Hi from Asia — My Tinnitus Started When I Turned My Head to the Left

[Silence001]

Hi, everyone.

New tinnitus sufferer here.

I just turned my head to the left one morning late February 2021 while watching TV. I heard a very loud single tone, high frequency sound, in my left ear.

Now I have varied tones. Mainly a high frequency hiss. It causes a disruption of life. Very high anxiety and stress. Especially when I have had a couple of days here and there with no noise or minimum tinnitus noise, but past 3 or 4 days it has been high and disruptive.

I have seen ENT twice. I took steroids for 2 weeks, which made it worse, actually. Since they couldn't do anything further, I started on Vitamin B Complex and Ginkgo biloba plus requested neck and shoulder X-rays as I am pretty much convinced that either that or TMJ could be the cause.

I have C6 & C7 deterioration which started about 8 years back from carrying heavy luggage at airport. Now, If I hold my body or neck at certain angles, the noise changes and goes down a notch. I told the doctor that I hear chords turning in my neck, have trigger points at left butt, centre of left shoulder blade, neck on left side, behind left ear and on left side of skull. I asked for xrays.

She says there is nothing wrong, confirmed by Spine specialist. I told him I feel ants crawling down left side of body after application of hot water bottle. He sends me to Neuro who can't do anything except order an MRI, which will take place 5 months later in September. He suspects it will be normal.

I ran to my local doctor desperately seeking something for the tinnitus which is preventing sleep. I got Gabapentin. It helps a lot for sleep but not tinnitus. In April, I have had a couple of no tinnitus days and a couple of less noisy days, but since 3 days ago, it has been unstoppable.

I am depressed, anxious, stressed out, especially at times when it fills my whole head. Looking for support and help on what can bring it down. At its worst, it is a 13/10. Unbearable fire alarms. I would be happy with even an 8 or 9/10.

Also, I'm going for COVID-19 vaccination end of April, but no one can give any reassurance it won't increase my tinnitus.

 

[Matchbox]

Fire alarms? Can you hear it no matter what sound is on? Like white noise or a shower with your head under the stream?

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry that you are hurting so much by your tinnitus. Since turning your neck had caused your tinnitus, have you ever received upper cervical adjustments? There are chiropractors specialized in this. Perhaps they can check if your C1 and C2 are in alignment.

Good luck and take are. God bless.

 

[Silence001]

Thank you for your replies. My Neuro actually told me not to go to a chiropractor. Personally, I am afraid of them as well as I have heard horror stories about some causing problems with misalignment. But I would give an arm and a leg to get rid of this noise. I can't focus on anything and have lost my drive to do anything.

I don't know how long this will go on. That's an added stress.

 

[billie48]

Upper cervical chiropractors seem to not jerk people's neck from what I understand. But it is your call.

 

[Silence001]

I would like to go back for massages, but my neuro cautioned me against it till I have done my MRI. My masseuse does a good job and includes Moxibustion, but her massages are very deep tissue massages that can be quite painful. So not sure about that.

I find that if I am on the phone talking, my tinnitus goes down a notch for a minute or so. Same happens if I yawn, or do dishwashing. But if I chew, it goes up. The worst is when I sit so I avoid sitting as much as possible. Of course, bedtime is no longer relax time for me. I dread going to bed.

I'm going for COVID-19 vaccination end of month and am worried. This site talks about quite a number of spikes in tinnitus cases from the vaccinations.

I keep bargaining with God to at least lower the volume. I tell him it's not fair to stick this on me when I have plenty of things on my plate to take care of, but he doesn't seem to be listening.

 

[Sayeed]

I'm sorry you are going through this. My tinnitus is new too. When I sleep on my left side, my tinnitus shifts and vice versa. I also have stress and anxiety. I'm on Gabapentin and Buspar. They seem to help the anxiety which then helps me lower the intensity of tinnitus.

Don't give up. Concentrate on relieving your anxiety and stress. I know it's easier said than done. Maybe your doctor can put you on other anxiety medication. Maybe give Buspar a try... it takes a while to work. I'm on my 3rd week and it seems to help a little bit but they say it usually take 4 weeks to kick in. Don't give up.