Constant Tinnitus After I Exercised

[Rmp]

Over a week ago I exercised on my elliptical for the first time in almost a year.

Afterwards I felt a little nausea which I assumed was because I hadn't exercised in a while. A little later in the evening I felt very ill with rapid heart beat, almost to the point of going to the ER. I felt better after about an hour.

The next day while at work, I felt ill again, so decided to go to the ER. They did and EKG, blood test, urine test, glucose test. None of those tests showed anything wrong.

Since all of this started, I have almost constant tinnitus in what it seems is both ears. On a couple of occasions I have had severe nausea. I have had some tingling in my fingers. Not sure if that is caused by anxiety or something else. And I really don't have any dizziness or vertigo. The only symptom prior to all of this is some shooting pain in my head. The pain isn't that severe and it comes on for second then goes away.

My most recent symptom is pain in the base of my neck. Can't get into my doctor until next week so if there is anyone with similar symptoms that might explain a little of what is going on would be great.

Thanks.

 

[The Red Viper]

I had some of those symptoms when this all started for me. I had a weird "brain fog" feeling back in February and when I went to sleep I had ringing in the ears. I also had trouble clearing my right ear. If I popped it, it would very quickly feel full again. The ringing went away the next morning. I took a course of antibiotics and I was fine for about two weeks. However, I got the brain fog again, along with ringing when I went to sleep. I did have tingly sensations as well. The ringing went away the next morning. However, this time I had a mild headache that wouldn't go away. Pain killers would ease it but it would never fully go away. My GP recommended taking ibuprofen for 10 days (400mg 3x/day). I too also noticed a pain in the back of my neck near the base of the skull. Now after the 10th day of taking ibuprofen (which honestly helped very little), I woke up to ringing in my right ear that has not gone away since. There have been days where I think it's gone but then it comes back the next morning.

I'm guessing you might have a vasular issue. Did you sustain any kind of whiplash injury to your neck? It doesn't have to be an extremely traumatic incident. It could be as simple as lifting weights the wrong way. Do you have a brain fog feeling? It could just be a sense of not feeling "correct" or feeling "off."

The shooting pain in the head along with nausea seems to indicate a migraine. However, it could also be an early form of Meneire's disease. Again as I said before it could be something with the blood vessels in your neck. It could also be a dislodged blot clot since you stated that you hadn't exercised in over a year. As you haven't indicated any noise trauma or medication use there seems to be hope that the ringing is secondary to something that is readily identifiable, in which case treatment of the underlying problem should resolve any tinnitus.

You should push your doctor to get some objective tests done: MRI, CT, vertigo tests such as a VNG (just in case). I would ask him to check out your neck as well. Remember to tell your story in a detailed, yet succinct way, even if your doctor interrupts you. I fear that your doc might just tell you that you have migraines and give you some meds. Not to knock on his/her professional opinion, but I would ask for a complete differential diagnosis from him/her and discuss courses of treatment.

 

[Cityjohn]

Over a week ago I exercised on my elliptical for the first time in almost a year.

Afterwards I felt a little nausea which I assumed was because I hadn't exercised in a while. A little later in the evening I felt very ill with rapid heart beat, almost to the point of going to the ER. I felt better after about an hour.

The next day while at work, I felt ill again, so decided to go to the ER. They did and EKG, blood test, urine test, glucose test. None of those tests showed anything wrong.

Since all of this started, I have almost constant tinnitus in what it seems is both ears. On a couple of occasions I have had severe nausea. I have had some tingling in my fingers. Not sure if that is caused by anxiety or something else. And I really don't have any dizziness or vertigo. The only symptom prior to all of this is some shooting pain in my head. The pain isn't that severe and it comes on for second then goes away.

My most recent symptom is pain in the base of my neck. Can't get into my doctor until next week so if there is anyone with similar symptoms that might explain a little of what is going on would be great.

Thanks.

Sounds familiar, what did you eat prior?

I agree that you should do an MRI as soon as possible.

Pain killers would ease it but it would never fully go away. My GP recommended taking ibuprofen for 10 days (400mg 3x/day). I too also noticed a pain in the back of my neck near the base of the skull. Now after the 10th day of taking ibuprofen (which honestly helped very little), I woke up to ringing in my right ear that has not gone away since. There have been days where I think it's gone but then it comes back the next morning.

Thought ibuprofen was ototoxic? I wouldn't recommend ibuprofen.

"Ibuprofen causes tinnitus in 1% to 3% of the people taking it according to the PDR"

 

[The Red Viper]

Thought ibuprofen was ototoxic? I wouldn't recommend ibuprofen.

"Ibuprofen causes tinnitus in 1% to 3% of the people taking it according to the PDR"

Yeah it is, and I agree to not take it. However I do believe it can be helpful if you only take it for a day or so to relieve pain. I just don't want OP to do what I (mistakenly) did by taking high doses for 10 days.

 

[Rmp]

I have taken ibuprofen but only one dose per day. Since the headaches aren't severe or lasting don't take anything for them. It'just odd that the tinnitus and nausea started after I exercised. I did end up going to an urgent care and they prescribed antibiotics in case of an ear infection. Not likely but worth a shot I guess.

 

[Nick Pyzik]

Over a week ago I exercised on my elliptical for the first time in almost a year.

Afterwards I felt a little nausea which I assumed was because I hadn't exercised in a while. A little later in the evening I felt very ill with rapid heart beat, almost to the point of going to the ER. I felt better after about an hour.

The next day while at work, I felt ill again, so decided to go to the ER. They did and EKG, blood test, urine test, glucose test. None of those tests showed anything wrong.

Since all of this started, I have almost constant tinnitus in what it seems is both ears. On a couple of occasions I have had severe nausea. I have had some tingling in my fingers. Not sure if that is caused by anxiety or something else. And I really don't have any dizziness or vertigo. The only symptom prior to all of this is some shooting pain in my head. The pain isn't that severe and it comes on for second then goes away.

My most recent symptom is pain in the base of my neck. Can't get into my doctor until next week so if there is anyone with similar symptoms that might explain a little of what is going on would be great.

Thanks.

Rmp, you unfortunately will not find any answers to the ringing you have. Especially from any doctor. You can get an "answer" to your questions, but it's not going to solve anything. That is, until it's realized that you have a specific hearing loss. I will state this from the bottom of my heart, mind, and soul. The ringing you have is what once gave you what we call "emotions". There are many unrealized activities one can do to cause their ringing to appear loud and obnoxious. I will once again state this from the bottom of my heart, mind, and soul. Your ringing will become louder because your brain will do whatever is possible to fix the damage that has taken place. I've been experimenting for many months now to understand just what I've said.

Believe me or don't believe what I say. All in all. It's a hidden hearing loss.

- Nick

 

[Cityjohn]

Rmp, you unfortunately will not find any answers to the ringing you have. Especially from any doctor. You can get an "answer" to your questions, but it's not going to solve anything. That is, until it's realized that you have a specific hearing loss. I will state this from the bottom of my heart, mind, and soul. The ringing you have is what once gave you what we call "emotions". There are many unrealized activities one can do to cause their ringing to appear loud and obnoxious. I will once again state this from the bottom of my heart, mind, and soul. Your ringing will become louder because your brain will do whatever is possible to fix the damage that has taken place. I've been experimenting for many months now to understand just what I've said.

Believe me or don't believe what I say. All in all. It's a hidden hearing loss.

- Nick

Tinnitus and tingling fingers after working out and a shooting pain in the head doesn't elude to something like hearing damage, it sound like a transient ischemic attack which is why an MRI and Angiogram as soon as possible are a good idea.

I don't quite agree with tinnitus getting louder though, my ringing has gone down substantially since the onset.

 

[Rmp]

Possibly, but I don't think TIA symptoms would last over a week.

 

[Nick Pyzik]

Tinnitus and tingling fingers after working out and a shooting pain in the head doesn't elude to something like hearing damage, it sound like a transient ischemic attack which is why an MRI and Angiogram as soon as possible are a good idea.

I don't quite agree with tinnitus getting louder though, my ringing has gone down substantially since the onset.

Why do you think that Cityjohn? (upper half)

Before I give a few reasonings to why you haven't noticed your ringing, can I ask you when you first noticed consistent ringing in your life? (bottom half)

 

[Zorro!]

Possibly, but I don't think TIA symptoms would last over a week.

It could still be something vascular and/or brain related. I'd consider getting an MRI if it persists. Just my two cents.

 

[Cityjohn]

Possibly, but I don't think TIA symptoms would last over a week.

If the symptoms do not clear up it would be called a regular stroke. Any time a certain part of the central nervous system is not able to oxygenate an interplay between receptor polarization and catalytic neurotransmitter release will cause a few cells to die through apoptosis. A concentrated glutamate storm if you will, a few isn't that bad but if it happens to be a few too many in the auditory path you'd be left with tinnitus.
Now even though this is so I would struggle immensely to see how a localized event could give you exactly the same level of tinnitus in both ears. For this reason I believe the probability that an MRI will show something may be small but it is still a precaution that must be taken in case of vascular issues, and very wise in case of tingly fingers and nausea. TheRedViper gave some excellent reasoning and some leads for further investigation to discuss with your doctor. If your personal physician does not send you to a neurologist I would recommend you get a second opinion, but given the symptoms and timeline I highly doubt that could happen.

You mentioned anxiety, are you prescribed any medications for anxiety?

 

[Cityjohn]

Why do you think that Cityjohn? (upper half)

Because according to neurology textbooks, my agreement of the theory in them, and the exercise this is what it bears resemblance with to me at this moment.

Before I give a few reasonings to why you haven't noticed your ringing, can I ask you when you first noticed consistent ringing in your life? (bottom half)

I was poisoned with a substance that acts on the same receptors as the neurotransmitter which mediates all auditory signals, it killed a lot of them in exactly the same way as hearing damage or a stroke would as there is really only one mechanism other than physical damage that could do this. I prefer not to go into why you think I haven't noticed it, and it also seems off topic here.

 

[Rmp]

I'm not taking any anxiety medication. Most of the symptoms have improved. Haven't had the nausea lately. Tinnitus seems to have improved some. The only newer symptom is pain at the base of my neck. That pain is actually worse today. May be related to the shooting in my head that occurred even prior to my exercise episode. If it is related, it may be a nerve problem, possibly occipital neuralgia. I'm not going to self diagnose, only speculate what it could be.

 

[click]

Over a week ago I exercised on my elliptical for the first time in almost a year.

Afterwards I felt a little nausea which I assumed was because I hadn't exercised in a while. A little later in the evening I felt very ill with rapid heart beat, almost to the point of going to the ER. I felt better after about an hour.

The next day while at work, I felt ill again, so decided to go to the ER. They did and EKG, blood test, urine test, glucose test. None of those tests showed anything wrong.

Since all of this started, I have almost constant tinnitus in what it seems is both ears. On a couple of occasions I have had severe nausea. I have had some tingling in my fingers. Not sure if that is caused by anxiety or something else. And I really don't have any dizziness or vertigo. The only symptom prior to all of this is some shooting pain in my head. The pain isn't that severe and it comes on for second then goes away.

My most recent symptom is pain in the base of my neck. Can't get into my doctor until next week so if there is anyone with similar symptoms that might explain a little of what is going on would be great.

Thanks.

I am convinced that new Pilates moves caused a pre-retinal formation in my left eye many years ago. It took a top private eye consultant to even be able to see it (after 6 eye specialists failed to)... So it was mild even back then and I don't notice it anymore (unless I stare at a blank white wall) but I never did Pilates again.

Even walking affects my T. If it's not there then it will come back (not necessarily straight away but I've studied the 'pattern' for over 4 years now & it's definitely one of the things that brings it back). I always put it down to vibration but it could be anything associated with the exercise.

So we're all going to get very fat!

 

[Rmp]

Well, I have had an x ray and an MRI. X-Ray shows mild facet degeneration in mid cervical spine. MRI shows cervical spinal stenosis. Hope this is the answer to my tinnitus but surgery might be required. I meet with a neurosurgeon next month.