Tinnitus ONSET After Root Canal

[Hilde]

Hi everyone,

In November 2018, I had a root canal. The tooth was not inflamed, but it needed a new filling, and the nerve was too close, so I opted for a root canal at noon.

That same evening, as the sedation wore off, my blood pressure spiked to 185/125 (my normal is 125/85). I felt my heartbeat in my ears, uneasy, and experienced ringing in my ears. I went to the ER the next day, and they monitored my blood pressure until it came down, which took about an hour. However, the tinnitus persisted.

Over time, I experienced brain fog, depression, fatigue, and a three-tone ringing in both ears, along with a slight feeling of fullness.

My doctor and ENT (who conducted an annual complete physical) were a waste of money. Their advice was to wait it out and drink more water; they didn't take my symptoms seriously.

I tried acupuncture, and after the first session, everything but the ringing improved significantly. The ringing has gradually gotten better (from three tones to one or two tones), and acupuncture has helped a lot. Additionally, when I massage around my ears (behind and above), the noise stops for a few seconds. Sometimes, I feel a weird tingling sensation when I massage the area.

I read that blood pressure problems after a root canal can stem from epinephrine getting into the nerve, but that should only last for a few hours, not 24 hours after the procedure (which is when I ended up in the ER).

Basically, I am lost and want to get rid of this! Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Starthrower]

I am so sorry this happened to you also @Hilde. As you can see, this is what happened to me in 2002.

Rest assured of a few things. With time the nerves will sort of calm down. I had the same reaction - but a different situation because of jaw bone damage.

 

[Jack Straw]

This sounds like somatic tinnitus. Perhaps the surgery caused some type of swelling or something, seeing that it goes away when you massage your ears.

 

[Luman]

Just a note: Next time you have dental work done, you can ask for a pain killer without the epinephrine. My DDS confirmed that they must keep a supply of anesthesia which does not contain adrenaline, for patients that need or prefer it.

 

[Elias Hayek]

I recently had a root canal in May. Following the procedure, I spent a week asking everyone at home if they could hear a strange sound coming from the air conditioner. It sounded like the A/C was malfunctioning. However, when everyone looked at me as if I were crazy, I started to piece things together. I finally realized why I often hear Linkin Park songs in my head during moments of silence.

I am beginning to think more research needs to be conducted on the post-effects of root canals. I am praying this situation improves because it affects my equilibrium, and I have no idea how to ask my dentist about it without offending him.

There seems to be a pattern here, as many of us who have had root canals experience tinnitus following the procedure. In my case, this was my third root canal and, without a doubt, the most painful due to the dentist encountering nerve difficulties.

 

[Deehola]

Same here. I had a root canal last month, and soon after, I started experiencing ringing in both ears. When I went to an ENT for testing, I didn't initially connect it to the procedure as a potential trigger. The ENT didn't discuss possible triggers and simply said my results were normal, with little to no hearing loss.

Later, I came across your site while feeling anxious about suddenly developing tinnitus. After reading, I decided to visit my primary doctor, who prescribed a steroid pack to reduce inflammation caused by the dental work. She mentioned that procedures like this can sometimes inflame the area and lead to ringing.

I'm on day two of the medication, and the improvement has been significant. I'm hopeful that by the end of the full dosage, the inflammation will subside permanently and relieve the tinnitus. I'll keep you posted.