I Did Serious Stretching and My Tinnitus Increased

[PatrickHolmes]

I haven't experienced tinnitus that was just loud until now. After doing some intense stretching, it increased significantly, and for the past three days, I've been dealing with what I can only describe as uncomfortable tinnitus.

I guess my question is: does anyone have experience with tinnitus increasing and then decreasing? I know fluctuations happen, but after three days of this increase, I can't shake the haunting feeling that it might be here to stay. This stretching session was a bit different—I pushed myself to seriously stress all parts of my body for about an hour.

For context, I've had tinnitus for roughly eight months.

 

[Kriszti]

You are probably having a spike. Unfortunately they can take days, weeks, even months to go back to baseline. It's not certain that it's there to stay, but takes time to resolve.

 

[ASilverLight]

From what I've read, spikes can last a while. Three days is not much based on other stories, it may still go back down! That said, my tinnitus definitely increases/decreases by doing neck/back stretches and adjustments. If you've noticed a change in tones and loudness before, especially when adjusting your neck or pressing parts of your face etc, it may be worth looking into. That's what I'm going to do as well.

Good luck though! Try to take it easy and don't think about it too much. Do something that distracts you and masks the sound a little, hopefully it'll be back to 'normal' soon!

 

[Tybs]

My tinnitus is neck-induced, and stretching got me a lot of relief in the long term. I've had quite a few spikes after stretching exercises as well, though they usually did not last for more than a few hours: and the intensity of spikes reduced with every passing week.

Perhaps a muscle got overstretched? My advice would be to avoid any new stretches until your spike passes, and then gradually start doing it again. Monitor the impact of every stretch, and see if it changes over time.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

What did you stretched? Your neck?
All spikes are different...some resolve in a few minutes/days and others take months.
I stretched my neck and got a spike and pain that lasted me months and months but it resolved.
Good luck.

 

[PugDog1]

Maybe go and see the chiropractor? If stretching affects your tinnitus then maybe that means you have found at least some of what's causing it?

 

[Greg Sacramento]

It may be that your tinnitus developed by injury to your C spine causing unbalance such as from hitting your head. So with that and any bad posture, stretching affected your C spine more, which may have also stressed something else. Most likely with influence to nerves. Stand straight in front of a wall mirror to see if one shoulder is lower than the other. If so, then consider talking to your GP for radiological testing, including X Rays. From noted radiological results, light therapy treatments may help not only with your spike, but also with the milder tinnitus that you had for months. Your spike may just go away on it's own, but if there's neck issues, it would be best to investigate.

 

[hans799]

Spikes (temporary increases) are known to last for weeks, even months sometimes. I had one which lasted for 21 days after smoking cannabis (never touching that again). Another one that lasted for 10 days after stupidly slamming a cupboard very loudly in anger.

What matters is whether you've done permanent damage or not. If there is no permanent hearing damage, then the spike was like kicking a hornet's nest; it'll eventually settle. And I don't think you did permanent damage to your auditory system by stretching, don't worry. 3 days is nothing.

I have had tinnitus for roughly eight months.

Then you're still in the beginning phase of your tinnitus, when it's still changing and settling down. Variance at this point is expected and normal. Hell, it may even go away entirely - tinnitus isn't usually considered chronic until you've had it for 2 years.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Continued - nerves...
How stretching can affect the ear or brainstem - and cause a tinnitus spike when the C spine is not healthy. Nerves C1-C4 work to complete the functions of the cervical plexus. This group of nerves allows for movements such as flexing, stretching the neck and swallowing.

"The greater auricular nerve, lesser occipital nerve and the supravlavicular nerve also contribute to the functioning of the cervical plexus."

https://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-nerves-in-the-neck.htm

There are 3 case medical studies on this with tinnitus.
Treatment is to use warmth and then cool compresses behind ear and on neck. The sooner the better.

 

[PatrickHolmes]

My tinnitus used to be heard only when I was sleeping, or lying down. It spiked in one ear to hearing it loud twenty four seven and the other ear thumps over and over. Do people that experience spikes find that they go away? I'm two weeks in the spike. Very scary.

 

[Tybs]

My tinnitus used to be heard only when I was sleeping, or lying down. It spiked in one ear to hearing it loud twenty four seven and the other ear thumps over and over. Do people that experience spikes find that they go away? I'm two weeks in the spike. Very scary.

Do you know which stretching exercise caused the spike?

 

[PatrickHolmes]

I had tinnitus for five months after which it got louder. It's been about 3 months at a volume level of 6 on a scale of 1-10 when I lie or sit down. I do not know whether to accept this as my new reality or see it as temporary. It seems so muddled as to whether or not to have hope on it improving or going away.

 

[Sodlin]

Any improvement, @PatrickHolmes?