Hyperacusis with Pain. I'm Losing It... Anyone Experience This Too?

[SignWithSilence]

I'm 24 and I suffer from painful hyperacusis due acoustic trauma. The pain didn't come instantly though. The hidden hearing loss came from a concert but afterwards the acoustic traumas piled up until tinnitus started two weeks later. Early this month I could live pretty normal life with some pain but week after week it has been getting worse. First talking started to hurt, then heavy traffic, then driving, and now pretty much everything. First it was just stabbing ear pains but at worst it can be headaches, head and jaw pain. On Monday I took a bus drive to the capital city and I felt miserable the whole journey. Two weeks prior and I had almost no issues taking the same trip.

I think my condition has worsened because I was advised not to avoid sound but I think I forgot to mention all the pain symptoms to my doctor and audionomist... I feel so stupid. I guess I took hyperacusis with pain as the norm, but it doesn't seem to be the case. I tried to life a "normal quiet life" (walks, watching TV, going to a gym, occasionally hanging out with a friend or two in peaceful situations) and push through the pain but all the symptoms have gotten worse (I have not exposed to +80db sound too much, so nothing too racidal). Now I wish that I had just gone with ear plugs and ear muffs all time time outside and try to avoid sounds. Maybe I could have lived a more reclusive life, but at least it would have been pain free maybe.

I am not 100% sure what is going on. The pain seems inconsistent at times. I don't know if it is a certain frequency or decibel that causes the pain. Sometimes it just a short stabbing pain, sometimes it lingers for minutes. Sounds of the forest doesn't seem to bother too much, but sometimes watching TV does, going to the gym isn't painful (even thought it is constant 60db due music). Sounds do not seem to be very amplified to me. When my H was new a lot thing seemed loud, but now things sound kind of normal it is painful. Also what I don't get is that my T is very mild. I habituated to it in two weeks after onset. It does get higher on noise exposure temporarily though.

On Wednesday I was quite happy because I got accepted to a university I wanted. I could take long walks, watch a movie, etc. almost pain free. Now everything can potentially be hurtful. Even silence seems to hurt sometimes.

Has anyone here recovered from something like this here? Yesterday I was so miserable I barely went outside. Forest calmed me down and was mildly painful but being inside and watching TV on barely audible level was painful. All I really do now is browse the internet trying to find some amusement or reading about hyperacusis.

I am waiting for a phone call on Tuesday but I don't know if I even survive that long. The symptoms are so bad right now that I am going to ask for depression or pain medication. My jaw on the left side (more sensitive ear) cracks if I open it too much, so that could explain some of the pain, but I don't know if fixing it would help too much. I have a appointment for a jaw/mouth massage next week but I don't know if I am able to take the bus there.

I don't want my life to end up like this. I have so much I still want to accomplish in life...

 

[Contrast]

if science doesn't find a way to restore hearing damage humanity is screwed.

 

[SignWithSilence]

if science doesn't find a way to restore hearing damage humanity is screwed.

I suppose so. I wish I took my symptoms more seriously... I though I was brave enduring the pain but I was just stupid...

My university studies are supposed to start on Late August but I don't think there is any chance I could recover before that. I can delay it to January though. I hope that some pain medication could give me some relief.

It sucks that my body has to react like this. Why couldn't I be just like a normal person and just suffer hearing loss. and T. Not hearing properly sucks but at least I would not be in pain.

 

[yonkapin]

Peep my thread on my experience and recovery from severe hyperacusis: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...om-my-hyperacusis-and-chronic-ear-pain.14404/

Your experience with hyperacusis sounds similar to mine. It can be very stressful, and confusing at times because of how the symptoms can come and go at random.

You'll get through it!

 

[SignWithSilence]

Peep my thread on my experience and recovery from severe hyperacusis: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...om-my-hyperacusis-and-chronic-ear-pain.14404/

Your experience with hyperacusis sounds similar to mine. It can be very stressful, and confusing at times because of how the symptoms can come and go at random.

You'll get through it!

I have read your story multiple times it has been quite inspiring. The symptoms have however gradually gotten worse which has worried me.

I talked with my audionomist this morning and we decided that I should go to the hospital for a checkup as the symptoms have gotten worse.

I was surprised how good the GP was at handling the situation. Basically we went through my symptoms and my earlier medical history concerning ears, that while I obviously have problems with my ears (hidden hearing loss), it might not be as bad I think. I have been pretty much stressed out and isolated almost a month now, so it is no wonder that I'm going absolutely overdrive mentally.

I got some pills to help me relax and I might have developed OCD symptoms due the fact that I am constantly monitoring decibel levels and my physical condition, and reading every horror story imaginable. I think the fact that with hyperacusis you should avoid silence, and be constantly with some noise made me feel unsafe or not making progress all the time.

I'm going to take a break from this board for two weeks, and just to try relax and slowly introduce more sound and social life as I feel like it. I already feel much better.

I'll make an update to this thread after two weeks I think. Hopefully there will be an improvement.

 

[Tempest]

Your story is similar to mine, almost down to the letter. Concert, hidden hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperacusis, HBOT and so on. I had hyperacusis that lasted for some time. After 8 months it has gotten better, but I don't think it will ever go away. Things don't hurt my ears anymore, but some everyday stuff just sounds way loud.

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, life sucks now. And forget about doctors, they are useless in our cases.

 

[yonkapin]

I have read your story multiple times it has been quite inspiring. The symptoms have however gradually gotten worse which has worried me.

I talked with my audionomist this morning and we decided that I should go to the hospital for a checkup as the symptoms have gotten worse.

I was surprised how good the GP was at handling the situation. Basically we went through my symptoms and my earlier medical history concerning ears, that while I obviously have problems with my ears (hidden hearing loss), it might not be as bad I think. I have been pretty much stressed out and isolated almost a month now, so it is no wonder that I'm going absolutely overdrive mentally.

I got some pills to help me relax and I might have developed OCD symptoms due the fact that I am constantly monitoring decibel levels and my physical condition, and reading every horror story imaginable. I think the fact that with hyperacusis you should avoid silence, and be constantly with some noise made me feel unsafe or not making progress all the time.

I'm going to take a break from this board for two weeks, and just to try relax and slowly introduce more sound and social life as I feel like it. I already feel much better.

I'll make an update to this thread after two weeks I think. Hopefully there will be an improvement.

Fair enough! In my experience with hyperacusis, there were periods where my symptoms got a lot worse with no real good reason, which drove me crazy. I found that this isn't too uncommon though, and in my road to recovery there were many ups and downs - I'd have months of great recovery then somehow end up at square one or even worse at another point. Tinnitus and hyperacusis are a wild ride.

But yes, I can also understand the OCD thing and spending way too much time on here. I'm in the camp that worrying about tinnitus and hyperacusis too much and spending a lot of time reading horror stories creates a negative feedback loop which can stifle any progress... if that even makes sense. I used to spend hours on here, every day reading different stories, studies, etc and worry that my symptoms would never improve. I did find as I spent less time here and on the internet looking up tinnitus and hyperacusis information, my symptoms improved. That's purely my anecdotal experience though.

 

[SignWithSilence]

Not exactly two weeks but I'm back.

I am pleased to report that a lot of the pain has been reduced. I tend to have more neck pain and headaches, than ear pain. Ear pain does come up from time to time but it not as bad. I don't experience the sharp pains or burning pains as often, and talking doesn't hurt that often. Mostly pain happens if I think about it when around noise. Usually when I am alone. I did notice earlier that a lot of the pain was gone if I was just concentrating on other things for example when I took a trip to the capital city (with ear plugs on) I had pain that morning and through the whole trip (nothing too intense but just this burning sensation), but after I had a heart-warming discussion with a person who was collecting money for a UN program I noticed that the ear pain was gone, and I even walked quite a lot in the city without plugs after that, and experiencing little to no pain. Left ear is quite sensitive (right ear was blasted in a concert) probably because it hears a lot better.

I think I had a very bad escalation of TTTS. I have some good days and some bad days. Yesterday and today has been a bit painful but not as painful as previously. I have been feeling sad about my hidden hearing loss because listening in restaurants or multiple people speaking is very hard. Right after the concerts in May the hidden hearing loss was more like a hunch but now it has become increasing harder and harder to understand in noise. I don't have problems in most situations though. Shopping, taking a walk and talking aren't challenging although I might not pick up everything 100%. My hyperacusis isn't too bad I think. TV and music tend to sound a bit too loud but otherwise I don't really find things sounding too loud. In a restaurant or a gym things don't sound too loud. It depends a lot on my mood. Headphones are way too loud though so I don' use them except sometimes for testing purposes. Listening music on 2% can be enough.

Tinnitus is thankfully mild and has stayed the same. The first two weeks I had it rough, but now I am quite habituated. It does increase temporarily when exposed to noise, but when I am going to sleep it is quite mild which I am thankful for.

For protection I currently use musicians ear plugs when driving longer than 15 minutes, gym and when walking in noisy cities.

Reduction of pain is great but now I still have the challenge of hidden hearing loss. I am sad about that one, and very unsure about my university studies, as I know that first year will have a lot of group work and projects. I still have a hard time sleeping and adjusting to this mentally. I sometimes can't believe what is happening, and feel that my life is over.

I have an audiologist appointment in 2 weeks and I hope it will bring me some answers. I hope I am able to begin my studies in late August.

 

[SignWithSilence]

An update if someone finds this thread later.

Ear pains are almost gone. No more sharp pains, I have only experienced burning sensation in a movie theater and while flying since early august.

T has not changed (mild) but the reduced ability to hear speech in noise is still an issue although I am more okay with it because it only is a problem in bars and restaurants, otherwise my hearing is okay enough. Hyperacusis is no longer an issue as my LDLs are at 90-105db range now.

I have currently started studying and I have even managed to go to a few outdoors student events although I have skipped any clubs or loud bars. No point risking getting an increase in T or H because I can't hear anything in such places anyway.

I still long for old my carefree life but it is what it is. I have to move forward but things are looking brighter now .

 

[J3x]

I have TTTS, Hyperacusis, Tinnitus, Migraines, Chronic Pain, Panic attacks and now, depression and anxiety. I suffered an acoustic shock trauma through a headset at work last July (2017) and since then have been in constant pain. I did the same as most, just went back to work and tried to push through the pain, but after four months of "pushing through" I fell in a heap and just couldn't keep putting myself through the agony. I saw the BEST specialist in Melbourne Australia, Myriam Westcott, she was absolutely wonderful, but unfortunately to start noise therapy or anything else I had to get on top of my pain first. Its been nearly 15 months - I have tried over 15 different medications, seen pain specialists, neurologists, ENT's, audiologists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, remedial massage therapists .... *sigh* .... I now take 200mg of opioid based medication to try to numb a bit of the pain (although, due to it mostly being neuropathic pain the opioids don't take it all away) and 3 vallium a day just to "function" - if you could really call it that. I am now seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist to try to work through the panic attacks, depression and anxiety. I barely leave the house, wearing ear plugs if I do. Before this happened I was an athlete, ran my own personal training business for 10 years and competed in Muay Thai. This condition has completely brought me to my knees. I feel completely isolated - I have insurance companies breathing down my neck because of the little knowledge around this condition - which just makes everything worse because they treat you like you are some sort of compo scamming scum. I can't escape the pain - no matter how many drugs they give me - I have nightmares about loud sounds and it wakes me up to just stare at the ceiling in pain. Sometimes I wish the insurance company could just step into my shoes for one day .. just one .. and see the hell I (and as I have read, so many of you all too) am dealing with.

The strain it puts on your life and your relationships is the worst part. Because you dont have a gaping wound or a missing limb, people just can't understand the disability we face. I am praying to whoever will listen to find something that will work - something that will get me back to my life, to the goals I have set for myself, to the carefree, determined and happy person I was just 15 months ago.

 

[AmericanJosh]

I have TTTS, Hyperacusis, Tinnitus, Migraines, Chronic Pain, Panic attacks and now, depression and anxiety. I suffered an acoustic shock trauma through a headset at work last July (2017) and since then have been in constant pain. I did the same as most, just went back to work and tried to push through the pain, but after four months of "pushing through" I fell in a heap and just couldn't keep putting myself through the agony. I saw the BEST specialist in Melbourne Australia, Myriam Westcott, she was absolutely wonderful, but unfortunately to start noise therapy or anything else I had to get on top of my pain first. Its been nearly 15 months - I have tried over 15 different medications, seen pain specialists, neurologists, ENT's, audiologists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, remedial massage therapists .... *sigh* .... I now take 200mg of opioid based medication to try to numb a bit of the pain (although, due to it mostly being neuropathic pain the opioids don't take it all away) and 3 vallium a day just to "function" - if you could really call it that. I am now seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist to try to work through the panic attacks, depression and anxiety. I barely leave the house, wearing ear plugs if I do. Before this happened I was an athlete, ran my own personal training business for 10 years and competed in Muay Thai. This condition has completely brought me to my knees. I feel completely isolated - I have insurance companies breathing down my neck because of the little knowledge around this condition - which just makes everything worse because they treat you like you are some sort of compo scamming scum. I can't escape the pain - no matter how many drugs they give me - I have nightmares about loud sounds and it wakes me up to just stare at the ceiling in pain. Sometimes I wish the insurance company could just step into my shoes for one day .. just one .. and see the hell I (and as I have read, so many of you all too) am dealing with.

The strain it puts on your life and your relationships is the worst part. Because you dont have a gaping wound or a missing limb, people just can't understand the disability we face. I am praying to whoever will listen to find something that will work - something that will get me back to my life, to the goals I have set for myself, to the carefree, determined and happy person I was just 15 months ago.

I get you. I just started getting pain 3 weeks after t. It scares the crap out of me. Ear burn, cramping, tenderness. If this doesn't go assau in a year im done.

 

[dpdx]

I get you. I just started getting pain 3 weeks after t. It scares the crap out of me. Ear burn, cramping, tenderness. If this doesn't go assau in a year im done.

What do you mean you are done?
I have ear discomfort when I talk or other people talk.

 

[AmericanJosh]

What do you mean you are done?
I have ear discomfort when I talk or other people talk.

I'm an accomplished professional who supports and cares for my wife and 5 kids who are now almost all adults. If I cant work and it causes my family to lose our life and home, I have enough life insurance to make sure they are covered. But I will try hard to hold on as long as I can. I have an audiology appt with a tinnitus and huperacusis specialist in a couple weeks at a hearing center at a medical college.

 

[dpdx]

I'm an accomplished professional who supports and cares for my wife and 5 kids who are now almost all adults. If I cant work and it causes my family to lose our life and home, I had enough life insurance to make sure they are covered.

Dude you just got Tinnitus. Tell me how you feel in a year or so. I am sure it will get better for you.

 

[AmericanJosh]

Dude you just got Tinnitus. Tell me how you feel in a year or so. I am sure it will get better for you.

The t is a breeze for me. No bother at all. It's the newly emerging ear pain and burning. Nothing is louder, but when I am in semi loud places, like a classroom, my ears hurt.

 

[Jan124]

It burns, it hurts, no medicine works, only time works, it took 4-6 months for me. Oh and it doesn't care that you're sleepy. It gets better, but you will be counting the days!
Hang in there please!

 

[Born To Slay]

It burns, it hurts, no medicine works, only time works, it took 4-6 months for me. Oh and it doesn't care that you're sleepy. It gets better, but you will be counting the days!
Hang in there please!

So you recovered from pain hyperacusis after 6 months with it? How are you now?

 

[Taw]

So you recovered from pain hyperacusis after 6 months with it? How are you now?

@SignWithSilence, I wanted to ask you the same question. I'm happy that you improved. You were lucky. Yours was mild if it improved in 6 months.

Take care.