Morse Code / Typewriter / Hammer Sound Tinnitus: Could a Car Drive Have Caused This?

[Zigs]

Hey,

After a really horrendous pain spike just over a week ago, we decided that I should stay in an Airbnb somewhere quiet for a few weeks to try and calm my system down. I have two young children and a dog, and I live on a main road, so there is constant noise in my house. For various reasons, we had to drive 40 minutes, and then a day or two later, almost an hour. This was after I hadn't left the house in over a month.

The days after the drive were fine—I felt really good and calm, especially on Wednesday. However, on Thursday, I woke up with my ears going haywire and have since developed this constant Morse code-like noise in my left ear. It feels like someone is banging a hammer in my ear, and I'm at my wits' end.

Could it have been the drive? Or maybe it was the neck massages I was doing a lot on Wednesday—could that be it? I can barely function anymore, and I don't know what to do. Every time I think I'm seeing some positive signs, I get a new horrendous symptom. Please send advice.

 

[Nettles]

Hi Zigs,

I developed this tone too after being on Prednisolone a few weeks ago. Please bear with me if this comes off as a ramble; I find it difficult to get my point across succinctly, so I hope this all makes sense.

While taking Prednisolone, my vagus nerve (specifically the auricular branch) and facial nerve became very sensitive. I believe it's the auricular branch of the vagus nerve because I've mapped out the areas where I've been experiencing sensations like itching, tickling, etc., after withdrawal, and it matches up. After day 3 on Prednisolone, I felt the nerve running between my ear, down my neck, and into my collarbone. It felt "off" and weird. It's hard to describe, but the sensation hasn't fully gone away even a month later.

During the first week of Prednisolone withdrawal, touching my face near my ear caused sharp pain, and the area behind my ear was also itchy. One evening, while sitting on the sofa in silence, I felt a tickling inside my ear. I tried to scratch the itch by moving my finger near the opening, and instantly felt a sharp pain in my ear. My typewriter tinnitus got much louder. Since then, I've occasionally felt a cooling, menthol-like sensation in my ear, which seems to correspond with using earplugs. I think having something in my ear canal is irritating the nerve, which is causing or contributing to the new beeping or Morse code sound. None of my other tinnitus sounds changed in volume after the nerve pain, but this particular one noticeably increased.

I usually sleep with earplugs, but now I've noticed that the typewriter tinnitus isn't "turning off" when I sleep, unlike my other tones. I'm trying to wean off using earplugs to see if it helps, but I've been using them for almost seven years, long before my ear issues started. I used to sleep deeply through everything, but after years of sleeping in complete silence, I now wake up easily without them, especially with my tinnitus. I also have some hyperacusis, so it's tough not to wear earplugs at night since they feel like a safety blanket.

I've had some neck injuries in the past, including one in February 2023 when I walked full speed into a door (it was pitch black, and I thought it was open). My face turned sharply to the right, and this nerve issue is on the left side of my neck, so it's plausible I could have damaged that nerve, and the Prednisolone made it worse. Based on my experiences (and discussions with ChatGPT, which I've used to explore my symptoms since starting Prednisolone), I believe my typewriter/Morse code tinnitus is linked to this nerve issue. I'm hopeful that if I can calm the nerve, the sound will also calm down. I've read similar accounts from others, but only after I noticed the connection between the nerve and the sound.

Regarding massage, I found a diagram showing that the SCM neck muscle passes over the vagus nerve, so it's possible that vigorous massage could irritate the nerves.

Of course, everyone's experience is different. The issue could stem from massage, prolonged earplug use, or general nervous system irritation, especially if you're stressed.

 

[delta784]

Hi Zigs,

I developed this tone too after being on Prednisolone a few weeks ago. Please bear with me if this comes off as a ramble; I find it difficult to get my point across succinctly, so I hope this all makes sense.

While taking Prednisolone, my vagus nerve (specifically the auricular branch) and facial nerve became very sensitive. I believe it's the auricular branch of the vagus nerve because I've mapped out the areas where I've been experiencing sensations like itching, tickling, etc., after withdrawal, and it matches up. After day 3 on Prednisolone, I felt the nerve running between my ear, down my neck, and into my collarbone. It felt "off" and weird. It's hard to describe, but the sensation hasn't fully gone away even a month later.

During the first week of Prednisolone withdrawal, touching my face near my ear caused sharp pain, and the area behind my ear was also itchy. One evening, while sitting on the sofa in silence, I felt a tickling inside my ear. I tried to scratch the itch by moving my finger near the opening, and instantly felt a sharp pain in my ear. My typewriter tinnitus got much louder. Since then, I've occasionally felt a cooling, menthol-like sensation in my ear, which seems to correspond with using earplugs. I think having something in my ear canal is irritating the nerve, which is causing or contributing to the new beeping or Morse code sound. None of my other tinnitus sounds changed in volume after the nerve pain, but this particular one noticeably increased.

I usually sleep with earplugs, but now I've noticed that the typewriter tinnitus isn't "turning off" when I sleep, unlike my other tones. I'm trying to wean off using earplugs to see if it helps, but I've been using them for almost seven years, long before my ear issues started. I used to sleep deeply through everything, but after years of sleeping in complete silence, I now wake up easily without them, especially with my tinnitus. I also have some hyperacusis, so it's tough not to wear earplugs at night since they feel like a safety blanket.

I've had some neck injuries in the past, including one in February 2023 when I walked full speed into a door (it was pitch black, and I thought it was open). My face turned sharply to the right, and this nerve issue is on the left side of my neck, so it's plausible I could have damaged that nerve, and the Prednisolone made it worse. Based on my experiences (and discussions with ChatGPT, which I've used to explore my symptoms since starting Prednisolone), I believe my typewriter/Morse code tinnitus is linked to this nerve issue. I'm hopeful that if I can calm the nerve, the sound will also calm down. I've read similar accounts from others, but only after I noticed the connection between the nerve and the sound.

Regarding massage, I found a diagram showing that the SCM neck muscle passes over the vagus nerve, so it's possible that vigorous massage could irritate the nerves.

Of course, everyone's experience is different. The issue could stem from massage, prolonged earplug use, or general nervous system irritation, especially if you're stressed.

I have the same experience after using just two 60-milligram doses (120 mg total) of Methylprednisolone for my loudness hyperacusis. I received the doses through intravenous injection, and I think this is a very rare side effect. I immediately stopped taking the Methylprednisolone cold turkey, and I'm hoping this will eventually go away.

In my daily life, I don't hear it very much, but it's non-stop. The Methylprednisolone also caused tinnitus in my previously healthy left ear. It is what it is. I took it to help with my loudness hyperacusis and never thought it would affect my tinnitus. I wish I had seen your post before September 23, 2024, the day I took the steroids. Hopefully, I can at least learn to habituate.

I feel depressed right now, but I have no other option besides accepting it.