Vibration Sensation in Head

[Otana]

I've seen this discussed in a a few other threads but wanted to describe my experience and see if anyone else has found any relief. It's a sensation that's hard to describe but generally feels like the top center of my head and temples are vibrating. Almost like a cell phone is being held to my skull. It often coincides with pressure in my temples and can be associated with exposure to certain sounds, but often occurs in a quiet room. I experience it basically every day for a few seconds to a few hours at a time. I still have sensitivity to certain sounds, but my hyperacusis is minor compared to what it used to be and this sensation has been relatively stable throughout, so I associate it more with my tinnitus. I had been on mirtazapine for just over a year and at higher doses, it seemed to exacerbate this sensation.

My reaction to my tinnitus has lessened significantly and I don't notice it for parts of the day, but this vibration feeling still gets to me. It can't be drowned out and there's not much I can do to alleviate it. It raises my anxiety which causes the vibration sensation to worsen. I've also noticed the opposite, that an increase in anxiety also makes it worse. To find relief, I mainly focus on lowering my anxiety and massaging my TMJ and temples. I do have bruxism (grind my teeth at night) so I believe it could be at least partially related to that.

Do you experience anything similar? If so, have you found anything that relieves your symptoms?

Related threads:
Cognitive Changes/Problems — Feeling Like Not Myself from Exposure to Sound
Poll: Do You Have an Internal Tremor or a Vibrating Sensation?

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Hello, @Otana. I had this problem too- it was the worst aspect of my tinnitus. It eventually disappeared gradually. So there is hope it will disappear for you too.

 

[Otana]

Hello, @Otana. I had this problem too- it was the worst aspect of my tinnitus. It eventually disappeared gradually. So there is hope it will disappear for you too.

That's good to hear that yours calmed down. Was there anything in particular that you did that helped?

 

[SteveShield]

Me too, the fullness is worse than the tinnitus!

 

[Frayact]

I can also feel my tinnitus. I have a very loud, low-frequency hum that sometimes causes fluttering and/or thumping sensations in my neck and ears. It's like someone holding the base of an electric toothbrush to the side of my skull. Shaking my head from side to side makes it stop, but only momentarily.

I also have a high-frequency hissing that I hear, but it does not cause any physical sensation. The humming is the worst of the two, but it will sometimes go away for years at a time and then mysteriously return for no reason (like it did three weeks ago after being silent for over two years).

Many years ago, one of the numerous doctors I consulted about this said that it could be a bizarre form of migraine (even though I rarely get actual headaches). This was ruled out after exploring it further.

After living with this for over 23 years, I am no closer to an answer/cause/treatment than I was when it started.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

That's good to hear that yours calmed down. Was there anything in particular that you did that helped?

Yes, Nasonex helped me.
It doesn't matter now, since my GP fucked it all up by causing me palatal myoclonus (from Amoxicillin).

 

[Otana]

Yes, Nasonex helped me.
It doesn't matter now, since my GP fucked it all up by causing me palatal myoclonus (from Amoxicillin).

I started taking Flonase morning and night. I did have 5 good days in a row with low/no vibration last week, but I'm back to 'normal' now in that I can feel my tinnitus again so I'm not sure if that was just a coincidence or not. Maybe I'll try Nasonex.

I found a bunch of other threads with similar descriptions so it doesn't seem that uncommon to 'feel' your tinnitus. Many people in these threads also feel that this is the worst part of tinnitus for them. I can't emphasize enough how much better I felt last week with those low vibrations.

• https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/feeling-of-ringing.29797/
• https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-you-feel-your-tinnitus-too.15533/
  
• https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/does-anyone-else-physically-feel-their-tinnitus.6917/
  
• https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/are-you-able-to-physically-feel-your-tinnitus.6237/
  
• https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-you-feel-your-tinnitus.5088/

Anyone else found anything that provides relief?

 

[Greg Sacramento]

I have posted professional links with some recently that explain reasons why vibrations, hums, thumping and overall well being - shakiness of head happens. It can be from vascular, hypertension, intercranial hypertension, atlantoaxial joint area, misalignment of neck - C1, arteries and veins within neck. The jugular vein for example is always the reason for humming and sometimes thumping is also heard where the thyroid was brought into play.

Misalignment of neck, atlantoaxial joints - C1 C2, other C spine problems can cause a feeling of head shakiness where often somatic physical tinnitus is present. Sometimes with these problems, actual PT can't be always be heard.

There are some drugs available that may help with PT, but they are not all non somatic tinnitus friendly. Surgery is very debatable with many doctors against it.

For many of the problems discussed above, NAC and magnesium taken together may bring some small temporary relief for a hour or two, one hour after taking with a full glass of water. Before taking these vitamins research side effects such as having a history of kidney problems.

 

[sakrt]

Flonase and Nasonex's purpose is to reduce nasal inflammation which can be a good thing for congestion/allergies. Short-term and on occasion. Oftentimes, such as in my situation ENTs generally prescribe this to use forever to deal with allergies along with antihistamines.

A question is the long term affect? It seems to affect healthy bio-film in nose, drying it out. Also, the chemicals go up your eustachian tubes at times and down to your stomach, so would this mean the same effect going on there as well? Like a car exposed to the sun too long, the flexible parts eventually just start to shrink, crack and deteriorate. Back to the Dr. again...