was that I have all of those exact symptoms, some of which you touched on yesterday. Obviously it did move from all the classic symptoms then into my nose then into my neck and head with the trigeminal nerve mentions. I am so beyond worried that I am headed into the chronic, life debilitating section.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5562182/

 

[Gman]

I just wanted to ask you a couple of things:
1) Do you recommend I stop using my electric toothbrush re: noise vibrations in my head?
2) NAC - I was reading that is only beneficial if taken shortly after the incident?

Plus I read this article linked below, I have no doubt you've already read it. But what stood out to me was that I have all of those exact symptoms, some of which you touched on yesterday. Obviously it did move from all the classic symptoms then into my nose then into my neck and head with the trigeminal nerve mentions. I am so beyond worried that I am headed into the chronic, life debilitating section.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5562182/

Not sure about the electric toothbrush as I haven't used one, but wouldn't ever now for exactly that reason. I even make my dentist do a manual clean which feels horrible, but I wouldn't be game to have the ultrasonic cleaning anymore. There are others on this forum who probably have a different opinion.

People take NAC as a preventative measure. From what I've read, it takes some time for liver to convert it into glutathione. So it would probably only be good for any on-going oxidative stress or future situations.

Magnesium (such as glycinate or amino acid chelate and some other types) can help slightly in terms of feeling calmer and relaxed. There's also research that suggests it may help reduce noise induced hearing loss.

That article is one I've posted on this forum before. It really helped me a lot in terms of understanding. Try not to worry too much. You can't say for sure what will happen yet. Just give yourself a chance to recover, it might be slow or not, but stressing about it will make it seem worse.

To put it into perspective, I was so bad at one stage I couldn't even listen to music through a computer or phone speaker at the lowest level. Even someone coughing or sneezing near me would trigger bad ear fullness. I would get severe middle ear muscle cramping from unexpected noises or even just thinking about it, that would last for days. There have been countless setbacks and things are far from perfect now, but there have been a lot of improvements.

 

[Tessie]

Not sure about the electric toothbrush as I haven't used one, but wouldn't ever now for exactly that reason. I even make my dentist do a manual clean which feels horrible, but I wouldn't be game to have the ultrasonic cleaning anymore. There are others on this forum who probably have a different opinion.

People take NAC as a preventative measure. From what I've read, it takes some time for liver to convert it into glutathione. So it would probably only be good for any on-going oxidative stress or future situations.

Magnesium (such as glycinate or amino acid chelate and some other types) can help slightly in terms of feeling calmer and relaxed. There's also research that suggests it may help reduce noise induced hearing loss.

That article is one I've posted on this forum before. It really helped me a lot in terms of understanding. Try not to worry too much. You can't say for sure what will happen yet. Just give yourself a chance to recover, it might be slow or not, but stressing about it will make it seem worse.

To put it into perspective, I was so bad at one stage I couldn't even listen to music through a computer or phone speaker at the lowest level. Even someone coughing or sneezing near me would trigger bad ear fullness. I would get severe middle ear muscle cramping from unexpected noises or even just thinking about it, that would last for days. There have been countless setbacks and things are far from perfect now, but there have been a lot of improvements.

I'm taking magnesium, I was reading about HBOT, thoughts?
https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1809-48642019000400408&script=sci_arttext
P.s your experience is so intense. I'm so sorry

 

[Gman]

I'm taking magnesium, I was reading about HBOT, thoughts?
https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1809-48642019000400408&script=sci_arttext
P.s your experience is so intense. I'm so sorry

HBOT might be a good one to consider seeing as it's still early on for you. It wasn't possible for me at the time, so don't know.

What I meant was that things may not be as bad as they seem and even if they are there can still be improvement in time. If you keep a calm awareness and try as best as possible not to be exposed to loud situations, it's going to provide a better chance of recovery.

 

[Tessie]

HBOT might be a good one to consider seeing as it's still early on for you. It wasn't possible for me at the time, so don't know.

What I meant was that things may not be as bad as they seem and even if they are there can still be improvement in time. If you keep a calm awareness and try as best as possible not to be exposed to loud situations, it's going to provide a better chance of recovery.

Thank you!
I cannot figure out how to use this website it's so user unfriendly. For example how do I just post a question to all without having to start a conversation and invite people?
Also I can't find my conversation unless I go to my account & hit alerts...
Also how did you respond to individual sections of my post?
Sorry for this

 

[Gman]

Thank you!
I cannot figure out how to use this website it's so user unfriendly. For example how do I just post a question to all without having to start a conversation and invite people?
Also I can't find my conversation unless I go to my account & hit alerts...
Also how did you respond to individual sections of my post?
Sorry for this

You either make a new post in whichever section you'd like (just like you did at the start of this thread), or you can make a new conversation with people via your profile page, or post a status update also on your profile page, or use the chat room on the homepage.

 

[Tessie]

You either make a new post in whichever section you'd like (just like you did at the start of this thread), or you can make a new conversation with people via your profile page, or post a status update also on your profile page, or use the chat room on the homepage.

Thank you

 

[twa]

Hi - 3 weeks ago my life changed forever. I received an acoustic shock from a very loud & sudden industrial noise.

I've experienced:

Headaches, dizziness, full ear feeling, hollow ear feeling, pain in ears & Eustachian tube, Eustachian tube crackling, mucus from nose, tinnitus 24/7, dulled hearing, sensitivity to noise, and anxiety because of all of these symptoms.

I had a 7 day treatment of prednisolone on the 2nd week after the incident.

I have seen a GP, Audiologist and an ENT who told me everything "looks" fine and was told to "wait".

Seeing as I'm experiencing all the above mentioned symptoms, how is one expected to just "wait".
I fear I am not getting better at all & it feels like waiting is torture... nothing changes!?

Beyond the professionals advice, what am I supposed to do? There is almost NOTHING in the way of advice when you put "recover from acoustic shock" into Google.

Feeling hopeless

I'm going through many of the things you are experiencing. If you'd like to talk, message me.

Teresa

 

[twa]

Keep your head elevated when you lie down (put two pillows) and also when you are up (do not bend over to pick up anything). Avoid any straining for at least a month or more. Also avoid coffee and salt, and if I were you I would drink dandelion root tea three times a day because it is a mild diuretic.

Why do you say not to bend down?

 

[Backpacker]

Why do you say not to bend down?

For the same reason I say not to do any kind of strenuous activities - in order not to cause CSF to rush to the head and put pressure on the inner ear.

Just because someone's injury was caused by implosive pressure (slap on the ear, loud blast, barometric pressure-change barotrauma) that doesn't mean that they can benefit only from avoiding implosive pressure.

Explosive pressure (lifting, plunks, excessive straining of any kind) might affect inner ear injures, too, because these movements cause sudden raise of intracranial pressure (temporarily).

Both can affect the membranes between inner ear and middle ear, just from the opposite directions, implosive pressure from outside, explosive pressure from inside.
Since round or oval window membrane injuries are usually invisible on scans, I am just giving a suggestion how to try to treat symptoms caused by these types of injuries because these symptoms might reduce if there are no triggers for some time.
(In any case I don't think restraining will hurt anyone).

 

[twa]

For the same reason I say not to do any kind of strenuous activities - in order not to cause CSF to rush to the head and put pressure on the inner ear.

Just because someone's injury was caused by implosive pressure (slap on the ear, loud blast, barometric pressure-change barotrauma) that doesn't mean that they can benefit only from avoiding implosive pressure.

Explosive pressure (lifting, plunks, excessive straining of any kind) might affect inner ear injures, too, because these movements cause sudden raise of intracranial pressure (temporarily).

Both can affect the membranes between inner ear and middle ear, just from the opposite directions, implosive pressure from outside, explosive pressure from inside.
Since round or oval window membrane injuries are usually invisible on scans, I am just giving a suggestion how to try to treat symptoms caused by these types of injuries because these symptoms might reduce if there are no triggers for some time.
(In any case I don't think restraining will hurt anyone).

What is CSF?

 

[Backpacker]

What is CSF?

Cerebrospinal fluid.