Trying to Gauge Whether My Tinnitus Is Treatable Based on My Description

[Bennett Waisbren]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for taking the time to check in with me here.

I'm trying to determine if the "flavor" of my tinnitus can be treated, and the reason I suspect the answer might be yes is because I can reduce the volume through various movements. Please review the exact characteristics of my tinnitus below:

• Present only in the left ear
• My left cheek is significantly more numb than the right; scratching it barely produces a sensation, except that it makes me feel "tremors" in my left ear, like an earthquake
• Smiling on the left side of my face is much more of a struggle than the right. When I attempt to do so, the muscles in my neck tense up a lot. Not at all the case when smiling to the right

Here's where it gets really interesting (and pertains specifically to the ringing):

• Chewing my food makes the ringing go up and down with the rhythm of my bite (louder chewing down, softer chewing up)
• Moving my head 90 degrees to the left/right causes the ringing to get significantly louder
• Firmly pressing on my left temple makes the ringing shoot WAY up in volume
• Yawning also makes the ringing shoot way up in volume
• retracting my jaw into my chest makes the ringing vanish almost completely!

I have suffered for 3 and a half years and have largely been unable to adapt to the noise in any way. However in that time I have become my own scientist of sorts, taking careful inventory of the ringing's exact nature as it pertains to my unique anatomy. I have explored NUMEROUS therapies both novel and traditional (stem cell injection, hyperbaric oxygen, etc.) and have basically tried every supplement under the sun as far as I'm concerned.

I currently wear a specially crafted orthotic (mouth guard) made by a well educated TMJ in my city, however after 6 months straight of wearing it 24/7 I have experienced no relief.

If you resonate with this post in ANY way, shape, or form I would absolutely love to hear about it. Who knows - maybe if your tinnitus shares similar traits as the ones described above we can work together to jointly identify a treatment that suits us specifically.

Thank you so much for your time, and have a wonderful holiday season!

 

[IntotheBlue03]

Hi @Bennett Waisbren, your tinnitus sounds somatic in nature. Have you actually had stem cell therapy?

 

[Bennett Waisbren]

Hi @Bennett Waisbren, your tinnitus sounds somatic in nature. Have you actually had stem cell therapy?

Hi! Yep, I actually did receive stem cell therapy last year, however it did absolutely nothing for me. I suspect it might have something to do with the fact that I had the stem cells injected directly into my arm, as opposed to in/around the ear (that was their call, not mine).

9 thousand dollars down the drain sadly

 

[mbsq]

I have somewhat similar symptoms, though not as respondent to movement like yours, e.g. no effect from chewing or pressing my jaw down to my chest. I think our cases must have something to do with specific nerve inflammation. I will let you know how my treatment progresses.

 

[IntotheBlue03]

@Bennett Waisbren, wow I am sorry to hear that. Have you tried electric dry needling? It sounds like you are a candidate for that. I am currently doing that with a physical therapist trained in somatic tinnitus. I recommend you reach out James Dunning who could locate someone hopefully in your area.

Somatosensory Tinnitus: Neurophysiological Considerations & Treatment Options

It's a hell of a lot cheaper than stem cells and worth a shot.

 

[kmt]

@Bennett Waisbren, wow I am sorry to hear that. Have you tried electric dry needling? It sounds like you are a candidate for that. I am currently doing that with a physical therapist trained in somatic tinnitus. I recommend you reach out James Dunning who could locate someone hopefully in your area.

Somatosensory Tinnitus: Neurophysiological Considerations & Treatment Options

It's a hell of a lot cheaper than stem cells and worth a shot.

How is the dry needling helping your tinnitus?