Somatic Tinnitus

[Greg Sacramento]

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/somatic-tinnitus.812/page-3#post-253485

It's a good introduction: Many get this form of T, from nerve damage. Nerve and Jaw dental trauma will cause this type of T quite often. Then come the neck pain, jaw pain head ache, face pain and you name it. Some back disc trauma can be treated with physical therapy and home exercises. Many after getting jaw pain from dental gone wrong surgery such as when a nerve is damage, will start to have TMJ problems. TMJ is often a secondary condition and not the primary.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Dana
After I first got subjective tinnitus six years ago, my tinnitus was very loud (10) and unbearable. I had a substantial hearing loss. I also had severe hyperacusis. I contacted a clinical trial supporter thru the aide of the AMA at my three month level. He lived in Eldorado Hills, Ca, just a few miles from me.

He set up a care regiment for me. This regiment included one drug and mostly just one vitamin. The drug was alprazolam where I started off at 0.5 The intended use was for 2 months. He said that it would completely cure my hyperacusis and it did on the second use 1.5 years later, where it went away in two weeks. It settled my T down by 15%. He set me up with moderate levels of white noise (rain and water flowing) use at a distance. I took B12 and limited use of circulation vitamins. He had me drink vitamin water with no sugar or salt. I used lemonade. I took baths to detox my body and that did help. I had got involved with a hobby where there was building and improvement factors. I built baseball card sets. Also I avoided researching tinnitus. After 3.5 years, I didn't realize that I had tinnitus. I wore noise deduction headphones often, but when I did get a spike it never lasted for more than a few days. A flu shot did last for two weeks. Maybe most helpful was self imposed therapy to live for a cause. This is some of the things that he recommended and it did wonders.

I recently got somatic loud high pitch T and H from a dental visit. My heck, head and face hurts. This researcher has added therapy and likes Dr. Hobbs methods. He has posted on this board.

This researcher doesn't believe in the use of drugs other that the limited use of Alprazolam. He said the side effects will cause other medical problems that will then require other drug treatments in which many will be careful to T. He doesn't believe in most of the other BS posted in articles about T. He had studied noise to the ear with use of ear devices and said that in the longer term you will wish that you never did that. He does not believe in frequently noise placed to the ear or tunes used by audiologists. He doesn't believe in trying to completely mask your tinnitus. More damage can be done, but he said that these industries is big business. He said that most studies on the positive effects of most drugs is bogus, or that the result numbers are over way over stated and that's also stated by the FDA.

 

[Steve]

@Steve I was wondering how you are getting on with your massages? Are they helping?

Intermittently they help, specifically with one tone that is a spike, which comes up from time to time.. I've just moved to a different area so I have an appointment with somebody new tomorrow. I feel I can give a good appraisal to them so I'm hoping that a course of remedial massage will do the trick.

It would be nice to develop some methodology so that we could present a massage therapist with a guide. Something with an anatomy of things that cause somatic tinnitus, and how to manipulate the muscles to aid each of them.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Steve

In my previous employment, I had thousands of correspondence with the FDA and all the government reporting agents. This was mostly for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, but I was able to confer with them about tinnitus and hyperacusis. They all admit that there's little benefit for using most drugs with tinnitus for three months use. There is one drug that insiders of the government believe is far above any other drug for tinnitus. This drug will cure hyperacusis. I have mention this drug many times, but because of ethics, I won't in this post.

A little more. The large company that makes this drug, will not promote it for tinnitus. They have filed against other researchers from doing further studies. This drug has large use for anxiety, so therefore they can't recommend it for tinnitus. Anxiety drugs are often over used by tinnitus sufferers.

I'm taking it now, It is powerful even on a little dose. Stress is the first thing that must be controlled. All those with tinnitus have some stress or related thoughts. This drug won't cure tinnitus. It also should only be used for 1 -3 months. All drugs will slow natural habitation if used for long periods. If needed you can start using this drug again after a two month break.

I recently had a 3D complete scan (private study that I paid for -$400) from my shoulders up. It included everything above my shoulders. Radiologists view dozens of views. My nerves and bones in mouth and ears are ok. My jaw is ok - even with grinding my teeth. Not so in my neck. My c1 and c2 are out of line. This is best viewed by a 350,000 dollar 3D scan and not a 2D that many therapy centers have. I have somatic tinnitus. The sound level of the new 3D is very low. Earplugs will mass the sound. Radiation from one 3D scan is considered safe.

Until I started this drug my tinnitus was a 10, now it goes from almost zero to just above my baseline. I take B12 with it and no other vitamins. Today, I finally got some very restful sleep.

It's very important to consider that the treatment use of other drugs for tinnitus can cause other medical problems or make those other medical conditions worse. If that happens, then you will need other drugs which may be harmful to tinnitus.

For somatic tinnitus, it's important to detox your body. Research detox methods. A bath does help. It might lower your T by a level or two for a couple of hours. Just enough time to try to get some sleep.

High pitched T and stress are friends. Somatic T often increases and decreases within a day. It is possible by using the things that I mentioned to almost always keep your somatic T at a low level. Jaw and nerves in mouth must be checked, that often leads to neck pain. Several medical researchers told me to first get a complete 3D scan from your shoulders up and to get this scan done by a private company not associated with anyone or place that you had prior T or dental consulting or treatment.

 

[Gman]

I have always been able to invoke the temporary tinnitus sound from clenching my jaw, face and neck muscles. I remember it well from pulling silly faces in the mirror, or straining too hard doing various things. But I have only had actual tinnitus for a year now, since age 39.

 

[Kayla L]

@Dana Hi Dana, I believe I have the same issue you once had.. TMJ/neck issues causing tinnitus when i protrude my jaw out, chew food, etc. Can you please let me know what yuo did to cure your T? Thanks! Trying acupuncture Friday

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Steve Markku and the rest of us with somatic tinnitus. This is a good support thread about somatic tinnitus. I wish that I could laugh about what I'm going to say, but anyways - the only thing that's helps just a little for a few minutes is chewing on small cut up pieces of watermelon. Steve. as you mention in this thread it would be nice to know what massage or chiropractic methods work best. There's a NUCCA doctor in my area, where one of his specialties is treating somatic T. He has some good reviews, so I'm going to see what he has to offer. I report back with his techniques. Have a good day or night everyone.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Intermittently they help, specifically with one tone that is a spike, which comes up from time to time.. I've just moved to a different area so I have an appointment with somebody new tomorrow. I feel I can give a good appraisal to them so I'm hoping that a course of remedial massage will do the trick.

It would be nice to develop some methodology so that we could present a massage therapist with a guide. Something with an anatomy of things that cause somatic tinnitus, and how to manipulate the muscles to aid each of them.

@Steve Trying to develop some methodology would be great. Not only for massage therapists, but a list of successful treatments all in one place, maybe with a marker title on the homework.

For example: Somatic Tinnitus - list of treatment that someone used where it helped.
Listing examples:
TENS
injections in C1 C2
the use of ice and heat on neck
breathing exercises
a certain method used in physical therapy


Lets try a list on this thread by those that had some success for the treatment of somatic tinnitus or high pitch ringing which would be those with a more severe condition.

I'll start the list:
Used ice on neck for 10 minutes and T lowered 5% for 30 minutes. More of the same may help more.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

This link provides some details on somatic tinnitus.

http://www.randombio.com/tinnitus.html

 

[Greg Sacramento]

I'm been to several specialists and had x-rays done by my GP. None of the specialists that included dentists, physical therapists, chiropractors, ENTs and other doctors could find the cause. The radiologist did say that I have a loss of normal lordosis of the cervical spine, but just that wouldn't cause somatic T alone. Muscle spasms would from any place in the central nervous system. The neck is almost always included, even if you feel little or no pain.

The radiologist said that this is the number cause of somatic tinnitus by a long shot. Rarely is it caused from TMJ, grinding or other conditions.

Neck bending, bad posture, lifting, weight lifting, stressful body movements, bending, bending neck, bending or pressure on jaw or standing too long is what causes somatic T. Most of the time it involves the neck and in some cases not noticed with pain. He said if you do have neck pain, then muscle spasms from any of the above in this paragraph would be a major cause of somatic T.

There is treatment. Use only cold packs on your neck and spine. Light hand touch throughout your back and exercises from the link below. The radiologist who examined thousands of x rays of TMJ, teeth and other associations that has been believed cause somatic T, rarely does.

https://www.epainassist.com/back-pain/upper-back-pain/cervical-lordosis

 

[Amiel]

I'm been to several specialists and had x-rays done by my GP. None of the specialists that included dentists, physical therapists, chiropractors, ENTs and other doctors could find the cause. The radiologist did say that I have a loss of normal lordosis of the cervical spine, but just that wouldn't cause somatic T alone. Muscle spasms would from any place in the central nervous system. The neck is almost always included, even if you feel little or no pain.

The radiologist said that this is the number cause of somatic tinnitus by a long shot. Rarely is it caused from TMJ, grinding or other conditions.

Neck bending, bad posture, lifting, weight lifting, stressful body movements, bending, bending neck, bending or pressure on jaw or standing too long is what causes somatic T. Most of the time it involves the neck and in some cases not noticed with pain. He said if you do have neck pain, then muscle spasms from any of the above in this paragraph would be a major cause of somatic T.

There is treatment. Use only cold packs on your neck and spine. Light hand touch throughout your back and exercises from the link below. The radiologist who examined thousands of x rays of TMJ, teeth and other associations that has been believed cause somatic T, rarely does.

https://www.epainassist.com/back-pain/upper-back-pain/cervical-lordosis

Treating somatic tinnitus by cold packs is not long term solution.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Treating somatic tinnitus by cold packs is not long term solution.

That's Correct. A few posts above I said this:
Used ice on neck for 10 minutes and T lowered 5% for 30 minutes. More of the same may help more.

The last time after several tries, the ice packs lowered my T close to 10% for a couple of hours. I did feel a little relief. By doing the exercises in the link, along with physical therapy, using correct posture, not lifting, not bending my neck, drinking lots of fluids and doing many other things, I might be able to maybe permanently lower my somatic T. Maybe only a little, but I will take what I can get from my 10/10.

 

[Steve]

@Steve Trying to develop some methodology would be great. Not only for massage therapists, but a list of successful treatments all in one place, maybe with a marker title on the homework.

There are a few physical therapists who are interested in tinnitus. I've just asked one of them if they would be interested in helping to produce a guide.

Ideally we can say that certain types of physical therapy may help out and specify what to try. It's probably trial and error on the individual but it will be a very nice starting point - rather than going in blind as we would do now.

I have joined a new gym so I'm going to try a few classes and see if they help. Pilates may be useful, I'll update once I've tried it out. I'll give Yoga a go too. Anything to help stretch out and tackle my neck issues.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

I went to a physical specialist today that works on patients with somatic tinnitus. He said that most of his clients get somatic T from muscle spasms in jaw, neck, back and sore muscles in gums from grinding. Plus bending neck forward at dentist while there's drilling. Having problems like lordosis of the cervical spine, disc narrowing, spondylosis, joint hypertrophy, bad posture are also causes.

He also said that most who have somatic T that don't seek therapy also have the same problems.

 

[Tinniger]

However, I have always been able to provoke this sound with my jaw even when I didn't have tinnitus. So my noise induced tinnitus works completely independent of my somatic tinnitus, and I'm quite sure, that any improvements to my somatic T will do nothing for my noise induced T, and back in time I didn't think of my 'jaw noise' as tinnitus.

Very interesting!
Usually the provoking of sound by head movement, head pressure, jaw movement etc. will be "discovered" in the weeks after the onset of a tinnitus. And nobody knows, whether the phenomenon was already there before...

 

[Greg Sacramento]

I read about 100 articles on somatic tinnitus. First got tinnitus over seven years ago, but that was from noise? But now, there may be more to it, as least in part as I was standing during an syringing procedure and my neck may have been bend. Five months ago, I received somatic tinnitus from having a lower front dental implant placed.

I'm quite positive that during the dental, my neck was misplaced. Many studies claim that 80% of those with somatic tinnitus received it thru neck - cervical spine bending, twisting, muscle spasms or whiplash. The balance of 20% is from mostly DMJ/D, dental and jaw problems. Research slows that muscles in the neck have auditory and/or association to either the ears or the central nervous system. How about twisting necks in presence of noise. Does that make it easier to damage your hearing.

Some studies show that exercises for the neck will lower the ringing either temporary or for the longer term. The problem is what exercises will help. Some professional patient trial studies that were in progress years ago, did not report findings. Some studies show that TENS helps, but some there who tried TENS don't believe that it helped.

I need to find a way to at least on a temporary basis lower this 10/10 tinnitus a bit.

 

[Cathln]

I know mine is caused by muscles. I have been to every single ENT within 100 miles. I have had accupunture, some stuff called rhiaki (sp), what a joke that was. I have had styloid process bones removed. But, I did have a doctor ultrasound my shoulders. On screen, it looked like ropes of spider webs. Fascia!!! It was covering both shoulders. Dr. gave me lidocaine shots, 3 in each shoulder, all noise gone for one hour. Great right???? No..He said, he would do trigger point therapy on both shoulders, only after doing every single facet joint on my spine. Not for me. I have allergy to dye they use, so they go with just xray. I vomit and blood pressure goes through roof. Once, I walked in a circle, only to left, for hours. That seemed like a brain problem, so I won't do anymore. T also got worse after that.

I have been laughed at, told I have rabies, encephalitis, lyme desease, shingles, mental problems, emotionally unstable, and many more laughable things by so called doctors who are supposed to "do no harm".......7 years in to this, and it some days are so bad, and getting worse, that I could just end it.
Oh, anyone thinks that hearing aids help, or maskers, keep dreaming. My hearing aids actually make T worse and give me terrible pain in my neck and outside my ear, and canal. There you have it. I have done probably all these things, mentioned first, more than once. So desperate for help. I can't stand much more......Anyone have any suggestions???

Just saw post on TENS.....Tried that during physical therapy. He put them on my neck muscles and turned in on. I screamed. Muscles went right in to cramping. So much for that too. Hey, thanks if you've read this. Thanks, if you have anything else I can try

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Cathln I have about 20 articles relating to the neck-muscles and somatic tinnitus. Here are a few that's not a hard medical read. Some of the medical professional articles not included here can be researched under: somatic tinnitus, somatic tinnitus neck, somatic tinnitus muscles, somatic tinnitus whiplash. As you have mentioned, any procedure may have complications. That would include therapy and physical therapy on the neck- cervical spine. Exercising joints and muscles can be complicated as to what is effective and safe.


https://www.tinnitusformula.com/library/head-and-neck-injuries-cause-tinnitus-part-two/

http://blog.wellnesstips.ca/blog/?p=224

http://thewellnessdigest.com/sterno...es-sinus-ears-throat-pain-dizziness-whiplash/

http://www.tinnitusresearch.org/ima...2006/Bjorne-Treatment_of_Somatic_Tinnitus.pdf

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322011000600028

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Cathln

http://web.mit.edu/hst.722/www/Topics/DCN/Levine99.pdf

This article discusses the base DCN that researcher Shore has undertaken.

 

[Cathln]

Thank you Greg, I will read these. I have read Susan Shores work, but not for a few years. Just my T is getting so intrusive, I can't function very well. The anxiety is just wreaking my nervous system. Thanks Again for your help!

 

[CentralTime]

My Tinnitus increases when I move my jaw forward or to the right. Thank you for the suggestions that have been posted in the Forum.

 

[Codaz]

There are a few physical therapists who are interested in tinnitus. I've just asked one of them if they would be interested in helping to produce a guide.

Ideally we can say that certain types of physical therapy may help out and specify what to try. It's probably trial and error on the individual but it will be a very nice starting point - rather than going in blind as we would do now.

I have joined a new gym so I'm going to try a few classes and see if they help. Pilates may be useful, I'll update once I've tried it out. I'll give Yoga a go too. Anything to help stretch out and tackle my neck issues.

See my posts in the facial pain / neck topics. There are not any specifics in treatment. Every TMJ and neck patient has other needs. Nobody has the exact key. Neck and jaw are interconnected. Every therapy session the muscle tension is loosened. But that's all there is. There aren't any specific treatments focussed on one specific spot. Tinnitus can be manipulated by stretching the neck. But nobody is able to visualize that.

 

[Steve]

See my posts in the facial pain / neck topics. There are not any specifics in treatment. Every TMJ and neck patient has other needs. Nobody has the exact key. Neck and jaw are interconnected. Every therapy session the muscle tension is loosened. But that's all there is. There aren't any specific treatments focussed on one specific spot. Tinnitus can be manipulated by stretching the neck. But nobody is able to visualize that.

Yes this makes it very difficult. I think it's something we can apply to all tinnitus, there are no rules and no definitive techniques or treatments. The likelihood is that any treatment will always need a bespoke approach.

For a guide I'm thinking that we can produce something which gives detail on the things that may help, something to aid a therapist. The individual is always going to have to be examined. If we have something for a person to present to a therapist to help them understand the most common issues then it could be a good head start.

It's unlikely to find a physical therapist who really understands tinnitus and the possible mechanisms. The vast majority will however understand the connections if we are able to highlight them, then explore with the patient ways to work on the areas and see if there are issues that can be addressed.

 

[Codaz]

Yes this makes it very difficult. I think it's something we can apply to all tinnitus, there are no rules and no definitive techniques or treatments. The likelihood is that any treatment will always need a bespoke approach.

For a guide I'm thinking that we can produce something which gives detail on the things that may help, something to aid a therapist. The individual is always going to have to be examined. If we have something for a person to present to a therapist to help them understand the most common issues then it could be a good head start.

It's unlikely to find a physical therapist who really understands tinnitus and the possible mechanisms. The vast majority will however understand the connections if we are able to highlight them, then explore with the patient ways to work on the areas and see if there are issues that can be addressed.

Well my therapist team don't have tinnitus but they do know what facial pain is as they see dozens of patients each week. And they do know what neck pain is. But the exact connection to the (middle) ear or brain is subject of a lot of questions. And it luckily turned out that my T was controllable by working on my TMJ. Make no mistake even for TMJ there are no absolute guarentees. And this is a condition even much wider known.

What could be done is visualising the pain with a myotensiometer. It measures muscle force and muscle tension if I'm correct. But it isn't done for muscles in the face as far as I know.

 

[hans01]

Does anyone else find that pulling on your ear can at times change the tone and lower the volume of your tinnitus? This works for me, but only temporarily. I'm not sure what it means. It's a little weird.

Yes, I have several tones, but one tone definitely gets down or stop ringing when I put a finger in my ear, very strange, one would say it's a physical issue but what ?

 

[jimH]

I don't have Somatic Tinnitus. However, @Newbie started a thread Tuesday looking for answers as to what could be the cause of the change in T and symptoms. Please read the first post and if you think it's indicative of Somatic T or not. It seems that by certain movements and positions it can be changed or stopped at times. If you're pretty sure that it is, you can, of course, post directly in the thread. I'm sure they'll appreciate any additional information:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/been-doing-great-for-so-long-until-now.24704/

In a later post in the thread, they state: "It's so weird it's like it goes away when I'm lying down and comes back when I stand up ? "

Any ideas?

 

[Codaz]

I don't have Somatic Tinnitus. However, @Newbie started a thread Tuesday looking for answers as to what could be the cause of the change in T and symptoms. Please read the first post and if you think it's indicative of Somatic T or not. It seems that by certain movements and positions it can be changed or stopped at times. If you're pretty sure that it is, you can, of course, post directly in the thread. I'm sure they'll appreciate any additional information:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/been-doing-great-for-so-long-until-now.24704/

In a later post in the thread, they state: "It's so weird it's like it goes away when I'm lying down and comes back when I stand up ? "

Any ideas?

Possible neck situation. I have this also when nodding. My neck therapist doesn't know exactly why tinnitus pitch is changed when neck tilt is induced. What we do know is that neck muscles are stiff. He treats them, my neck tension goes down and so is T. That is all we know after 4 years of therapy. But if you don't work on the neck and the muscles the problems get worse over time.

 

[Frédéric]

A review paper about somatic tinnitus, see attached file.

 

[Codaz]

A review paper about somatic tinnitus, see attached file.

Paper states that patient cases have improvement after 6 months of somatic disorder treatment. That is what I can agree to. Also states that treatment should not be discontinued if slight improvement is made. Do not discontinue treatment after a couple of months. In simple terms: if it's painful during treatment but does not help for your T, it helps for TMJ and that will hopefully help for T in the long run. If not, consider yourself helped for TMJ which is a bad condition as well.

 

[Javert]

Hi,

I had tinnitus since 2013. For the last month or so it has been worse.

Once, drinking a very thick milkshake I noticed that the sound changed. I googled a bit about it and found in this forum that it could be somatic tinnitus. Then I read that signs of somatic tinnitus could be changes of pitch and intensity of the sound with muscle changes of the head and jaw.

I tried this just now. Like putting a lot of force / tension in my neck muscles on purpose. It definitely changes the sound of the tinnitus. Also, although it sounds in both ears it is mostly on the right ear.

Could this be somatic? Is there treatment for this? I am making an appointment with an ENT as soon as the holidays are over but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
J