How Prevalent Is Tinnitus with MS (Multiple Sclerosis)?

[Sayeed]

Hi everyone. I hoping someone could help and shed some light on how prevalent tinnitus is with MS.

My neurologist says it's not MS but when I read the MRI report it says:

IMPRESSION:
Normal internal auditory canal/cerebellopontine angle regions. There is no evidence of mass or abnormal enhancement.

There are multiple small foci of signal alteration scattered throughout the white matter, prominent for the patient's age which are nonspecific. These are often any pathologic, but can also be associated with migraine headaches, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and vasculitis. Clinical correlation would be helpful in this regard.

7 mm focus of fluid signal intensity in the left aspect of the sella may represent a Rathke cleft cyst.

Signal alteration is noted in the left petrous apex potentially representing fluid or secretions in a pneumatized apex.​

Every time I Google stuff like this it says it's a sign of MS. I don't know what to believe.

Yesterday I felt more face pressure tension then usual and it spread to my ears and back of neck. I got worse throughout the day which caused me to freak out and take a Xanax. I woke up and while lying down I felt like an electrical shock go through my body, especially in my face, hands, and feet. It lasted a few seconds and during it my tinnitus went crazy. That really scared me.

I have pin and needles in my right foot, probably due to mild disc narrowing in my spine and neck confirmed by MRIs.

MRA came back clean.

My tinnitus is probably caused by meds and exasperated by my anxiety and depression.

@Greg Sacramento, I've been following you and seem very knowledgeable. Would love your feedback.

 

[Lukee]

Hi everyone. I hoping someone could help and shed some light on how prevalent tinnitus is with MS.

My neurologist says it's not MS but when I read the MRI report it says:

IMPRESSION:
Normal internal auditory canal/cerebellopontine angle regions. There is no evidence of mass or abnormal enhancement.

There are multiple small foci of signal alteration scattered throughout the white matter, prominent for the patient's age which are nonspecific. These are often any pathologic, but can also be associated with migraine headaches, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and vasculitis. Clinical correlation would be helpful in this regard.

7 mm focus of fluid signal intensity in the left aspect of the sella may represent a Rathke cleft cyst.

Signal alteration is noted in the left petrous apex potentially representing fluid or secretions in a pneumatized apex.​

Every time I Google stuff like this it says it's a sign of MS. I don't know what to believe.

Yesterday I felt more face pressure tension then usual and it spread to my ears and back of neck. I got worse throughout the day which caused me to freak out and take a Xanax. I woke up and while lying down I felt like an electrical shock go through my body, especially in my face, hands, and feet. It lasted a few seconds and during it my tinnitus went crazy. That really scared me.

I have pin and needles in my right foot, probably due to mild disc narrowing in my spine and neck confirmed by MRIs.

MRA came back clean.

My tinnitus is probably caused by meds and exasperated by my anxiety and depression.

@Greg Sacramento, I've been following you and seem very knowledgeable. Would love your feedback.

@Sayeed, I hope this will give you some comfort. White matter hypersensitivities and the other descriptions on your MRI are fairly common. I would suggest a follow up MRI in a year's time to verify that there is not an increase in foci. These results are very common in older age groups (60+) but also visible in about 10% of a younger population.

You should also know that migraines, tinnitus and hyperacusis are all likely related. Many of the symptoms you are experiencing fall under the "migraine" definition and some of the top neurotologists believe that tinnitus and hyperacusis are, in most cases, forms of migraine. More recently, research has gone into treating these symptoms with anti-CGRP meds and low-histamine/tyramine diets. The results look very promising.

As the MRI results suggest, it's possible that your symptoms are related to episodic migraines and not necessarily anything to do with MS.

I hope this gives you some comfort and perhaps a new perspective by which to look at your condition and a way to treat it.

 

[Sayeed]

@Sayeed, I hope this will give you some comfort. White matter hypersensitivities and the other descriptions on your MRI are fairly common. I would suggest a follow up MRI in a year's time to verify that there is not an increase in foci. These results are very common in older age groups (60+) but also visible in about 10% of a younger population.

You should also know that migraines, tinnitus and hyperacusis are all likely related. Many of the symptoms you are experiencing fall under the "migraine" definition and some of the top neurotologists believe that tinnitus and hyperacusis are, in most cases, forms of migraine. More recently, research has gone into treating these symptoms with anti-CGRP meds and low-histamine/tyramine diets. The results look very promising.

As the MRI results suggest, it's possible that your symptoms are related to episodic migraines and not necessarily anything to do with MS.

I hope this gives you some comfort and perhaps a new perspective by which to look at your condition and a way to treat it.

Hey Brother.

Thanks for the insight. Yea I think with my anxiety my mind wanders to places it shouldn't. I was unaware that what I was describing falls under migraine. It felt like facial tightness and the hair on the back of head standing up. It was almost like a numbing feeling but I had sensation. It was more tightness. It's always there but I rarely get it to this degree. I'm trying to figure out what caused it but I know, like with tinnitus, we sometimes will never know. Thus last episode just really scared me.

Appreciate your kind words and knowledge.

Next on my list is to get my BP under control. Even with being on HCTZ I'm still in the 145/85 range. I'm hoping with meds and exercise I can get it down to 110/75 range.

How are things on your end?

 

[aura]

You should also know that migraines, tinnitus and hyperacusis are all likely related. Many of the symptoms you are experiencing fall under the "migraine" definition and some of the top neurotologists believe that tinnitus and hyperacusis are, in most cases, forms of migraine. More recently, research has gone into treating these symptoms with anti-CGRP meds and low-histamine/tyramine diets. The results look very promising

My ENT told me something similar, that migraines, tinnitus and hyperacusis are related and go hand in hand.

I had horrible migraines for almost two months followed by tinnitus and hyperacusis.

The diet you mentioned and a healthy sleep schedule really helped me prevent the migraines.

I've read some of your posts and our stories look similar. My problems also started in January with migraines, earaches, ear fullness, anxiety and after that hyperacusis and tinnitus. I've experienced tinnitus a few years ago but habituated successfully after about 2 years.

 

[Lukee]

Hey Brother.

Thanks for the insight. Yea I think with my anxiety my mind wanders to places it shouldn't. I was unaware that what I was describing falls under migraine. It felt like facial tightness and the hair on the back of head standing up. It was almost like a numbing feeling but I had sensation. It was more tightness. It's always there but I rarely get it to this degree. I'm trying to figure out what caused it but I know, like with tinnitus, we sometimes will never know. Thus last episode just really scared me.

Appreciate your kind words and knowledge.

Next on my list is to get my BP under control. Even with being on HCTZ I'm still in the 145/85 range. I'm hoping with meds and exercise I can get it down to 110/75 range.

How are things on your end?

Plugging away. Trying to keep on moving. I think it's important we keep hope alive that things will get better. I know Magnesium and B2 have helped me a lot.

My ENT told me something similar, that migraines, tinnitus and hyperacusis are related and go hand in hand.

I had horrible migraines for almost two months followed by tinnitus and hyperacusis.

The diet you mentioned and a healthy sleep schedule really helped me prevent the migraines.

I've read some of your posts and our stories look similar. My problems also started in January with migraines, earaches, ear fullness, anxiety and after that hyperacusis and tinnitus. I've experienced tinnitus a few years ago but habituated successfully after about 2 years.

Hey @aura, I guess you're right. We have a lot of similarities. It really does suck but I can say that certain things have helped. Magnesium (800 mg daily) and B2 (400 mg daily) have helped reduce hyperacusis. Getting good sleep is also crucial. Another think that has seemed to help with hyperacusis immensely is Ambroxol (around 120 mg daily).

I haven't full on tried the diet yet but I have implemented some of it and I can tell certain foods will make me feel worse. I think if you implement a strict diet for a week you will see if it works and if it does the you can treat your symptoms like migraines. There is also so much related to middle-ear histamines and mast cells which can be helped by the diet and start the healing process of the ear.

I hope you are getting better, even if it's just a little every day.