Can a Loud Car Muffler Make Your Tinnitus Worse?

[Eric N]

I had a very unlucky noise accident, two weeks ago I was walking down the street and I usually wear hearing protection around noisy areas but this one time I decided not to wear it and this idiot with a very loud noise muffler went full throttle right next to me and my tinnitus has spiked ever since. Can it really be that easy to make tinnitus worse? The noise exposure could not have been for more than a second or so.
I am feeling very terrible right now, it's awful to know that such simple everyday events can have a impact on your life.
I am taking NAC for what it is worth any advice apart from that?

 

[Valentin]

if your hearing wasnt muffled afterward, no chances that did any damage

 

[Steve]

Hi Eric,

Unfortunately it does happen, a loud or irritating noise can spike your tinnitus. It should settle back down again though, it's happened to loads of us here. It just sometimes takes a little time.

I remember not long into mine I was out on a site somewhere and there was a release of compressed air, my tinnitus shot through the roof and I wanted to commit very nasty acts to those responsible. It stayed for a few days, think it was around a week, but it settled down. Psychologically it was difficult because it gives you a fear of noise exposure, if it's any comfort though over the years those moments have been very few indeed however.

 

[Sean]

Hey eric: Any loud noise will spike the freaking T!.. I have spike now cuz some idiot screamed right next to my ears!. I think It should settle. I am in some what panic mode as we speak,

 

[Eric N]

Unfortunately it has not settled down yet, I am really quite concerned my T has not been spiked this way for a long time. All the tones that settled down a bit with time over the 2 years I had T are back to more than full strength is feels like day one all over again, all this because some jerk wanted to show off.
I am really tired of having to deal with this, this is not even remotely the life I had in mind.

Does anybody here a think visit to a doctor is worth it? to try maybe something like Prednisone? or maybe B12 injections?