Tinnitus from a Bike Tire Explosion

[Winter]

Anything that degrades your hearing normal sounds will allow you to hear your tinnitus more. You may have an ear infection or a cold... and if your ears have fluid the ear drum can't transfer sound as well... and therefore your tinnitus seems louder... this part is temporary.

Fluid behind the eardrum is very common. Go to the doc, get some antibiotics since this fluid will probably grow bacteria and make an infection.

An ENT will put tubes through the ear drum for people with chronic fluid behind their ear... but otherwise you can get certain drugs to "dry" you out and make your body reabsorb the fluid for a temporary condition. A normal person never needs to puncture their ear drum to remove fluid.

My eardrum has crackled in the past and it is temporary... and not a big deal... don't obsess over this.

Also, Afrin nasal spray is pretty safe and will help with congestion.

Thank you for the reply! But isn't antibiotics dangerous for tinnitus? Ototoxic or what it is called?

 

[Winter]

They only thing likely to permanently increase your tinnitus is too loud sounds or ototoxic substances. Coffee, sugar, milk, almost everything can give you temporary spikes. Don't worry so much

And well, ear irrigation possibly

Tack, det känns bra att höra! Men söker man tinnitus och kinin/tonic online ser man att man absolut inte ska ta det. Hoppas det inte är orsaken till att min tinnitus blivit 7-8 gånger värre sen start 5-6 veckor sen... God jul

 

[Lane]

But isn't antibiotics dangerous for tinnitus? Ototoxic or what it is called?

@Winter -- You're correct, antibiotics can be ototoxic and dangerous for hearing and tinnitus. It's how my wife got tinnitus when she was in college, and still has it to this day (though relatively mild). The good news is there seems to be plenty of safer alternatives. There are a number of references on this forum of people using diluted apple cider vinegar drops in their ears [one story at this link: I Killed the Ringing. It Has Been 3 Weeks of Silence.] There's also an especially INTRIGUING POST by a man who claims garlic mullein oil made a huge difference for him.

 

[MRItechssuck]

You haven't found out if you have an ear infection yet... that's what antibiotics would be for.

There are medications to help your body absorb excess fluid, or use Afrin nasal spray to open the Eustachian tubes up to let the fluid drain. If you open those tubes up, your ears will drain.

I would see your GP Doc and go from there before using something with sugar in it (apple cider)... even though vinegar is acidic... I wouldn't want THAT in my ear... and your infection is actually in the opposite side of the ear drum.

See your doc.

 

[Bobby Sinatra]

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy early on can work... but yeah be patient.. with tinnitus, weeks become days. It will stop or stabilize at a lower level in a few months.

 

[Bobby Sinatra]

When I stupidly removed the wax with water a couple of days ago I pushed some water in my left ear as well but stopped shortly after because nothing came out and it didn't feel good. Since then I feel full in that ear and hear worse. I believe I got some water in behind the ear drum. I can almost hear and feel it is water when moving my jaw if that makes sense. Is there anyway to get the water out? Will it resolve by itself?

Tilt your head with the ear with water facing the floor and jump on one foot (the same foot that the ear with water is on) and YouTube is a great resource too.

 

[Bobby Sinatra]

i wouldn't be too worried if I was you. I've recovered from many upclose explosions... I think it's the prolonged exposure (many hours on a daily basis) to noise such as work in factories or work with engines that can cause lasting tinnitus. Just give it time.

 

[Winter]

Tilt your head with the ear with water facing the floor and jump on one foot (the same foot that the ear with water is on) and YouTube is a great resource too.

Tried this for hours...

 

[Winter]

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy early on can work... but yeah be patient.. with tinnitus, weeks become days. It will stop or stabilize at a lower level in a few months.

This is not always true. My tinnitus gets worse every week. No progress.

 

[Juan]

Today I'm feeling pretty down. This guy PortalNaut wrote in another thread here that using prednisone made his T go down about 95% when taking it 12 days after his noise trauma. Now I feel so stupid I didn't demand a real dose of prednisone when I visited my doctor about the same time after my noise trauma. I wish I've read another success story like that before. Now it feels way too late (almost one month after).

No, I can tell you that's false, it may work for some people... but 95% down? No way...

And a piece of advice: go on holiday to somewhere quiet and relaxing, preferably a place where you can go driving, without having to fly. That can make a difference. And be careful with noise now that it is early, your T is very recent and you have a fat chance of getting better if you dont take many chances around loud noise.

 

[Winter]

I have an appointment with an ENT 28th of january. Should I visit GP again before that for my ear with water behind eardrum? I have had it since I used syringe bulb 8 days ago, it doesnt go away it seems. It gives me bad T in that ear.

 

[Winter]

The clogged full feeling from water behind eardrum is as bad as tinnitus itself. I hope I dont develop ear infection from it. No pain yet so no infection yet at least.

 

[Lane]

There's also an especially INTRIGUING POST by a man who claims garlic mullein oil made a huge difference for him.

@Winter -- Don't know if you read the above post I linked to, but have you considered garlic mullein oil to treat or prevention an ear infection?

 

[BobDigi]

Hello,

8 days ago (the 17th of November) my wife was pumping air into my bicycle tire while I was holding the hose when suddenly the tire exploded. This was in a small bicycle garage so the extremely high sound got even worse than it would outside. My ears were just about 15-20 cm (5-8 inches) away from the tire when it exploded and since that day I have had tinnitus in both my ears... It was the loudest sound I ever heard and my ears so close to the BANG... The first week have been a roller coaster of emotions, the first days I guess I was in a bit of denial and I continued using headphones listening to podcasts and music, I wish I hadn't since I have now learned doing that can even worsen the tinnitus. Later that week I got really sad when it didn't disappear. I now try to accept that this is how I will live for the rest of my life, but it is so hard.

I've always had such a big respect for my ears and always used earplugs at concerts or at nightclubs or other loud places. Tinnitus is a condition I've always been extremely frightened of getting. I feel so sad that a stupid and relatively rare thing like an exploded bicycle tire is the cause for my tinnitus. I think these stupid thoughts - "Why me? I have never been careless with my ears so why did this have to happen to me? Why did I go into that bike garage that evening with my wife to get my bicycle battery and saw that the wheel had no air in it?" Also my 3 month old baby was in a stroller in the bike garage with us when it happened and I am also afraid that the explosion have hurt his ears... I realize I can't change what has happened but I have all these thoughts running through my head all day.

The tinnitus has not gotten any better since it happened, I would say it has even gotten a little worse. I hear the high pitch ringing in both my ears all day long, when I'm in a quiet room the ringing is really loud. I have also become a bit sound sensitive and my hearing is a little worse on my right ear.

Since I've had the tinnitus for over a week now with no progress I really don't think it is going to disappear. I only hope I am going to accept to live with it. If it wasn't for my newborn baby I think I would be in total depression right now, but I am a father now so I feel I have to take responsibility and not give up on life because of this happening, but it's so hard. I think about the ringing in my ears almost 24/7.

Yeah 2 months is the average for a spike. Till then it's likely it will subside or even disappear. No more loud noises or headphones in the meantime.

 

[GregCA]

When I stupidly removed the wax with water a couple of days ago I pushed some water in my left ear as well but stopped shortly after because nothing came out and it didn't feel good. Since then I feel full in that ear and hear worse. I believe I got some water in behind the ear drum.

How did that water make its way behind the ear drum? Is your ear drum perforated?

 

[Winter]

How did that water make its way behind the ear drum? Is your ear drum perforated?

I used a syringe plastic ear wax removed bulb like this:

and sprayed water in my left ear to clean it (no ear wax plug in that ear), and after just a few sprays with water got this clogged feeling ever since. It feels full and like it is glue in the ear. Doctor has looked in the ear a couple of days before and said there was no wax plug. So there is only water behind ear drum that makes sense. I don't believe it is perforated but somehow water can make its way behind eardrum anyway. It is not uncommon with for example surfers and divers I read. And me spraying water in it directly was stupid so now my ear have this awful feeling. I didn't have any symptoms before the syringe.

 

[Winter]

@Winter -- Don't know if you read the above post I linked to, but have you considered garlic mullein oil to treat or prevention an ear infection?

I am hesitant to put more liquids in my ear. Have tried some olive oil and gentle water but seems to worsen it.

 

[GregCA]

I used a syringe plastic ear wax removed bulb like this:

and sprayed water in my left ear to clean it (no ear wax plug in that ear), and after just a few sprays with water got this clogged feeling ever since. It feels full and like it is glue in the ear. Doctor has looked in the ear a couple of days before and said there was no wax plug. So there is only water behind ear drum that makes sense.

No unfortunately that doesn't make sense.

I don't believe it is perforated but somehow water can make its way behind eardrum anyway.

Not if it's not perforated. That's why the paragraph above doesn't make sense.

It is not uncommon with for example surfers and divers I read.

What you are referring to is called "swimmer's ear" (swimmers/surfers/divers are prone to this) and is an infection of the outer ear (the canal, ahead of the ear drum when you look at it from outside). See https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/symptoms-causes/syc-20351682

Have you seen a doctor? Most of the time, fluid in your middle ear can be seen with a simple otoscopic examination. You could have fluid in your middle ear, but it is very unlikely to be from the "bulb process" you have used. If you have a middle ear infection (otitis media), you may be prescribed antibiotics. The sooner you catch infections the better, so it may be useful to see a doctor soon if you haven't already.

Good luck!

 

[MRItechssuck]

Jan. 28? Go see your regular Doc... you should get in ASAP. ENTs suck and never think anything is urgent.

There is something called glue ear which can give people a discharge behind the ear drum but it is uncommon, but either way I doubt you have fluid from the bulb syringe, otherwise anytime someone went swimming they'd have water behind the ear drum... it's a closed system... that is why people have problems equalizing after flying.

On Prednisone... I'm thinking anyone that got help from it was a placebo affect only.

People certainly get tinnitus from one time events such as an explosion, or gun shot. I always protected my ears and got tinnitus from two cymbal hits from a drummer before I got earplugs in 20 years ago... and then now....from an unprotected MRI.

Don't listen for it... don't test your tinnitus... go to your doc and check on the fluid behind the ears.

If your tinnitus stays... you need to focus on other things.

Good luck.

 

[Winter]

No unfortunately that doesn't make sense.

Not if it's not perforated. That's why the paragraph above doesn't make sense.

What you are referring to is called "swimmer's ear" (swimmers/surfers/divers are prone to this) and is an infection of the outer ear (the canal, ahead of the ear drum when you look at it from outside). See https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/symptoms-causes/syc-20351682

Have you seen a doctor? Most of the time, fluid in your middle ear can be seen with a simple otoscopic examination. You could have fluid in your middle ear, but it is very unlikely to be from the "bulb process" you have used. If you have a middle ear infection (otitis media), you may be prescribed antibiotics. The sooner you catch infections the better, so it may be useful to see a doctor soon if you haven't already.

Good luck!

But can I take antibiotics? Isnt that a bad idea if you have tinnitus?

 

[Winter]

There is something called glue ear which can give people a discharge behind the ear drum

It really feels just as I have glue in my ear.

 

[GregCA]

But can I take antibiotics? Isnt that a bad idea if you have tinnitus?

Some antibiotics have known ototoxicity, but not all of them. Talk to your doc about it. I have.

 

[Winter]

Maybe its swimmers ear then! I hear less on that ear. And it feels warm. I'll have to check it out because it cant heal by itself it seems. Cant see a doctor anytime soon because of holiday.

 

[Lane]

Ever since I ran across the woman in the following 13-min video, I've thought she really knows her stuff when it comes to naturally treating various kinds of ear and eustachian tube disorders. I've already incorporated a number of her techniques in my daily routine to take as good care of my ears as possible. -- Unlike most people I see on YouTube videos, it's actually pretty easy to like her. -- You may also want to consider doing some self-acupuncture (which I do regularly) on some pretty basic ear points.

How to Get Fluid Out Of Your Ear | 4 Ways to Drain Your Ear & Unclog Your Blocked Ears Naturally

 

[Winter]

Today my wife looked in my left ear - the one I've been saying having water behind eardrum - and there is definitely wax in it. She took a photo so I could see and it looks like half the ear drum is covered by wax. Even though the doctor said no wax, very strange! Now the problem is I don't know how to remove the wax so the ear won't feel blocked anymore. I don't want to use the syringe again since it worsened my right ear 9 days ago and it hasn't gotten better since then. And I don't want to use microsuction either.

 

[Winter]

Do you remember the Yanny or Laurel sound test? If not you can google it.
Before the accident causing tinnitus I heard Yanny, and when I tried it today I hear Laurel. It is because "Yanny" can be heard in higher frequencies... So that is higher frequency hearing loss confirmed. I guess that is to be expected though.

 

[Lane]

Do you remember the Yanny or Laurel sound test? If not you can google it. ... Before the accident causing tinnitus I heard Yanny, and when I tried it today I hear Laurel.

I checked that out a few years ago, and interestingly, I heard Yanny in the morning, and later on that same day I heard Laurel. Nothing happened in between those two times, so this kind of anomoly may occur more frequently than we may think. I wouldn't read too much in the fact you're now hearing something different than you did previously.

 

[Winter]

I checked that out a few years ago, and interestingly, I heard Yanny in the morning, and later on that same day I heard Laurel. Nothing happened in between those two times, so this kind of anomoly may occur more frequently than we may think. I wouldn't read too much in the fact you're now hearing something different than you did previously.

But before I heard high piched sounds like 15000 hz and even higher, now I can't hear anything higher than 12,500 hz when testing example on:

 

[HeavyMantra]

Today my wife looked in my left ear - the one I've been saying having water behind eardrum - and there is definitely wax in it. She took a photo so I could see and it looks like half the ear drum is covered by wax. Even though the doctor said no wax, very strange! Now the problem is I don't know how to remove the wax so the ear won't feel blocked anymore. I don't want to use the syringe again since it worsened my right ear 9 days ago and it hasn't gotten better since then. And I don't want to use microsuction either.

I would confirm with another doctor if you are unsure. If you know there's wax I think the safest method is to pour a little olive oil in the ear every day and just let the oil/wax come out naturally after a while. I THINK, haven't tried it

 

[Winter]

I would confirm with another doctor if you are unsure. If you know there's wax I think the safest method is to pour a little olive oil in the ear every day and just let the oil/wax come out naturally after a while. I THINK, haven't tried it

She took a picture of it in my ear and I can definitely see it clearly. The wax blocks more than half my eardrum. I will try the oil (Vaxol), but I am pretty sure it will need more than that to get out. Is very gentle syringe a bad idea as well? All wax removal alternatives seems bad for T when searching on this website.