Steven Crook,
It's Abraham Maslow's Law of the Hammer; When you're a hammer, all the world's a nail. Experts and doctors tend to look at everything in relation to their area of expertise. Freud tended to see everything as a penis substitute. Climate change activists see every natural event as proof of climate change. An orthopedist wanted to fuse both my thumbs because he had just been to seminar describing the procedure, when in reality my problem was nerve impingement in my neck. Since tinnitus isn't something they can point to on a test, and say, "See there? That is the cause of your tinnitus," because only you can say what you are hearing, they have nothing on which to base their testing. I can't even tell you in which ear I'm hearing that F-15 engine sound, just that it's there and is interfering with my ability to hear actual sounds or to hear them clearly. The Veteran's Administration here in the States has finally agreed that it's a problem, and awards disability compensation for it, but they admit that they don't have a cure for it, or even a way to lessen it. They gave me a noise generator to mask the tinnitus sound when I'm trying to sleep, but that does no good when I'm trying to understand what someone is saying, or when I don't know that there's gas hissing from a loosely fitted hose connection, or that it's lightly raining outside. Have you had your cervical vertebrae MRI'd? I have serious damage in the total of my neck and have had C3-4-5 and C7-T1 fused, and C6-7 shows serious stenosis of the foramen. The position of my neck or whether or not it needs to popped can affect the intensity of my tinnitus, so I know that at least some of my tinnitus has a physical dependence. I had 6 surgeries on my elbows and shoulders before I could convince a doctor to check my neck to see why my upper back, arms and hands hurt and were weak, so I can appreciate your frustration. I believe that other than relief of cervical nerve impingement, if that is what is causing yours, you are not going to find a cure for your problem, or even a lessening of it, unfortunately. See, even I am guilty of the Law of the Hammer; I just pointed you to having your neck examined because I have had extensive work done on my neck, so I am biased in that direction.
It's Abraham Maslow's Law of the Hammer; When you're a hammer, all the world's a nail. Experts and doctors tend to look at everything in relation to their area of expertise. Freud tended to see everything as a penis substitute. Climate change activists see every natural event as proof of climate change. An orthopedist wanted to fuse both my thumbs because he had just been to seminar describing the procedure, when in reality my problem was nerve impingement in my neck. Since tinnitus isn't something they can point to on a test, and say, "See there? That is the cause of your tinnitus," because only you can say what you are hearing, they have nothing on which to base their testing. I can't even tell you in which ear I'm hearing that F-15 engine sound, just that it's there and is interfering with my ability to hear actual sounds or to hear them clearly. The Veteran's Administration here in the States has finally agreed that it's a problem, and awards disability compensation for it, but they admit that they don't have a cure for it, or even a way to lessen it. They gave me a noise generator to mask the tinnitus sound when I'm trying to sleep, but that does no good when I'm trying to understand what someone is saying, or when I don't know that there's gas hissing from a loosely fitted hose connection, or that it's lightly raining outside. Have you had your cervical vertebrae MRI'd? I have serious damage in the total of my neck and have had C3-4-5 and C7-T1 fused, and C6-7 shows serious stenosis of the foramen. The position of my neck or whether or not it needs to popped can affect the intensity of my tinnitus, so I know that at least some of my tinnitus has a physical dependence. I had 6 surgeries on my elbows and shoulders before I could convince a doctor to check my neck to see why my upper back, arms and hands hurt and were weak, so I can appreciate your frustration. I believe that other than relief of cervical nerve impingement, if that is what is causing yours, you are not going to find a cure for your problem, or even a lessening of it, unfortunately. See, even I am guilty of the Law of the Hammer; I just pointed you to having your neck examined because I have had extensive work done on my neck, so I am biased in that direction.
In case of spinal problems that seem to be related to tinnitus, it is good to know that the hearing is in direct connection with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system, in which the brain 'floats'. This fluid system runs all the way down your spine to the tailbone. Pressure disturbances in this system are well known to contribute to tinnitus, although there are usually more prevalent symptoms, for instance in the headache departement. Still worth mentioning I think. CSF leaks are rare but also heavily underdiagnosed.
I am biased too...
I am biased too...
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No associated headaches in my case. Tinnitus started overnight and there'd been no previous occurrences. It appears to be related to muscle tension in my neck. I put my L hand on side of my head and then push against it, head position doesn't change. The noise volume in R ear increases as I increase the pressure against my hand. There's an upper limit to volume. On bad, really loud days, pressing like this barely changes the volume, on good lower/no volume days I can get a significant increase in volume.
I always have tinnitus when I get up. Worse after disturbed nights with lots of turning in bed. On good days it wears off within about 20mins of being vertical and often never returns for the day. It can/will start when I sit down or lay down. Ambient noise levels are irrelevant. If I get up and move around it can disappear within a few seconds of standing up and walking a bit.
Ibuprofen. I also have knee problems. I take ibuprofen when I go hiking. I noticed that the days when I took it I had fewer days with tinnitus and when I had it, it was at a lower level. I've experimented with this quite a bit and I'm fairly convinced it's a thing. I only spotted it because I was keeping a diary of good/bad tinnitus days and noticed clusters of good days around periods when I was hiking. Experimented afterwards and it does appear to be a thing...
A year or so after this started I had a bout of sciatica. The pain in my R ankle and calf was intense when walking and it felt like it was my ankle and calf that were injured. It was a really disconcerting/dissociative sort of thing I knew it was nerves in my back/buttocks but kept looking at my calf/ankle. I began to wonder if I had the equivalent of sciatica...
I always have tinnitus when I get up. Worse after disturbed nights with lots of turning in bed. On good days it wears off within about 20mins of being vertical and often never returns for the day. It can/will start when I sit down or lay down. Ambient noise levels are irrelevant. If I get up and move around it can disappear within a few seconds of standing up and walking a bit.
Ibuprofen. I also have knee problems. I take ibuprofen when I go hiking. I noticed that the days when I took it I had fewer days with tinnitus and when I had it, it was at a lower level. I've experimented with this quite a bit and I'm fairly convinced it's a thing. I only spotted it because I was keeping a diary of good/bad tinnitus days and noticed clusters of good days around periods when I was hiking. Experimented afterwards and it does appear to be a thing...
A year or so after this started I had a bout of sciatica. The pain in my R ankle and calf was intense when walking and it felt like it was my ankle and calf that were injured. It was a really disconcerting/dissociative sort of thing I knew it was nerves in my back/buttocks but kept looking at my calf/ankle. I began to wonder if I had the equivalent of sciatica...
If it’s muscle tension you suspect, you could try a muscle relaxant. “Robaxin” is the title indicating pure methocarbamol, no added aspirin or ibuprofin. If you can’t find it(it’s apparently been discontinued), you can split the methocarbamol off one of the others with a sharp paring knife. It pops apart easily. This could confirm your suspicion as this way there’s no pain reliever to mask symptoms.
I too have tinnitus, but I’m 67. Apparently there is no cure, no magic pill as far as I can tell. My hope is that changes for you
Steven Crook,
About the time mine started 35 years ago, I was having weakness and pain around my right scapula and in my right hand. After 2 or 3 of the now 13 3-month bouts of physical therapy with no relief, the doctors began the series of 6 operations on mainly my right elbow and shoulder. After the diagnosis of deterioration in my cervical spine and the pain in my lower right side, I was given an MRI of my head to see if I had had a TIA, since everything wrong with me was on the right side. This was repeated last year. Both were completely negative for any infarct. I have had 75 epidurals and well over 100 trigger point injections (among several other procedures) for these problems with only temporary relief. After the 3 operations to fuse the joints in my ne,ck (C3-4, C4-5, and C7-T1), my tinnitus had not changed at all, but I noticed that I could temporarily increase it by pressing against the left side and pushing against that with my neck. That is similar to yours. Mine also seems to increase with a "funny" position of my neck when lying down. It is because of this that I think you should have your neck looked at.
About the time mine started 35 years ago, I was having weakness and pain around my right scapula and in my right hand. After 2 or 3 of the now 13 3-month bouts of physical therapy with no relief, the doctors began the series of 6 operations on mainly my right elbow and shoulder. After the diagnosis of deterioration in my cervical spine and the pain in my lower right side, I was given an MRI of my head to see if I had had a TIA, since everything wrong with me was on the right side. This was repeated last year. Both were completely negative for any infarct. I have had 75 epidurals and well over 100 trigger point injections (among several other procedures) for these problems with only temporary relief. After the 3 operations to fuse the joints in my ne,ck (C3-4, C4-5, and C7-T1), my tinnitus had not changed at all, but I noticed that I could temporarily increase it by pressing against the left side and pushing against that with my neck. That is similar to yours. Mine also seems to increase with a "funny" position of my neck when lying down. It is because of this that I think you should have your neck looked at.
Maybe there's a cheap way to increase or re-introduce ear wax for ear protection. I've kidded my wife about growing hair out of my ears and waxing it to points, like a mustache, but without joining a circus, I'd likely become a social outcast.
I was also considering a waxed nosestash, so I could wiggle it, but neither stash fits my lifetime Air Force GI-maintained nose and ear hair regimen.
I'm now 81. Between presbyopia and presbycusis, it's a wonder I can see or hear anything. I have no idea why I'm here or still designing audio gear. I'm a biomed and have no idea what Greek or Latin medical term describes "S--t for Brains". I'll have to look it up.
I was also considering a waxed nosestash, so I could wiggle it, but neither stash fits my lifetime Air Force GI-maintained nose and ear hair regimen.
I'm now 81. Between presbyopia and presbycusis, it's a wonder I can see or hear anything. I have no idea why I'm here or still designing audio gear. I'm a biomed and have no idea what Greek or Latin medical term describes "S--t for Brains". I'll have to look it up.
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I also have tinnitus, in both ears with different tones. All serious doctors say that you have to put up with it and learn to live with it. So I've been living with my sounds for about 20 years now.
Sometimes I use them in meditation
Listening to music is still possible, but I can't stand it too loud. The pain threshold is reached faster today.
Sometimes I use them in meditation
Listening to music is still possible, but I can't stand it too loud. The pain threshold is reached faster today.
Wouldn't argue. The problem I have at the moment is finding someone. After that TBH I'm not entirely sure it would be fixable without risk of making things worse, but it's interesting we share the same neck pressure thing. But I'm still trying to find a sympathetic UK based (ideally) neuro consultant who has an open mind when it come to tinnitus...
Search for sources of electromagnetic fields, such as transmitters, mobiles, WLAN, bluetooth... TV, HiFi, other electrical devices. Also involve the neighbors.My tinnitus has progressed. "Quiet time" can't exist... I've needed a TV on all night to sleep for years, but not what I perceived to be 25% is 50%...
Glad I built a triode system louder than that
Otherwise also: no artificial dental materials. Especially no metals in the mouth.
What do you mean by 'triode system'?My tinnitus has progressed. "Quiet time" can't exist... I've needed a TV on all night to sleep for years, but not what I perceived to be 25% is 50%...
Glad I built a triode system louder than that
My tinnitus frequency is the same as the front sound of a jet engine (7460 Hz) and when viewing a video of a jet engine revving up, when it gets to that freq, I no longer hear it, as it just fades into my tinnitus. It's as though the sound is just muted out. I can only hear the sound of rain when it hits the roof, not the sound of rain itself.
Triode system as in the entire analog audio chain is amplified by triodes or tride connected beam power tubes...
My tinnitus sounds like an NTSC CRT without the horizontal sync - a somewhat random HF noise between 10 - 15 kHz... It's made to be more noticable by lack of sleep and certain drugs etc.
My tinnitus sounds like an NTSC CRT without the horizontal sync - a somewhat random HF noise between 10 - 15 kHz... It's made to be more noticable by lack of sleep and certain drugs etc.
Historically tinnitus goes back about as far as written records do...that it is more common today is more likely a result of amplification of noise in industry, at concerts and particularly from ubiquitous use of earbuds at crazy volumes. It is often the companion of hearing loss and in my experience treating the hearing loss with hearing aids can greatly reduce the symptoms of tinnitus...no need to pull all of your teeth with fillings.
