(New) Static Noise in Head

[nocticolor]

@MCN

Hello! The onset of my original tinnitus began after I came down with the flu badly last year. Other than the new noise I feel fine physically, though. I think that might not have been a swollen lymph node after all but rather just a part of my skull that for some reason was painful when I pressed on it, which is not the case anymore. I've been very tired these past few days but I think that my mental exhaustion also plays a role. I'll talk to my GP about it next week, nonetheless!

In other news, I was at the ENT today just to be on the safe side. I've now done four audiograms within a year (although I don't think any of there extended, so who knows how much they really mean), and a tympanometry, and again, my hearing and my ears seem to be fine. No Prednisone for me because no ISSHL. I was recommended Tebonin 120 mg (so essentially Ginkgo biloba) which I've already tried after the onset of my first tinnitus, to no avail. So I don't think I'm going to waste the money and give it another try...

 

[nocticolor]

So, I think letting them do the tympanometry/acoustic reflex test was a mistake. I now have spasm in my right ear. If that's here to stay I might as well blow my brains out. I don't think I'll ever go to an ENT again.

 

[just1morething]

So, I think letting them do the tympanometry/acoustic reflex test was a mistake. I now have spasm in my right ear. If that's here to stay I might as well blow my brains out. I don't think I'll ever go to an ENT again.

I have the nasty static in my ears/head. I think I'm trying a cervical epidural again for pain. I would stay away from chiropractor's but physical therapy could help. Lidocaine can help but that isn't practical to use. I hope your spasm goes away.

Your TMJ could be causing your noise. I got 1-2 day relief with steroid injections to my left TMJ but it supposed to be hard on your condyle. I'm trying to get an auriculotemporal nerve block done to see if my TMJ is causing the noise. It's tough to suffer and be helpless.

The auriculotemporal branch of the trigeminal nerve provides the sensory innervation of the TMJ. A diagnostic nerve block of the auriculotemporal nerve can be helpful in differentiating whether the unilateral orofacial pain originates in the TMJ capsule.Jun 2, 2020

 

[nocticolor]

@just1morething, yeah, I really don't trust chiropractors. I'm seeing an orthopedist next week. I'm curious to see if he's going to do an X-ray. I'm not sure if I actually have TMJ but I do think there's a possibility that I grind my teeth at night, and maybe the pain I feel in my ears occasionally (kind of like swimmer's ear) actually stems from that...

I'd love to know if the auriculotemporal nerve block did anything for you!

I agree that the worst part about tinnitus is that you have no one to turn to. I mean, doctors genuinely don't know shit. I could probably ask anyone in this forum and they'd have more knowledge about tinnitus than the vast majority of doctors.

 

[dan]

I have the static in my brain as well as tinnitus in my ears. It feels like sizzling on a BBQ. I have several noises coming out of both ears. I don't know what it is but it has stolen my life.

Similar to mine. What kind of tones? Are they loud? How long have you had it?

 

[just1morething]

@nocticolor, I'm doing better, but think it's because I'm using a mouthpiece when I sleep to pull my jaw forward and taking Meloxicam for pain and inflammation. I used Zolpidem last night too. I don't know if you have an mandibular advancer for TMD or if you've even had a scan or MRI to see what's going on with your jaw.

I don't have a real good track record yet, only a couple days actually, but it appears my left TMJ was affecting my tinnitus. Also, sleep apnea can wreak havoc with your body and sleep. My left TMJ clicks and is crunchy, right one is normal.

What happens if TMJ is left untreated?
Eventually, TMJ disorder can lead to tinnitus or even permanently compromised hearing. Inner ear problems can also produce difficulties with balance and recurring dizziness. Similarly, vision can be compromised by untreated TMJ symptoms. TMJ can also lead to serious jaw problems.​

 

[nocticolor]

@just1morething, glad to hear you're doing better! I've not yet gotten my jaw checked out as I've always kind of dismissed TMD as a cause since I cannot manipulate my regular tinnitus at all. But I now have an appointment with an orthopedist tomorrow to check out my neck, and an appointment with a TMJ specialist at the end of this month so I'm curious to see what that'll bring. Kind of apprehensive to get an MRI because I know it causes a huge spike for some people but we shall see!

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@nocticolor It may be OK to have therapy on neck non tinnitus without having X Rays and then CT. With tinnitus, it's a risk not to have to X rays and CT before therapy. Most orthopedists have little to no understanding of tinnitus causes.

 

[nocticolor]

@Greg Sacramento, well, the problem is that there's really no one else I can consult. It's highly unlikely that my GP would be administering an X ray or CT as they do not consider this within their range of functions. I've yet to meet any doctor that actually has proper understanding of tinnitus causes so that's not a surprise to me, but I'd think an orthopedist should at least be able to find out if there's anything wrong with my neck to begin with, whether it's actually the cause of my tinnitus or not...

 

[just1morething]

Kind of apprehensive to get an MRI because I know it causes a huge spike for some people but we shall see!

Yeah, they are very loud and the tube type can be claustrophobic. I see some places have vertical more open MRI machines. They might be quieter too. My noise came back when I woke up today... not too happy about that.

 

[nocticolor]

@just1morething, that sucks, I'm sorry. My static sizzling head noise is still there, too. Not gonna lie, I was kinda hoping it would magically fade but I really have to come to terms with the fact that I just don't have that kinda luck

 

[just1morething]

@nocticolor, sorry about your static sizzling, I know what that is like. I'm going to Mayo Rochester to see a TMJ Dr. followed by a TMJ surgeon. They told me today that is how they want to set it up. They will call me back on soonest available appointments. The first appointment might be a video call.

I still plan on getting an auriculotemporal nerve block scheduled. I have to have a consult with a pain management Dr. first. That's the hold up.

 

[KWC]

@nocticolor, I'm doing better, but think it's because I'm using a mouthpiece when I sleep to pull my jaw forward and taking Meloxicam for pain and inflammation. I used Zolpidem last night too. I don't know if you have an mandibular advancer for TMD or if you've even had a scan or MRI to see what's going on with your jaw.

I don't have a real good track record yet, only a couple days actually, but it appears my left TMJ was affecting my tinnitus. Also, sleep apnea can wreak havoc with your body and sleep. My left TMJ clicks and is crunchy, right one is normal.

Good to hear you are doing better. Do you think the Meloxicam is helping? Have you been taking it long?

 

[just1morething]

Good to hear you are doing better. Do you think the Meloxicam is helping? Have you been taking it long?

I hope you are doing better! I just started taking Meloxicam again. It suppose to be stronger for inflammation than Advil, Aleve, etc. I have several bottles of it that I never used up. I've been also using a mouthpiece with bands on it every night. It supposed to be for TMD and sleep apnea. I was having static sound in my left ear that was driving me nuts.

 

[Danny B]

I had almost an identical situation to yours, I got totally used to my tinnitus and then about a year after it began I experienced the static. It terrified me, I was so used to the tinnitus tone of the past year that it barely crossed my mind at that point. It totally threw off my habituation and gave me tinnitus anxiety all over again.

The good news if your situation is similar to mine is that my static, at some indeterminate point in time, just faded away. I didn't notice it at all, because my first round of habituation had me better mentally prepared to adjust to it and not take stock in the sounds. At some point I stopped caring too much about the tinnitus again and life returned to normal. It wasn't until the static re-appeared a week or two ago that I remembered what it sounded like and why it felt so much worse than my regular old tinnitus.

This time I'm not afraid though, the further I get away from my initial onset date the more I've realized my tone oscillates like crazy and can't really be pinned down. I now have proof 2 times over that a shocking increase in the sound can just be a temporary thing. Have hope! Just like regular tinnitus can fade in intensity over time, I'm pretty sure the causes of weird tinnitus spikes can wax and wane too.

 

[just1morething]

@KWC

Meloxicam may not be a good idea.

Medications known to cause tinnitus include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and certain antibiotics, cancer drugs, water pills (diuretics), antimalarial drugs and antidepressants

 

[KWC]

I hope you are doing better! I just started taking Meloxicam again. It suppose to be stronger for inflammation than Advil, Aleve, etc. I have several bottles of it that I never used up. I've been also using a mouthpiece with bands on it every night. It supposed to be for TMD and sleep apnea. I was having static sound in my left ear that was driving me nuts.

Thanks for asking. I wish I could say improvement for the tinnitus but not really. I need background sound all the time. Not really sure what to try next. Do you still take Klonopin/Gabapentin? If so, do you think they help?

 

[KWC]

@KWC

Meloxicam may not be a good idea.

Medications known to cause tinnitus include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and certain antibiotics, cancer drugs, water pills (diuretics), antimalarial drugs and antidepressants

How are you doing?

 

[just1morething]

How are you doing?

I could be better. I'm seeing a TMJ Dr. and surgeon together next week at Mayo Rochester. I take Clonazepam plus Gabapentin sometimes. Sorry to hear your noise is bothering you. I'm not what's worse my chronic pain or tinnitus, I guess it depends on the day.

 

[KWC]

I could be better. I'm seeing a TMJ Dr. and surgeon together next week at Mayo Rochester. I take Clonazepam plus Gabapentin sometimes. Sorry to hear your noise is bothering you. I'm not what's worse my chronic pain or tinnitus, I guess it depends on the day.

Keep us updated. Hope it goes well for you.

 

[nocticolor]

@Danny B, thank you for your encouraging words! Up until a couple of days ago it had actually gotten a bit better. The static noise was still there but at least it lost the high frequency pitch which made it a lot worse and which is now back again.

I'm doing my best to stay positive but it's been rough. I cried my eyes out in the bathtub today lol.

 

[AliasM]

My brain hissing/static was awful 2 days ago, yesterday gone, and today really really awful. I just cannot work this stuff out. Why was it gone yesterday and why is is back?

I stopped taking the Lyrica but I am tempted to go back on low dose and see if it helps. Can anyone think why this might be a bad idea? I'm not even going to talk to my GP. She's useless, and she doesn't even know I stopped taking it in the first place anyway.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

My brain hissing/static was awful 2 days ago, yesterday gone, and today really really awful. I just cannot work this stuff out. Why was it gone yesterday and why is is back?

If not emotional or psych, which for you I don't think it is, then it's probably over extending your neck, forwards or upwards. Don't do neck stretches upward, as this will increase irritation of occipital nerve fibers received from exercise injury. Continue to use warm compresses on neck. It may take a few more weeks for occipital nerve fibers to completely stop firing and heal.

I ran all your notations by an interventional radiologist and he also said most likely your brain hissing and static is from irritated occipital nerve fibers firing from exercise injury, unless you received loud recent noise trauma causing acoustic shock, which will also get better. Acoustic shock is more difficult if caused from headphone use or from metal sounds. I agree.

 

[just1morething]

My brain hissing/static was awful 2 days ago, yesterday gone, and today really really awful. I just cannot work this stuff out. Why was it gone yesterday and why is is back?

I stopped taking the Lyrica but I am tempted to go back on low dose and see if it helps. Can anyone think why this might be a bad idea? I'm not even going to talk to my GP. She's useless, and she doesn't even know I stopped taking it in the first place anyway.

I have hissing/static really bad. I have HF hearing loss. Mine goes away sometimes too but usually it's there to greet me when I wake up. It a nasty thing to have and hard to shut off. I take Lyrica some too for pain. I'm not sure if it helps or hurts tinnitus. Nothing is consistent.

I take Gabapentin as well. I took a Zolpidem last night. My noise is very loud. It's hard to tell where it's coming from. Frustrating. I have some neck and back issues that may be related or maybe it's just ear/brain.

 

[nocticolor]

It's been over a month and unfortunately, the static is still there. I always thought I was quite the pessimist but apparently I'm a hopeless optimist as I'd hoped it would have faded by now

I can't even decide whether I think it's somatic or not. On the one hand, I can make it spike by turning my head all the way left or right, or by pressing the heel of my hand to my forehead. Plus, my neck has been tense despite warm compresses.

On the other hand, I know that people with noise induced tinnitus have reported that they can manipulate their noise, and louder environments seem to aggravate it, too. For example, if I'm in the bathtub and let the water run, it gets a lot more high pitched.

I have more or less come to terms with my original noise but I really wish at least the static would go away.

 

[MindOverMatter]

@nocticolor, how are you doing now? Still struggling with the static noise on top of the baseline tinnitus?

 

[DebInAustralia]

I have the static in my brain as well as tinnitus in my ears. It feels like sizzling on a BBQ. I have several noises coming out of both ears. I don't know what it is but it has stolen my life.

Where in Australia are you?

 

[AliasM]

Where in Australia are you?

Sorry, I've been off line, I'm in Central Queensland. Suffering very very badly with my intrusive tinnitus. Hyperacusis has improved some. I've been diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak. I need to get to Sydney for a CT Myelogram. First it was a border issue preventing me getting there, now elective surgery cancelled. I'm barely hanging onto life.

 

[DebInAustralia]

I also have the static in my head. I also have some static that it also localized to my ears along with a few loud-ass tones in my left ear. It's a mess. I'm pretty convinced the static sound has gotten louder over the past month too, ever since I moved in with a roommate (dumb idea).

Can you modulate your head noise somatically or with noise?

 

[DebInAustralia]

I should've counted my blessings with my relatively mild tinnitus. This high pitched monstrosity is almost physically painful.

Has it improved any?