Is Tinnitus Linked to Inflammation?

[alex96]

hey all,

I was wondering if you could help me understand my specific situation?

I woke up with tinnitus one morning when I was sick with sinusitis. My ears were clogged with fluid (couldn't hear properly) and I noticed a ringing in my right ear. Literally that morning it changed to my left ear. In the first week, I took sudafed and used nasal sprays which stopped the ringing temporarily. However, a week later I tried a nasal spray again (this is 2 weeks into the tinnitus onset) and it caused a massive spike. It was weird because a new ringing started in my right ear and it was much louder. Thankfully this subsided after 2 days and it was back to just my left ear. I believe it is at baseline or maybe slightly above what it originally was. I have also noticed my tinnitus gets better after a good nights sleep. I can also stop it completely (or significantly) for a few seconds by plugging my left ear with my finger then quickly pulling it out, making a popping sound.

I have a theory my tinnitus is caused by inflammation initially triggered by the sinusitis. At this stage I am almost one month into tinnitus, and it is much more bearable. I have also noticed that I may have TMJ. My bite is slightly off and I have a habit of clenching my teeth. My neck and upper back muscles are also very tight.

Do you have any ideas?

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@alex96 Alex unless you had whiplash, an injury or muscle spasms in your neck and back before the T started, then everything that you mention could have a wide path to TMJ - clenching. Any recent dental care could also be cause to everything. It would be hard to say what is actually causing the T because it may be that your TMJ places issue to cranial nerves.
https://tanenbaumtmj.com/2013/08/12/tmj-and-its-relationship-to-ear-problems-and-sinus-symptoms/

 

[Contrast]

All causes of tinnitus modify the auditory brain

3 confirmed causes

1: Hearing loss
2:TMD (neck/jaw problems)
3: Direct trauma to the auditory brain itself
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The most common and solidly confirmed cause of tinnitus is hearing loss (any form from sensori-neural to simple ear wax) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4208401/

In TMD it may be a combination of conductive hearing loss and problems similar to cervical tinnitus.

https://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/hearing/tinnitus/cervical tinnitus.html

Or a tumor or direct trauma to the auditory brain itself. Though that case is rare so i'm not gonna bother mentioning it.


The good news is that hopefully and most likely about a month or so after your ears unclog hearing will be restored to normal and the brain will undo the tinnitus signal. This happens in most cases, temporary hearing shifts usually do not cause permanent tinnitus.

Hope your T goes away.