Day by Day Fluctuating Tinnitus

[Agrajag364]

I did have panick/anxiety attacks in the months preceding due to the death of a loved one. I was on pins and needles. So now, I'm worried my T is more of a brain issue and can't be treated like ETD.

It might well be that tinnitus associated with stress is more likely to go in time, not less.

 

[PeteJ]

It's common for both acoustic trauma and for those with more physical aspects. So many things could be cause that can also relate to brain processing or just brain processing. It's impossible to find a list or discussion for all reasons unless pulsatile tinnitus has involvement. On the lists from gathering are cranial nerves 9, 10 and 11. The 11th being most prominent of the cranial nerves. Muscles - sternocleidomastoid and trapezius may be weak and influence the 11th cranial nerve. Vascular insufficiency, posture position, jaw-nerves/muscles, teeth, soft palate, throat, sinus, any of the many facial complexes, ear wax. Meniere's.

Much less - Jugular vein or jugular foramen syndrome, carotid artery, Horner's syndrome, Wallenberg's small vessel syndromes, endolymphatic hydrops, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, intrathoracic goiter with hyperthyroidism, thyroid, superior vena cana syndrome, Sigmoid sinus diverticulum, vestibular schwannoma, infection and steroid withdrawals. Other arteries including the vertebral artery.

I grind my teeth at night (apparently) - I have caught myself in the past when I have woken up but nothing really recent but trips to the dentist revealed that I do. I have a mouth guard now. Is there any way this is related or causing anything or is it just yet another problem on top of it?
I also have a left ear that is often in some amount of pain - comes and goes - I thought maybe it was sound related but my right ear is not affected - it's always the left ear. Some people have said it might be some jaw tension or the grinding but the dentist didn't think it had anything to do with my left ear issue.

 

[PeteJ]

No that's interesting, there's a school of thought that says because of tinnitus's link with the limbic system and fear, the more you freak out about it the louder it gets - vicious circle - and thus if you stop reacting to it it's more likely to go or quieten in time.

I'm not a medical expert but I would wonder if our 'neurons and neuron transmitters' etc. are firing and what happens with our brains when we 'freak out' - have tantrums, anxiety attacks, get angry or overly upset etc. etc. - and thus, the tinnitus gets worse? But, it is hard to curb the anxiety if you are 'hearing things' constantly. This vicious circle seems to be forgotten or disregarded by the experts or at least, the GPs, audiologists who might even acknowledge it but then all they do is nod, 'yeah, I know, but just use our TRT steps and....' - which means they don't want to address the issue and/or can't/won't.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@PeteJ TMJ ear pain will be accompanied by other symptoms like head and neck pain and you may also have other symptoms in your jaw and face.
Do you have any other symptoms?

 

[Agrajag364]

I grind my teeth at night (apparently) - I have caught myself in the past when I have woken up but nothing really recent but trips to the dentist revealed that I do. I have a mouth guard now. Is there any way this is related or causing anything or is it just yet another problem on top of it?
I also have a left ear that is often in some amount of pain - comes and goes - I thought maybe it was sound related but my right ear is not affected - it's always the left ear. Some people have said it might be some jaw tension or the grinding but the dentist didn't think it had anything to do with my left ear issue.

Yeah!!! Great point! Has your guard helped? I should've mentioned I have this suspicion too! I had a constant headache for two years that did the same daily fluctuation thing and I got a custom night mouth guard made cos of the same grinding/waking with a sore jaw suspicion. I've not managed to wear it with tinnitus as it's so hard to sleep with and so is tinnitus. But there's a post here in the success stories forum from a women whose tinnitus went after four years and it didn't start improving til she wore a night mouth guard.

Has anyone here with daily fluctuating tinnitus tried wearing a mouth guard to stop any teeth grinding at night?

 

[PeteJ]

@PeteJ TMJ ear pain will be accompanied by other symptoms like head and neck pain and you may also have other symptoms in your jaw and face.
Do you have any other symptoms?

Not really.... I used to have headaches often, though.
Edit: Actually, I thought of something - it might be minor, but my jaw near my ear is sore or usually sore or sensitive - and I have (left) ear popping when I swallow/gulp sometimes.

Right now, I have fast, high pitched buzzing.... I am trying not to be anxious but I never know what to do..... :-(

I was using a 'tinnitus or anti-tinnitus' video on my phone near me when I'm on the computer. Should I keep doing that or stop?
I hope it settles down because I sometimes had 'quiet' moments when it went to static/white noise.

 

[just1morething]

No that's interesting, there's a school of thought that says because of tinnitus's link with the limbic system and fear, the more you freak out about it the louder it gets - vicious circle - and thus if you stop reacting to it it's more likely to go or quieten in time.

I think that's why some say to use WNG's for 10 hours a day. That's what a tinnitus clinic person told me what to do. Wear them like you wear your glasses.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@PeteJ The temporomandibular joint is located in close proximity to the middle ear and the ear canal. The muscles in this area support not only the temporomandibular joint and all of its actions but also the nerves of the ear. 80% of TMJ patients have ear pain. The most common degenerative disease that causes TMJ and ear pain is arthritis, but any other disease that causes system-wide inflammation may also contribute. TMJ with very noticeable ear pain will relate to tinnitus almost all the time.

Not sure as you mention if ear pain/clenching teeth is an over lapping condition to acoustic trauma hearing loss, but it just may be.

Ear popping when you swallow/gulp occurs when there's disc or cartilage abnormalities or muscles and tension swelling near the temporomandibular joint.

 

[PeteJ]

@PeteJ The temporomandibular joint is located in close proximity to the middle ear and the ear canal. The muscles in this area support not only the temporomandibular joint and all of its actions but also the nerves of the ear. 80% of TMJ patients have ear pain. The most common degenerative disease that causes TMJ and ear pain is arthritis, but any other disease that causes system-wide inflammation may also contribute. TMJ with very noticeable ear pain will relate to tinnitus almost all the time.

Not sure as you mention if ear pain/clenching teeth is an over lapping condition to acoustic trauma hearing loss.

Ear popping when you swallow/gulp occurs when there's disc or cartilage abnormalities or muscles and tensions swelling near the temporomandibular joint.

Who can diagnose whether I have TMJ? An ENT Dr? I am waiting to see a specialist but meanwhile I don't know if this is impacting me?

The high pitch/frequency and speed is really awful and I don't know what to do. I would cry but nothing is coming as this spike just continues.

 

[Lilah]

I think that's why some say to use WNG's for 10 hours a day. That's what a tinnitus clinic person told me what to do. Wear them like you wear your glasses.

What are WNGs?

 

[Agrajag364]

I think that's why some say to use WNG's for 10 hours a day. That's what a tinnitus clinic person told me what to do. Wear them like you wear your glasses.

What is a WNG?

 

[Lilah]

Who can diagnose whether I have TMJ? An ENT Dr? I am waiting to see a specialist but meanwhile I don't know if this is impacting me?

The high pitch/frequency and speed is really awful and I don't know what to do. I would cry but nothing is coming as this spike just continues.

I visited two different dentists as part of free consultation. One said I had TMJ because my jaws crack a bit when I open/close my mouth wide. The other - orthodontist/TMJ specialist - said I don't have TMJ because my he did not feel a pop when he pressed down his thumbs near my ears when I opened/closed my mouth. Even though he didn't see evidence of grinding, he said holding my mouth/jaw muscles in a clenched position due to stress may cause ringing. My ENT said I don't have TMJ because I don't have pain.

 

[GSC]

I'm not a medical expert but I would wonder if our 'neurons and neuron transmitters' etc. are firing and what happens with our brains when we 'freak out' - have tantrums, anxiety attacks, get angry or overly upset etc. etc. - and thus, the tinnitus gets worse? But, it is hard to curb the anxiety if you are 'hearing things' constantly. This vicious circle seems to be forgotten or disregarded by the experts or at least, the GPs, audiologists who might even acknowledge it but then all they do is nod, 'yeah, I know, but just use our TRT steps and....' - which means they don't want to address the issue and/or can't/won't.

This is a good point and very true, I went from crying every night to at least buckling the eff up and putting ear plugs in every two hours every day this week and my T has been getting lower and lower. My GP has t and told me not to mask it. To not listen to sound on youtube, to face it dead on and let your brain get familiar with it and will lessen it. And since I've done that, it's dropped. It's weird...

 

[GSC]

He also pushed me to do this while the onset was acute? I wonder why. I mean, he could've just PRESCRIBED ME PREDNISONE, but what the fuck ever, I guess.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Who can diagnose whether I have TMJ? An ENT Dr? I am waiting to see a specialist but meanwhile I don't know if this is impacting me?

A dentist. A neuromuscular dentist may be best. Depending on your insurance, a referral from your regular dentist might be needed.

The high pitch/frequency and speed is really awful and I don't know what to do. I would cry but nothing is coming as this spike just continues

The high pitch/frequency is often somatic tinnitus caused by something physical and the jaw and/or neck is often cause.

 

[Lilah]

This is a good point and very true, I went from crying every night to at least buckling the eff up and putting ear plugs in every two hours every day this week and my T has been getting lower and lower. My GP has t and told me not to mask it. To not listen to sound on youtube, to face it dead on and let your brain get familiar with it and will lessen it. And since I've done that, it's dropped. It's weird...

That's interesting, about not masking. Did he tell you to wear plugs every two hours daily? Do you have severe/fluctuating T?

 

[GSC]

That's interesting, about not masking. Did he tell you to wear plugs every two hours daily? Do you have severe/fluctuating T?

I had moderate T with bird chirping tones, with a pure tone and a hissing tone - no fluctuation. No, he didn't. But I decided to do it, because the house isn't really quiet, so I was like, how can I face this head on, if there's no quiet. So I've been wearing ear plugs since I found them and it's been decreasing. Dunno if it's because of the two weeks and my ears are healing, or something else. The shift has been... weirdly interesting though.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

he said holding my mouth/jaw muscles in a clenched position due to stress may cause ringing.

Yes. It takes practice and focus, but try to keep lips together. Easier to say than do, because I do that and my T will spike.

 

[just1morething]

What is a WNG?

White noise generators.

 

[just1morething]

What are WNGs?

White noise generators (maskers). I have some from General Hearing Instruments and hearing aid/maskers from an online source. There is such a markup on hearing aids I tried some that were mentioned on this forum. They have a $100 optional remote control for operating the volume.

I have a bad day today but could be from some of the sweeteners in zero calorie drinks (aspertame etc.) I tried, not sure. I do use diazepam plus gabapentin too at times but sometimes tinnitus is just random on different days.

 

[HeavyMantra]

I don't know whether or not the cause matters? It could be that the damage to the ear is one and the same for multiple tinnitus causes. For example mechanical trauma to the eardrum, which supposedly can result from ear infection or ear irrigation, mimics the effect on the eardrum and inner ear of loud sound.

Makes sense. But noise induced tinnitus seems to be constant for most people?

 

[Tinniger]

The high pitch/frequency is often somatic tinnitus caused by something physical and the jaw and/or neck is often cause.

An important simple step to clarify whether there are different tinnitus subgroups would be simply to question the symptoms of tinnitus patients whose tinnitus was undoubtedly caused by a sudden noise trauma (shot next to the ear, explosion).

Since this does not happen, about 40% of all severely affected tinnitus patients ask themselves whether their tinnitus is caused by noise or not. And all so-called experts cannot answer this question...

Also large surveys could shed light on this question, - and such surveys are available, but not evaluated...

The clarification of the question whether a tinnitus is caused by noise or not would also be very important because this would also have consequences for the behaviour of the patient and a possible therapy.

 

[Agrajag364]

Makes sense. But noise induced tinnitus seems to be constant for most people?

You mean people with noise induced tinnitus are less likely to have these day-to-day fluctuations? Think almost everybody has it constantly.

 

[HanaK]

Definitely. Sometimes I'll think "oh, my tinnitus is fading" and as I wake up the next day its screaming its head off... also my non-tinnitus ear gets tinnitus sometimes depending on what I do that day, or how late I sleep.

 

[just1morething]

Definitely. Sometimes I'll think "oh, my tinnitus is fading" and as I wake up the next day its screaming its head off... also my non-tinnitus ear gets tinnitus sometimes depending on what I do that day, or how late I sleep.

Yeah I wonder if your TMJ disorder affects your Eustachian tubes creating the noise? Or if it's all inner ear damage? Awakening tinnitus is the worst. I have some TMJ disorder but have my doubts of it causing tinnitus.

 

[HanaK]

Yeah I wonder if your TMJ disorder affects your Eustachian tubes creating the noise? Or if it's all inner ear damage? Awakening tinnitus is the worst. I have some TMJ disorder but have my doubts of it causing tinnitus.

I don't doubt it's a mixture of both. With my TMJ fixed and eustachian tubes fixed I think there will still be some form of tinnitus due to inner ear damage. But since I have inner ear damage along with TMJ and ETD, my tinnitus varies based on how much noise I have that day and whether my jaw is acting up or not. My ETD doesn't really affect my tinnitus I think, but it definitely makes my hearing fluctuate depending on whether my tubes are relieved of pressure or not. I also have earwax buildup problems too... LOL. If one thing isn't causing tinnitus the other is.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

An important simple step to clarify whether there are different tinnitus subgroups would be simply to question the symptoms of tinnitus patients whose tinnitus was undoubtedly caused by a sudden noise trauma (shot next to the ear, explosion).

Since this does not happen, about 40% of all severely affected tinnitus patients ask themselves whether their tinnitus is caused by noise or not. And all so-called experts cannot answer this question...

Also large surveys could shed light on this question, - and such surveys are available, but not evaluated...

The clarification of the question whether a tinnitus is caused by noise or not would also be very important because this would also have consequences for the behaviour of the patient and a possible therapy.

I agree to the complexity. Surveys and research articles discussing the involved possible associations between subjective and physical are available, but seldom read by most with tinnitus.

The best professionals of research state that 65% to 85% of all with hearing loss tinnitus also have or will develop physical associations.

4% of those with tinnitus also have or will develop pulsatile tinnitus. This can be heard and it has physical condition connections.

Many of the cranial nerves, other nerves and even some muscles of jaw and neck where some lead to the brainstem are sensory. 95% of all nerves in the neck lead to the brainstem.

Some that get tinnitus from loud noise also have bad posture or a physical neck and head injury from years ago.

Some who have TMJ get tinnitus and some with tinnitus will develop stress and then TMJ and with that often neck problems.

75% of those with tinnitus can moderate it by head, neck, jaw and other posture movements.

The devices in development deal with modulation of sensory biology, so we know that nerves outside the ears as one aspect that can have input.

When the brain processes tinnitus there's lots of physical properties involved.

The different nervous systems have overlapping with every human aspect of our body, mind and soul.

Certain foods and 60 other reasons can cause a spike and over 60% of those have some physical association. Loud noise at about 40%.

 

[Tanni]

@PeteJ
Ear popping when you swallow/gulp occurs when there's disc or cartilage abnormalities or muscles and tension swelling near the temporomandibular joint.

This really interests me. I have chronic ear popping in my left ear every time I swallow, which started at the same time as the Tinnitus in my left ear, however ENT specialists tell me that the two are unrelated... When I push the trapped air with my jaw muscle, it actually stops the Tinnitus.

Like most people with Tinnitus and other related ear problems, I think the worst part is not knowing what is wrong - what our body is trying to tell us. If I could only put a name to it, it would make all the difference, but so far I haven't found anything that sounds exactly like what I have.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Tanni your problem does appear to be your jaw. Two possibilities that comes to mind where they would depend on your age. Injury to jaw and/or neck years ago. It might also be either early life dental treatment trauma or tooth development. Reasons being trapped air often takes years that could cause slight hearing loss and then later tinnitus. I would discuss this with a maxillofacial specialist.

 

[Tanni]

@Tanni your problem does appear to be your jaw. Two possibilities that comes to mind where they would depend on your age. Injury to jaw and/or neck years ago. It might also be either early life dental treatment trauma or tooth development. Reasons being trapped air often takes years that could cause slight hearing loss and then later tinnitus. I would discuss this with a maxillofacial specialist.

Hi Greg.

Trapped air is actually a thing?? I thought I was going mad, or was the only person in the world who had it!

I've just turned thirty. I got it when I was 28 - just woke up with it one day. I've never had any dental surgery whatsoever, but I do have slight hearing loss in the lower tones, and of course Tinnitus.

Two things that could be relevant - I do grind my teeth at night, and have just been fitted with a mouth guard. And the ENT specialist I saw noticed that my neck doesn't bend to the left properly. If I bend it that way, I can actually feel the muscle pulling tight, if that makes sense. He asked if I had an accident in the past that caused it, but I can't remember anything.

I have been thinking for a while of seeing a TMJ and Occlusion specialist near where I live, but it's a lot of money. Is this the same sort of thing as a maxillofacial specialist?