Is it possible that a PMR flare might bring on tinnitus

[WalkingtheMoors]

I posted in March asking for help with flare protocol and began to follow DL regime for a very slow reduction. But didn't get very far The flare was pretty bad and I know now that I was wrongly fighting it because I had been 6months pred free after diagnosis in 2021. During the flare period I developed tinnitus in my right ear. I have been to the audiologist today and my ear is healthy with no wax..just a bit of drying skin. After the suction I still have the tinnitus. Could this be a side effect of prednisolone and/or PMR. I am currently on 5mg which is keeping the pain in check and I am planning on staying on that until at least the end of this month. Thank you, your advice is always gratefully received.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Tinnitus can be caused by GCA so if you are experiencing other PMR symptoms you should make sure it isn't the PMR progressing to GCA.

The NE charity funded the basic survey that led to this study being funded which established that the ears can also be involved in GCA.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[WalkingtheMoors in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou for your very swift reply. I did wonder if GCA may be lurking but I have no other symptoms and the pred is keeping the PMR in check but the survey was interesting. I will see my GP after Easter. Thanks again.

[Body_bonkers in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro - I will mention this to the rhematologist. It’s a newish symptom for me that has worsened during flare

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Body_bonkers]

In that case it needs investigation, and if it’s GCA, then a much higher dose of Pred.

[Body_bonkers in reply to DorsetLady]

What should I expect for this to be investigated properly DL ?

The rheumatologist I saw in mid-Febuary pressed my head, told me to lift shoulders and tested resistance. Blood tests were taken and I assume returned normal. In 2023 that rheumatologist did similar and wrote to GP saying temporal artery pulses were equal and non tender. Maybe this alone is enough but there are just too many symptoms for my liking I said to the rheumatologist that I felt the upper part of my body was behaving differently to lower half and not exactly like past PMR. Should I be stamping my feet and demand some sort of imaging ?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Body_bonkers]

They need to look at all symptoms again, and probably sensible to take bloods, and to be aware that ears can be affected by GCA - PMRpro has given you information. Imaging would be helpful, but whether demanding it will get it, who knows..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Body_bonkers]

It is the same as at the start - when it is all very nebulous and bitty, it is difficult to say yes or no. And the algorithms some use don't include some of the things WE know occur simply because we have seen it - but we don't have any data. However - there is published data about tinnitus which I linked, you have a flare of PMR symptoms and there is also published data that GCA flares can be different,

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

All enough I would say for some extra investigation/thought.

[TandemTime]

My Tinnitus is set off by stress and also people mentioning it! It's a vicious circle. I joined the health unlocked originally to discover more, however getting email reminders about the subject set me off so much I had to leave. Just writing this has set me off..Whilst you are checking your GCA...I would try putting on the radio at quiet times, but also visiting a hearing aid centre.

Some people have an improvement with CBT. ( Cognitive behaviour therapy)

Your hearing might be fine you think, but some people wear an aid to take up the void that let's the tinnitus in. You could get free pretty good ones on the NHS to try out, they link to your phone etc if wished. I went to Spec savers hearing dept. I realise you may have had your ears tested and do not have hearing loss, but it was my GP who suggested it.

[WalkingtheMoors in reply to TandemTime]

Thankyou...I hear what you are saying...mulling over things too much does make me worry...must concentrate more on QOL. I did go to Specsavers yesterday so thanks for your advice. Ears are healthy so next step hearing test. Thanks again.

[TandemTime in reply to WalkingtheMoors]

Great let us know how you get on !

[Offcut]

Intrestingly I have had Tinnitus for a very long time due to excessive work noise. I went down with T A a few years back and I am off Steroids completely. However my tinnitus has got worse suddenly? I had my 3-year hearing test as I do have hearing aids and I am now profoundly deaf at the Environmental stage and a lot worse at the consonants!

Be Well

[MiniSpec]

I have both PMR and GCA, and for me tinnitus started the day after I took my first Pred dose back in July 2010. I still have the two jet engines, one in each ear, and they're just as loud today as the first day they arrived.

When (if) I ever get off Pred I'm hoping the tinnitus will just fade away, but until then, I just try to concentrate on other things to take my mind off it. One thing I have noticed though is that if I'm feeling well and doing things the tinnitus is very quiet, but if I'm feeling ill or very tired, it gets so loud it's deafening!