Vibrating in the ear?

[Krobo1991]

Hi,

Has anyone else suffered from the same issues I currently have?

I have had tinnitus for over 13 years with the standard ringing. Over the last few months I have this feeling of vibrating in one ear.

My ear will make a vibrating feeling which will last for a few seconds then stops. 20 seconds later it will start 'vibrating' again for a few seconds then stop. Sometimes this lasts for a few hours then stops, sometimes last for a whole day and other times it lasts for a few days and stops. I can't figure out what is causing this issue.

I thought it may have been earwax build up and I have been using earwax removal products but it doesn't seem to have helped. It's that fact that the 'vibrating' isn't constant which is worrying me. I have never had this issue before during my time with Tinnitus, so it's a new feeling for me (and it's actually worse than the ringing ha).

Thanks

[LJW1990]

I have something similar to what you’re describing although mine is constant. It cuts in and out when I talk or if there is a loud noise but otherwise it is there 24/7. I describe it as a vibrating hum, sort of like if a bee was stuck in your ear or a light sabre (if you’ve watched Star Wars). My understanding is it is a result of MEM (middle ear myoclonus) which is where the small muscles in your ear go into spasm. Unfortunately despite lots of supplements and medications I have yet to find any permanent relief.

[Krobo1991 in reply to LJW1990]

Yeah I've read about MEM and it does sound like that. Since this post it stopped for 2 days, no issues but today it's made a return! I shall try and get booked in to the docs and see what they say. Thanks for the response.

[Sazzyrich]

I have this too. I have pulsatile tinnitus 24/7 but the vibrating I describe as a bit like morse code in my ear. I only get it very occasionally and it makes sense that it could be where muscles in the ear go into spasm as that would fit with the sound pattern i get. I guess ear muscles can spasm just like any muscles in the body.

[Krobo1991 in reply to Sazzyrich]

Yeah that's what I feel it could be, spasms in the ear as they come and go.

[Aarhus in reply to Krobo1991]

Yes I've had this too. A couple of months ago I told my wife my dad, who passed away three years, must be sending me signals from the other side because I could hear a morse-code-like tone in my right ear. It was like "huh huh eh huh". Eventually this went away and the tone became a steady tone. Then I noticed when I would ring someone and I set the phone to "speaker" I noticed the ringing-tone would sound strange. I could almost FEEL the tone in my ear. I went to an ENT and he check my ears. Audiogram is like it has been the last couple of years and he also checked ear-pressure. All was fine.

Now, the "feeling" is still there when I watch telly. Just days ago I've learned this is myoclonus. I'm glad I found this and other pages online.

I too have had tinnitus for 7+ years and have a constant swaying, off-balance feeling which comes and goes.

[r_delaney]

Hi. Very similar story. High pitch ringing and the vibration. The vibration is very invasive at times. Mine comes and goes but I always have had the ringing. I see a chiropractor to keep my jaw and neck in good condition and this does help with the vibration. Before I went to the chiropractor the vibration could last for months then disappear for months. Now it is much less troublesome. I take a high level vitamin D3 with K2 and I’m soon starting with on magnesium.

[Krobo1991 in reply to r_delaney]

This sounds like something I may consider, worth trying anything that may help alleviate the vibration feelings.

[SB7516]

Hi. Again very similar. Unfortunately though it has started to switch ears or so it seems. Hiss/ring in my left ear and I had loud vibrating 24/7 when I first got T in June. It then was intermittent around September, and it is gradually lessening with intensity and regularity. But the last few days it’s in my right ear. Noise makes it worse as it competes with it so watching tv or listening to music is unbearable. I take B12 and Iron and have started adding more magnesium to my diet. I believe it could be the ear drum in spasm but I’m

Due to see ENT in January so will be asking the question.

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi all.

There is a condition called Tonic Tensor Tympani syndrome which can be described as a feeling of in-ear muscular contraction and vibration which is experienced by some people in the tinnitus community.

Healthline.com has a good explainer for TTTS - healthline.com/health/eardr... - and we discuss it in our guidance on Pulsatile Tinnitus, in the section titled 'other forms of rhythmic tinnitus' - tinnitus.org.uk/pulsatile-t...

[SB7516 in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Thanks I’ll take a look

[Peeweecat15]

Yes this is Middle Ear Myoclonus...A vibrating muscle in the ear. I had it for 3 years nearly always at night and thankfully I haven't had it for 10 months now. I was told by an ENT consultant that it usually fizzles out in time as mine has done so take heart! Some people have the muscle cut but only as a last resort.

[SB7516 in reply to Peeweecat15]

This is positive to hear that it can go. Thank you for sharing that as it gives me hope.

[LJW1990 in reply to Peeweecat15]

Is there anything in particular that you did that may have helped? Any supplements for medications?

[Peeweecat15 in reply to LJW1990]

Well this may be a co-incidence but I had started taking a supplement called DLPA (available on amazon).Also, flying made it far, far worse.

[Krobo1991 in reply to Peeweecat15]

Yeah I think if it is MEM then I am going to have to just cope with it, just rather annoying that I already have ringing in the ear 24/7 and now adding in this vibration haha.