Tinnitus for 3 Weeks from TMJ

[Kimberley8]

Hi there, my name is Kim, I live in Australia and I have been experiencing tinnitus caused by TMJ for last couple of weeks.

I know it's very early and I haven't had this very long compared to many other amazing people here, but would still love some encouragement.

I have high pitched ringing noise in my right ear along with ear stuffiness, pain and discomfort at front of ear, very sore, stiff grating jaw and neck. I have rheumatoid arthritis since I was a kid and jaw has been inflamed by this. I had one episode last year which thankfully settled in a month or so with steroids and osteo and chiro treatments on neck and jaw, and have done the same with this time, along with doctor giving me again giving me prednisolone.

I have taught myself to sleep mainly in silence despite the tinnitus, which I am grateful that I can sleep as understand many others can't but find I'm struggling a bit with hearing it during the day. I've had a couple of better days this week with less noise, more silence but am a bit disheartened as they are followed by a bad day and can't help but feel anxious that I'm losing my progress/chance to get better.

If anyone has any advice or encouragement I would love to hear from you as I also have had pretty serious heart failure and heart surgeries since I was a teenager and I'm finding the stress and anxiety of these ear symptoms quite hard on top of this. Ears have been checked with no wax or signs of infection. I have had some Eustachian Tube Dysfunction previously which again steroids and chiro treatment had helped.

Thank you again for reading my post as I understand many people here have the challenge of this rotten condition and I wish everyone here all the best.

Hugs, Kim

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum. If your tinnitus is from a known cause such as TMJ, then it is hopeful that once you have it fixed, your tinnitus will fade. Have you got it checked out yet by a specialist? Also, if you have days when your tinnitus is quiet, it is a good sign that you may have a milder form of tinnitus. Take that as a positive. The nature of a new tinnitus is that it can be unpredictable at times. So it may go and then come back for no obvious reason. That can inspire fear and feeling of the loss of control and thereby creating anxiety and stress. Try to accept this as a condition of a new tinnitus and don't worry about its daily variation. Try to focus on living and enjoying whatever you still can enjoy. In due time, you will find you are less and less focused on what tinnitus does and you will then habituate to it. Good luck. Take care. God bless.

 

[Kimberley8]

Hi Billie, thank you so much for your warm welcome and reaching out! I realise I'm in very early days, not quite 3 weeks yet, and it's great to hear that, it's positive that the tinnitus changes or quiets a bit, and could likely ease. Thank you for your positivity. Have seen dentist, and Am seeing rheumatologist, Chiro and osteo who specialise in jaw issues/upper spine, and also have another referral to another ENT if this doesn't settle. I have been experiencing some pretty severe anxiety/stress over my heart condition getting worse, so I think this sudden tinnitus has just really further set the anxiety off, doctors have given me Valium to help relax the jaw as part of treatment and also help with the anxiety but have been trying to do without it, but may try it for a bit, as the noise does ease a fair bit when I do. I'm seeing a counsellor and using coping strategies, going out and doing things even when the noise is bothering me, catching up with friends etc and have started doing hypnotherapy sessions with counsellor to help relax, so am trying to be as positive as I can. Just feeling a bit trapped at the moment! Thank you again for reaching out and Im very happy to chat with you anytime. Wishing you all the best,
Hugs Kim

 

[Mathew Gould]

You're next step should be to go see a dentist who specializes in TMJ pain. They will give you a splint to help realign you're jaw. It also sounds as if you have reactive tinnitus, which means your tinnitus gets louder with external sounds.

 

[Kimberley8]

Hi Matthew, thank you for reaching out! I really appreciate your reply. Am looking for a dentist that specialises in TMJ, hoping now that restrictions are easing here in Australia, it will be easier to get an appointment. My tinnitus is pretty constant, high pitch although that being said I'm having periods when it's quieter or having silence which is wonderful, have a couple of areas around jaw and neck which make it worse. Had much better day Friday and yesterday with it, but bad again today. Not sure if it's reactive as can present in quiet rooms, but have been told it may be somatic, I haven't been exposed to any loud noise, try not to use head phones much, be careful with my hearing, basic hearing check was ok, although GP will also refer me for further testing if doesn't ease. Just hoping I have a good chance of it easing in these early weeks as I'm having a rough time with panic and anxiety
Hope you don't mind me reaching out and I really hope you are doing well.
Hugs, Kim

 

[Mathew Gould]

Hi Matthew, thank you for reaching out! I really appreciate your reply. Am looking for a dentist that specialises in TMJ, hoping now that restrictions are easing here in Australia, it will be easier to get an appointment. My tinnitus is pretty constant, high pitch although that being said I'm having periods when it's quieter or having silence which is wonderful, have a couple of areas around jaw and neck which make it worse. Had much better day Friday and yesterday with it, but bad again today. Not sure if it's reactive as can present in quiet rooms, but have been told it may be somatic, I haven't been exposed to any loud noise, try not to use head phones much, be careful with my hearing, basic hearing check was ok, although GP will also refer me for further testing if doesn't ease. Just hoping I have a good chance of it easing in these early weeks as I'm having a rough time with panic and anxiety
Hope you don't mind me reaching out and I really hope you are doing well.
Hugs, Kim

Take your time and find the best TMJ doctor you can and try to get free consultations.

 

[Kimberley8]

Hi guys, my names Kim, I've had tinnitus for around 8 weeks now from TMJ/neck issues.

I've been having treatment with an upper neck chiro who has been doing some atlas adjustments and TMJ work for last 3 weeks and there has been improvement. My right side TMJ was able to be adjusted properly for first time in several weeks as all the soft tissue work and neck adjustments loosened it enough to happen and as a result, my right ear feels less blocked/stuffy since this all started and I'm having more nights where I'm having silence or very quiet tinnitus which is helping for a better nights sleep, and some days it's quieter for brief periods of time too, which I'm very grateful for and I'm hoping is a positive sign. My chiro says my TMJ still needs more work but feels the tinnitus should stop/ease as we progress. Trying to not get my hopes up as this journey can be very up and down. It's hard work with TMJ massage/work quite uncomfortable at times but if it helps eases the tinnitus it's well worth trying for me.

Was just wondering if having some signs of improvement/silence at this stage is a good sign of a possible recovery?

Will update how I'm going in a week or two.

Thank you for reading, just wanted to share my progress/experience and I'm happy to answer any questions of people who might be in a similar situation with their TMJ/neck or looking at chiro/osteo treatment.

Wish everyone on this forum all the best,
Hugs, Kim

 

[Kimberley8]

Hi, I have had some high pitched tinnitus for last couple of months, in my right ear, most likely caused by TMJ and neck issues, after working with an osteo and chiro at times, the high pitched ringing has significantly reduced which is great! But have had a change in tone or pitch of a low hum/drone in last 2 weeks, think I remember reading a change to a lower tone is a good sign? Hope so,

I wondered if anyone had this happen or any advice? The tone is like a fridge running or a motor humming. Don't hear it much when I'm outside, more inside at home, I'm finding it pretty stressful and spiking some anxiety. Try to listen to back ground music etc, which helps a bit. Doc and dentist have suggested some Oxazepam for a couple of weeks to see if this settles, which I don't using but may try. As well as maybe trying Botox injections for TMJ muscles.

So any hope or advice people can give me would be greatly appreciated. Wish everyone here all the best. Take care and thank you for reading, cheers Kim

 

[billie48]

Hi Kim, it seems you have been helped on the TMJ problem and that your high pitched tinnitus has subsided. One thing about a new tinnitus is that it can morph into different tone, or multi-tones, or jumping ears, changing pitch etc. That is why a new tinnitus tends to scare the heck out of its victim due to the unpredictable and morphing, evolving nature of new tinnitus. If you can't hear your low tinnitus on outside, consider it a big positive. Then if it bothers you inside, try mask it but try to set volume of the masking sound matching or lower than the tinnitus volume. This way your ears will have the chance to get more used to it. Your best bet is to remain positive and calm and let mother TIME to help slowly heal the ringing. Being positive will help reduce your anxiety and give you some feeling of control over your destiny. Give tinnitus as little time and attention as possible and treat it as a new normal for now which can improve over time. Just remember don't give fuel to the fire of tinnitus tyranny. You will win the battle if you just stick to your strategy of positivity and living life regardless of tinnitus. Good luck and God speeds your recovery.

 

[Kimberley8]

Hi Billie48,

Just wanted to say thank you for your kind reply. Am very grateful for the improvement in the high pitched tinnitus but this low hum/drone is quite stressful too.

I'm very grateful I don't hear it outside, at the moment I'm sleeping by having a radio playing very softly by my bed and trying to have some sort of background noise during the day.

I have found, some of the noise that has been bothering me is actually objective noise coming from the fridge, bass music being played next street over, (that others can hear) and I'm super sensitive to these, think despite my best efforts I have reacted with fear to this, and am trying relaxation, long walks, meditation and hypnotherapy to help change my way of reacting. As well as keep up treatment/management of TMJ, given the improvement in the higher pitch tinnitus. I understand I'm very lucky to have improvement in first few months.

Have been trying to go out now covid restrictions have eased a bit and be social, distraction while out works great, and I forget about the noise for a few hours, (Which is great!) but then become tense/anxious at thought of hearing it at home, so working on that. Thank you again for your kind message and great advice and support, will try and take on board what you have said and try to let this fade to the background.

I don't like using meds, but may do a week or two of low dose oxazepam as advised by my doc to see if I can help break this fight/flight reaction, don't like to complain as I know so many people have a rough time with this, so appreciate your response.

Hope you are doing ok, wish you all the best and really appreciate you sharing your support and experience.

Cheers,
Kim

 

[weab00]

@Greg Sacramento
@donotringatme

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Kimberley8 Read your postings.

I have rheumatoid arthritis since I was a kid and jaw has been inflamed by this.

I also have had pretty serious heart failure and heart surgeries since I was a teenager and I'm finding the stress and anxiety of these ear symptoms quite hard on top of this.

I have had some Eustachian Tube Dysfunction previously which again steroids and chiro treatment had helped.

But have had a change in tone or pitch of a low hum/drone in last 2 weeks, think I remember reading a change to a lower tone is a good sign? Hope so,

Your tone is key.

The tone is like a fridge running or a motor humming.

Doubtful that your C spine is placing pressure to your vertebral artery causing this sound, but this is is on a short list of possibilities.

Possible that sound is pre development of pulsatile tinnitus caused from hypertension as secondary to your primary conditions.

I rather think it's neck arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis causing postural changes with forward thrusting of the head. Postural imbalance of the neck may affect the function of the masticatory system (ETD) and temporomandibular joint involvement. If the pathogenesis of temporomandibular joint involvement was through dysfunction of the masticatory muscles, most would also have facial pain.

TMJ involvement is frequent with ankylosing spondylitis. The pathogenesis of this involvement is altered joint mobility and association with atlantoaxial subluxation suggesting primary involvement of the capsular and disc attachment. This could cause a fridge running sound or motor humming.

I can give you a list of treatments if you like.

 

[Kimberley8]

Hi Greg Sacramento, thank you so much for reading my posts and getting in touch. It is greatly appreciated. My rheumatologist has always said I've had an overlap of AS along with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, so what you have mentioned makes a lot of sense! My blood pressure has been ok, no hypertension but will make sure it's re checked as they keep an eye on heart valve issues and heart failure, and my osteopath who is also a doctor in pathology also has mentioned having a scan/US to check arteries in neck could be a good idea as neck X-ray has shown some disc degeneration, and wants to also rule out any vascular issues, given my history.

I would be very interested in any help/advice you would like to give.

Hope you are doing well and I wish you all the best, thanks again for reaching out and very kindly sharing your knowledge and support.

Cheers,
Kim