Possible Pain Hyperacusis Setback Caused by Dentist — Can Anyone Reassure Me?

[aura]

Yes my dear, I'm a complete mess...

Crohn's disease which in my case gave way for malnutrition and a lifestyle of sitting inside nose in a study book and hands on the stomach. Not to mention the great doctors who never checked my vitamin D % and told me to not bother with vitamins because it could make my stomach more troublesome.

Add in long term use of steroids...

How are you today? How's the foot?

Sending a lot of hugs to you.

I'm sorry to hear that.

You need to have an adequate vitamin D and Calcium intake considering the chronic use of steroids.

The foot is swollen and I can't walk.
I'm on my way to the hospital, I hope it's nothing serious.

Either way, I'll probably have to rest for the next two weeks.
There goes my summer holiday...

 

[Exit]

I'm sorry to hear that.

You need to have an adequate vitamin D and Calcium intake considering the chronic use of steroids.

The foot is swollen and I can't walk.
I'm on my way to the hospital, I hope it's nothing serious.

Either way, I'll probably have to rest for the next two weeks.
There goes my summer holiday...

Thank you, I tried to do the right things before tinnitus. After, it's been going downhill.

I've been skeptical about taking 1000 mg of Calcium because of ears.
I'm taking 500 mg at least...

It's been many years since steroid use, except I tried it 3 times for my ears to no avail.

Sorry about your vacation, were you going away? Can't you get a sick leave from vacation and then take the vacation later...?

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Keep us updated.

 

[Wrfortiscue]

@aura, how are you now?

 

[aura]

@aot, sorry for taking over your thread.

@aura, how are you now?

The tinnitus is bearable.

Just the old sounds (the hissing, morse code and the "eeeeeeee").
I can hear the hissing over the daily sounds, but it's ok.

With the foot... not so good.
It's going to be a long summer.
I don't see myself walking properly in the next months...

 

[aot]

@aot, sorry for taking over your thread.

Lol, it's fine.

Though, if anyone wants to know how I'm doing, the answer is "not well." Facial warmth, numbing, etc, all still here and not any better.

Starting to fear that I really fucked myself over.

 

[Wrfortiscue]

@aot, sorry for taking over your thread.

The tinnitus is bearable.

Just the old sounds (the hissing, morse code and the "eeeeeeee").
I can hear the hissing over the daily sounds, but it's ok.

With the foot... not so good.
It's going to be a long summer.
I don't see myself walking properly in the next months...

Sorry to hear that, hope you get better soon.

Sorry @aot as well lol.

 

[aura]

Facial warmth, numbing, etc, all still here and not any better.

For how long have you had these symptoms?

 

[aot]

For how long have you had these symptoms?

A little over two weeks now.

 

[aura]

A little over two weeks now.

It's not that much.

I've had them for almost two months...
Terrible headaches, my forehead was numb, insomnia... it was a nightmare.

Don't lose hope.

Are you taking any meds?

 

[aot]

Are you taking any meds?

Yes, I'm taking Ambroxol for the pain. It helps a lot.

Don't lose hope.

Trying my best!

 

[aot]

So still no improvment at all. Trying to stay postitive.

Got checked at another dentist to see if it might be jaw related (jaw clicks on the right side, which is where the pain started during the cavity filling.)

She says their might be inflammation or something that's affecting things. So now I'm wearing a nightguard, eating soft foods, and putting an ice pack on the right side of my jaw for 20 minutes every two hours. Per her instruction.

I hope it helps, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[aura]

So still no improvment at all. Trying to stay postitive.

Got checked at another dentist to see if it might be jaw related (jaw clicks on the right side, which is where the pain started during the cavity filling.)

She says their might be inflammation or something that's affecting things. So now I'm wearing a nightguard, eating soft foods, and putting an ice pack on the right side of my jaw for 20 minutes every two hours. Per her instruction.

I hope it helps, but I'm not holding my breath.

What are your symptoms now?

 

[aot]

What are your symptoms now?

Same. Facial warmth, pain, etc. Some itchiness as well.

It feels like someone's put Icy Hot all over myself.

No ear pain though, which is interesting. Though my ears have been getting red and hot.

 

[aura]

I've experienced forehead numbness episodes for almost 2 months.

Maybe your symptoms are caused by the dental procedure (anesthesia?)?

What I've learned after my horror experience is that there's a lot of somatization involved.

As I was getting worse, more and more symptoms appeared.
There was a point when nothing felt right.
It's hard for me to explain,but... I couldn't sleep anymore, my head and ears were in pain, I was dizzy, shaking with no reason and having all kinds of strange sensations, like I was dreaming and floating.

I was literally going insane.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you are losing your mind.
What I'm saying is that you (all of us here) are under a lot of stress and our brain is hyper sensitive.

So if it doesn't turn out to be some dental procedure related thing, maybe it is some kind of somatization.

Either way, I think taking some B complex vitamins would be a good idea.
They could help in case it's a nerve damage, but you'll have to give it time.

There could be a possibility of it being something neurological, but for ruling this out you should go see a specialist...

Keep us updated.

P.S.: you have been summoned on the Chit Chat thread in the Off Topic category.

Talk to us there, it's fun.
Maybe you forget a little bit about your symptoms.
Keeping your mind busy and having fun is the best thing you can do, trust me!

 

[aot]

Hello everyone. I just called out of work because I don't think I can handle it today.

If you read Chit Chat and All That thread, than you know my symptoms were improving, and that I was doing a bit better.

Well, yesterday a new tone started in my left ear while I was at work. It's high pitched, and staticy. After being home for a couple hours, my facial symptoms started worsening.

My masking sounds for sleep (which contain no colored noise) don't work because my tinnitus is now reactive to them, my new tone in particular. (This has happened before, and has gone away.)

I've only had two-three hours of sleep, and to achive those I needed two more Ashwaghanda gummies than I usually take.

What the hell?

I was getting better.

I've been babying my ears like crazy in the past month, and as soon as I'm seeing improvement, I get worse.

I had a very stressful day on Wedsnday due to my fears about my ears, and a louder than normal day at work on Tuesday. Either one of those could be the cause. But I'm hoping that it's just stress.

 

[Tanni]

Hello everyone. I just called out of work because I don't think I can handle it today.

If you read Chit Chat and All That thread, than you know my symptoms were improving, and that I was doing a bit better.

Well, yesterday a new tone started in my left ear while I was at work. It's high pitched, and staticy. After being home for a couple hours, my facial symptoms started worsening.

My masking sounds for sleep (which contain no colored noise) don't work because my tinnitus is now reactive to them, my new tone in particular. (This has happened before, and has gone away.)

I've only had two-three hours of sleep, and to achive those I needed two more Ashwaghanda gummies than I usually take.

What the hell?

I was getting better.

I've been babying my ears like crazy in the past month, and as soon as I'm seeing improvement, I get worse.

I had a very stressful day on Wedneday due to my fears about my ears, and a louder than normal day at work on Tuesday. Either one of those could be the cause. But I'm hoping that it's just stress.

Sorry to hear all this, @aot, although I'm pleased that you were experiencing improvements prior to that! Improvement never seems to be linear for some reason - I'm sure you will continue to improve after this blip.

Your symptoms could very well have a physical cause, but something you may want to consider...

I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago; burning, stabbing pain in my hands, feet and mouth. I was examined by a neurologist as it mimicked the symptoms of MS. However, it turned out to be stress/anxiety, and went away after a few months. I very occasionally get mild flare ups.

Check out the link below for burning skin, which sounds similar to what you have:

Burning skin, burning skin sensations - Anxiety Symptoms - AnxietyCentre.com

The important take away from it is that if the symptoms are anxiety related, they will go away.

I hope you recover/improve soon!

 

[aot]

Sorry to hear all this, @aot, although I'm pleased that you were experiencing improvements prior to that! Improvement never seems to be linear for some reason - I'm sure you will continue to improve after this blip.

I hope so. And you're right, improvement isn't linear. (Easy to forget that, unfortunately.)

Your symptoms could very well have a physical cause, but something you may want to consider...

I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago; burning, stabbing pain in my hands, feet and mouth. I was examined by a neurologist as it mimicked the symptoms of MS. However, it turned out to be stress/anxiety, and went away after a few months. I very occasionally get mild flare ups.

Check out the link below for burning skin, which sounds similar to what you have:

Burning skin, burning skin sensations - Anxiety Symptoms - AnxietyCentre.com

I think I might have actually experienced last year, and I also feared that it be M.S. It was mostly numbing of the limbs tho, and it went away over time.

I feel that itchiness lately, and all of that other stuff. It could be it, especially since I have OCD aswell, but it's safer to assume it's noxacusis, I suppose. It could also be a combination.

The important take away from it is that if the symptoms are anxiety related, they will go away.

I hope you recover/improve soon!

Me too. This really is one of the hardest things I've had to go through.

Thank you very much. I hope you are well.

 

[aot]

Stress spike is over, ended a couple of days ago. And hyperacusis is still on the mend. Not back to baseline, but also not terrible.

I was supposed to have a follow up with the dentist today, but work was busy yesterday so I decided to give my ears a rest. Just a little update for those interested.

 

[PeteJ]

The dentist must be one of those tricky situations where there is nothing one can do. Earplugs are a no no, since they would produce massive occlusion.

Earmuffs also conduct sound through the bone so not a great option either.

I think someone on the forum said best route was to take frequent breaks from the dental work, although not a great solution either.

Isn't conduction better than having no protection at all? What is the science that 'says' it doesn't help at all?

I think spikes and possibly ear pain is unavoidable unless you can get laser - which is rare and even if you can get it, is prohibitively expensive for many severe tinnitus sufferers. Many either aren't able to work or have modified job duties.

The additional break-drill (or clean) cycle still doesn't avoid noise entirely and the dentists often reduce the break period unless you 'tell' them (in my experience). It just makes everything longer and there's more drilling, the more breaks you use so there's no good options.

@aot, did the pain hyperacusis subside?

I think most of the time, pain hyperacusis will subside. It's a matter of time and how long. I am mostly worried about tinnitus spikes and the baseline.

Mine is already tortuous and I dread the dentist for that reason.

 

[Juan]

Isn't conduction better than having no protection at all? What is the science that 'says' it doesn't help at all?

My personal feeling (I have tried) is that conduction is worse than having no protection at all. Conduction is what makes scissors cutting your hair, or a razor machine in contact with your head, sound real loud if you have your ears plugged at the hairdressers.

I don't dare trying earplugs plus a dental drill... no no...

 

[PeteJ]

My personal feeling (I have tried) is that conduction is worse than having no protection at all. Conduction is what makes scissors cutting your hair, or a razor machine in contact with your head, sound real loud if you have your ears plugged at the hairdressers.

I don't dare trying earplugs plus a dental drill... no no...

Okay? You tried it and what was the result? A tinnitus spike and/or hyperacusis?

I know it sucks but I don't know if you receive the same effects as you would if not wearing protection?

I tried using noise canceling headphones and they're okay but I don't know how much they help. They aren't blocking sound much. The conduction is probably less than plugs or ear muffs.

 

[Juan]

Okay? You tried it and what was the result? A tinnitus spike and/or hyperacusis?

Yes, they both spiked. So I now get an "only scissors" haircut with no earplugs. I tried the earplug thing at the hairdressers when my hyperacusis was severe, and just being there with music, dryers etc was an ordeal. Then I just booked appointments at odd times and they accommodated a bit for me, in terms of reduced volume of music etc. It is still possible to find nice people.

Occlusion and bone conduction for me is worse than coping with the sound.

As for the dentist, I have never tried earplugs but I have never undergone a dentist drill with hyperacusis or tinnitus. I have been lucky so far... so I cannot report on that.

 

[Taw]

@PeteJ, I tried to use hair clippers with deep inserted earplugs and I got severe pain from 2-3 weeks. I think it was from the bone conduction in the skull.

By the way, what kind of noise-cancelling headphones did you use? Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best, but NC headphones are good for low or medium frequencies, not suited for high frequencies.

@Juan, did you try to use hair clippers by any chance, or only scissors?

 

[xyz]

You can test this when trying to brush your teeth with earmuffs on. This is louder than without them.

I also went to the hairdresser with earplugs. But this gets also pretty uncomfortable when they pull your hair. So I am cutting my hair myself now. I was surprised it doesn't look too bad.

 

[Taw]

You can test this when trying to brush your teeth with earmuffs on. This is louder than without them.

Not sure it's the same, because the toothbrush sound comes from your mouth and is trying to get out, but the hair clipper sound is coming from outside.

 

[xyz]

Not sure it's the same, because the toothbrush sound comes from your mouth and is trying to get out, but the hair clipper sound is coming from outside.

I meant to compare the toothbrush with the dentist drill.

For the hair clipper there will probably be bone conduction. I would say to the hair dresser that he should only use scissors if you don't want to cut your hair yourself. First he was a bit pissed off, but went ahead with only scissors after telling him I have some ear problem...