Hello all,
I thought I'd share my story here in the hope of gaining some clarity and much-needed sanity regarding what has been going on.
I've had tinnitus for a long time, since 1998, in fact. I'm a musician and have spent much of my youth in bands, raves, gigs, and band practices. Need I say more?
For much of that time, I only noticed the tinnitus at night or in quiet environments. At first, it drove me mad, but over time, I got used to it and eventually forgot about it. It was much easier to cope when I couldn't hear it during the day. I took care of my ears, wearing earplugs when necessary, and continued playing music at lower volumes.
Up until 2016, I had three spikes where I could hear the noise during the day. Each spike lasted around 1 to 3 weeks. The first two were awful but eventually subsided. The last spike, in 2012, didn't affect me much because I recognized the tone and the way it felt—I knew it would pass.
In 2016, things started to change. Ironically, I had just told a friend that year how my tinnitus had been practically unnoticeable for a while. Shortly afterward, I came off a short flight and noticed the ringing in my right ear had increased. I thought, OK, not the first time my tinnitus has played up after a flight. But this time, the increase became permanent, though it was still mainly noticeable at night.
The following year, I experienced pulsatile tinnitus for the first time. It was only at night, but it was definitely not fun. Fortunately, it went away after a couple of years, and I'm fairly certain it was related to neck and shoulder tension.
Two months ago, I experienced the most severe spike I've ever had. It coincided with a stressful event and chronic neck stiffness. Unlike previous spikes, which all had the same tone, this one sounds completely different. I can hear it no matter how loud my surroundings are.
Initially, I thought it would clear up after a few weeks, as usual, but now at the eight-week mark, I'm beginning to fear this might be my new normal.
I've read that tinnitus spikes can last for months, so I'm holding onto hope. I tried acupuncture once, and it actually eased the tinnitus for a day, but it came back. The temporary relief gives me hope that a few more sessions might help.
I'm in my late 40s, but I'm a healthy athlete, don't smoke or drink, and still enjoy playing guitar, albeit at low volumes and with earplugs when necessary. My hearing seems great otherwise.
I'm really hoping this spike will return to my previous baseline. The tinnitus at night hasn't been an issue for years; it's become the sound of sleep for me. However, playing music with tinnitus as a constant accompaniment is a whole new level of horror.
If anyone has experienced similar spikes, I'd love to hear about how you coped and whether your tinnitus eventually subsided.
Thank you.
I thought I'd share my story here in the hope of gaining some clarity and much-needed sanity regarding what has been going on.
I've had tinnitus for a long time, since 1998, in fact. I'm a musician and have spent much of my youth in bands, raves, gigs, and band practices. Need I say more?
For much of that time, I only noticed the tinnitus at night or in quiet environments. At first, it drove me mad, but over time, I got used to it and eventually forgot about it. It was much easier to cope when I couldn't hear it during the day. I took care of my ears, wearing earplugs when necessary, and continued playing music at lower volumes.
Up until 2016, I had three spikes where I could hear the noise during the day. Each spike lasted around 1 to 3 weeks. The first two were awful but eventually subsided. The last spike, in 2012, didn't affect me much because I recognized the tone and the way it felt—I knew it would pass.
In 2016, things started to change. Ironically, I had just told a friend that year how my tinnitus had been practically unnoticeable for a while. Shortly afterward, I came off a short flight and noticed the ringing in my right ear had increased. I thought, OK, not the first time my tinnitus has played up after a flight. But this time, the increase became permanent, though it was still mainly noticeable at night.
The following year, I experienced pulsatile tinnitus for the first time. It was only at night, but it was definitely not fun. Fortunately, it went away after a couple of years, and I'm fairly certain it was related to neck and shoulder tension.
Two months ago, I experienced the most severe spike I've ever had. It coincided with a stressful event and chronic neck stiffness. Unlike previous spikes, which all had the same tone, this one sounds completely different. I can hear it no matter how loud my surroundings are.
Initially, I thought it would clear up after a few weeks, as usual, but now at the eight-week mark, I'm beginning to fear this might be my new normal.
I've read that tinnitus spikes can last for months, so I'm holding onto hope. I tried acupuncture once, and it actually eased the tinnitus for a day, but it came back. The temporary relief gives me hope that a few more sessions might help.
I'm in my late 40s, but I'm a healthy athlete, don't smoke or drink, and still enjoy playing guitar, albeit at low volumes and with earplugs when necessary. My hearing seems great otherwise.
I'm really hoping this spike will return to my previous baseline. The tinnitus at night hasn't been an issue for years; it's become the sound of sleep for me. However, playing music with tinnitus as a constant accompaniment is a whole new level of horror.
If anyone has experienced similar spikes, I'd love to hear about how you coped and whether your tinnitus eventually subsided.
Thank you.
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