Downward Spiral

[ItsNate101]

Hey guys, finally decided to say something after reading in the shadows for a long time.

I have had tinnitus since I was in the military, I have had it for close to 10 years now. I am 27. I have got used to "normal" tinnitus years and years ago, yes annoying at times but I was at the point where it didn't impact my life.

However I have had a drinking problem and stopped cold turkey about 2 months ago. After going through severe withdrawals including auditory hallucinations (music playing in my ears)

That slowly died down after about two weeks, I have noticed I have several different tones of tinnitus, each ear is different. I got prescribed anti-depressants because at that point my anxiety was so high because of the music in my ears It was like a permanent panic attack.

So fast forward a week after that I was taking a few puffs of high CBD/low THC cannabis to try to help with being so anxious. Can't remember if it was sudden or took a few hours but my tinnitus doubled if not tripled. Whole head felt like it was vibrating. Usually a fan or any noise would drown out my tinnitus but now its so intense nothing will drown it out. I been taking sleeping pills just to be able to sleep since!

To my understanding I seem to have Somatosensory Tinnitus as the pitch jumps with mouth/ear/neck moment, even if I put my finger on my head and press in it spikes my tinnitus. I really need some help as I have not been able to find any. After hour clinics have not been helpful as they just give me different types of anti anxiety meds. I am scared to take them and stopped since the spike in my tinnitus because it could be ototoxic? I am on a waiting list for mental health, and an ENT doctor. As well as a chiropractor (I go in next week). I read some people have had relief of somatic tinnitus with treatment from a chiropractor.

I'm trying everything as I can as I don't feel I can cope with this nightmare.

I as well get fleeting tinnitus, used to be so rare I wouldn't even think twice about it but since all this it has been anywhere from once to three times a day lasting 2-6 seconds.

Is it possible I have regular tinnitus from my few years in the military and now a different type of tinnitus at the same time?

I also have been getting vertigo (two weeks ago it was bad for about 3 days but I have not felt that for about a week, which I have never experienced in my 10 years of dealing with tinnitus. My symptoms seem to be all around the board so I'm having a real hard time trying to pin point what's wrong so I can do everything I can to treat this. Since this more sudden intense onset of tinnitus it has not seemed to die down at all. My head doesn't seem to be vibrating as bad but the volume is so intense it has been affecting my whole life.

If anyone has a similar issue or can shed some light I would appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[ItsNate101]

Forgot to mention the more intense high pitched tinnitus seems to pulsate.

Is Pulsating Somatosensory Tinnitus even a thing?

 

[billie48]

To my understanding I seem to have Somatosensory Tinnitus as the pitch jumps with mouth/ear/neck moment, even if I put my finger on my head and press in it spikes my tinnitus. I really need some help as I have not been able to find any.

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your suffering from the current spike. Somatic tinnitus can be treated if the cause of it is found and treated. Have you seen an ENT or TMJ specialist? Some chiropractors claim their technique can heal some form of T, especially those caused by neck/muscle problem. Have you tried masking your T aggressively by trying different sounds? If you have high pitched T like me, you can give this one a try. Turn volume low first and slowly turn up to a level you can feel comfortable. Take good care. God bless.

 

[billie48]

I also have been getting vertigo (two weeks ago it was bad for about 3 days but I have not felt that for about a week, which I have never experienced in my 10 years of dealing with tinnitus.

Hope your vertigo is not related from Meniere's. If it is BPPV, then it is fixable by an exercise called 'half somersault' tinnitus exercise and you can find it by searching for that on youtube.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@ItsNate101 Beyond what Billy mentioned, I wound consider this:
c spine, the longus colli muscle and suboccipital and occupational nerves.

Head vibrations - injury to c spine with interaction of sub/occipitals with occipital nerve that go to the brainstem causing acoustic shock disorder - reoccurring stress to your neck now has involved your mandibular joint from C1 - C3 interaction). Your acoustic shock - head vibrations should only last 8 weeks or so and probably even with a chari formation development. You should see a downward slope with head vibrations soon. Recently you must had injured your neck or had back/neck muscle spasms beyond a probable past history that may include:

improper posture
heavy lifting
forward head bending
maybe bouncing while riding in a military vehicle
vehicle accident - whiplash, hitting head or concussion

Vertigo - caused from tendinitis of the longus colli muscle. Thus would be at your C3/4 - C4/C5.
This muscle is difficult to notice prevertebral spacing by diagnosis radiograph.

I would talk to your doctor about neck x rays.
Let me know please what the radiologist notes.

 

[ItsNate101]

The thought of Meniere's is terrifying! Don't see how after 10 years it would just spike one day and have vertigo for a week. I would like to believe it is more neck related.

Also besides the Military I have been very acrobatic doing back flips off everything, which has more than likely compressed my spine, as well with years heavy lifting at the gym.

But the prior weeks leading up to this spike there was nothing out of the ordinary that would of put stress on my spinal cord.

That being said if the damage is already done any movement at all could of triggered it I suppose. I will try that noise video after work. I also do flat roofing so I'm always tossing around 100lbs rolls and use torches that are extremely loud. I have been using ear protection but that hasn't helped any I don't think.

 

[ItsNate101]

@Greg Sacramento Since my post i have seen an audiologist and a chiropractor. I got the x-rays i can show you if your still interested. I have had a few slight adjustments so far with absolutely no change. As for the audiologist i did a hearing test. It seems I have no hearing damage at all, and my inner ear seems to also be functioning properly. She was quite stumped as for the cause of my T, and the symptoms im experiencing. Next thing on the list would be a ENT.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@ItsNate101 Hi Nate: Are you now having vertigo or head vibrations ? I would like to see either the written radiologists notes or the X Rays themselves. An ENT may be of help or not. A focus that needs to be made is the pulse or beat with the somatic sound separate as two different sounds. If you have pulsatile tinnitus does it ever stop temporary?


It appears that your neck has received trauma - maybe from a built up of whiplash motions as you said:

acrobatic doing back flips off everything,

Plus in present time:

'm always tossing around 100lbs rolls

All of this can and often does lead to a wide area of problems. Muscles, nerves and arteries start to feel the effects more and more. Last year I had a flat roofer, a friend of a friend come to do a small repair to my roof with actually your same story including military/ having former balance beam training where he would flip off the beam.

Your X Rays is like looking at a picture of a house to view size and condition. That's helpful, but we may need to see inside the house. Other tests may be needed. You probably need to consult a neurologist and discuss other testing for neck and head, but also to examine what is causing the pulsate sound. I think what I said in post above has involvement, but there appears to be a vein or artery that now getting pressure.

Answers the two questions above and information on your X Rays would be helpful. In your situation just as mine, there's 300 possibilities. I think I could narrow it down, but it would include a combinations of things. The occipital area and c spine are almost guaranteed to be involved.

In your situation, doctors would be absolute, but they would probably need to refer to advance testing.

Update: Could you tell me if there's any discomfort with facial - cheeks, lips, mouth, burning mouth, salvia glands, jaw, glands in thyroid area or eyes.

 

[sakrt]

@Greg Sacramento - would you kindly be able to assist me as well? I am not well and really suffering. I have not been able to function "normally" for quite some time. No method to mask or habituate. So far no one knows how to read imaging or understands what to do anything as what professionals supposedly had done in the very informative publications you provided. It's very frustrating. I have a lot of similar symptoms as Nate above, specially the vibrating, heartbeat, lack of taste, neck injuries and no one seems to know how to properly read imaging over 5 yrs now. They did tell me neck has nothing to do with ear issues. I don't even know if they were done properly. Just sitting collecting dust. I would greatly appreciate if PM. Thank you

 

[ItsNate101]

This is the X Ray's the chiropractor took. I'm not having any vertigo currently it seemed to only hit me a few times a day for about 3 days. I'm not 100% sure if its pulsating or just constantly fluctuating. It's really hard to tell but it almost feels like a overall constant head buzzing then another high pitch from my left ear that's changing. It seems to go with my heartbeat but not always 100% on synchronization. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary when it comes to facial things. At least that comes to my attention writing this. @Greg Sacramento
Also I dont have a family doctor so I asked a walk in clinic doctor for a referral to see a neurologist and he said it won't help me and instead referred me to a therapist for my anxiety..

 

[Greg Sacramento]

would you kindly be able to assist me as well?

I would greatly appreciate if PM. Thank you

I often questioned to myself if you might have developed vestibular nerve dysfunction per a C.I. procedure which is a known problem and that can cause tinnitus and PT or increase it. After what you said above, it could be very likely. There is treatment if this is the case, but it's not recommended to have a MRI for examination with C.I. Other tests should be used instead. A vascular doctor that specialized in this area may be a valuable first choice in trying to find cause. A VND often causes dizziness, but it also can just cause imbalance of various natures. There are other issues that can cause tinnitus after a C.I, but doctors may just deny. Maybe what should be done first is to find a good vascular doctor and lets try to do that by PM.

If it's OK with you send me a PM with the area in which you live. We will also talk about your neck and the facial nerve.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@ItsNate101

Also I dont have a family doctor so I asked a walk in clinic doctor for a referral to see a neurologist and he said it won't help me and instead referred me to a therapist for my anxiety..

In non Europe, this is a big problem for those with tinnitus.

The test that you had done has been for identification of nerve problems by way of electrical activity to find imbalances that are often muscular. Looking for temperature changes from one side to the other due to changes in blood supply. The (yours) side to side graph scanning shows some muscle weakness and normal motor units reduced. This is just as easily to see on the scan as it is to look at a tree in noticing more healthy branches on one side.

It may take a MRI to collaborate if disc vertebrae matches the EMG nerve conduction results. An EMG is easier to read than an audiogram. Since you have limited healthcare, you could have fatigue studies done by your chiropractor instead. Since he was the one that had the EMG study done, he should be able to correct muscle imbalance and compression. I would consult with him about gentle stretching of occipitals from scan notation area with muscle therapy balancing treatment that would include your mid back. Bring someone else with you that's able to take first procedure notes if you can't continue due to costs. I would also be glad to help you by using The Trigger Point Therapy Book, third edition by Davies. One can purchased on Amazon for 20 -25 dollars.

 

[ItsNate101]

@Greg Sacramento is there a way I can PM you? It doesnt let me if I try. Thanks.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@ItsNate101 Nate, a PM coming your way.
Done - see it you can reply.