Tinnitus

[777john]

Has anybody used a physio or a chiropractor to help with there tinnitus

[rabbits65]

No I haven’t , but I’m open totry anything . Maybe you could

try it and let us know how you

get on . I do know how you feel

I get evenings where I’m desperate

to find some help , the anxiety

increases from late afternoon...

Good luck

[doglover1973 in reply to rabbits65]

I'm the other way round rabbit. Loud tinnitus / anxious early mornings. Eases as the day goes on. Tinnitus is an odd business.. John I haven't tried anything yet except sound therapy which has helped a lot and relaxation exercises which have helped a little.

[rabbits65 in reply to doglover1973]

Hi doglover , Certainly T is a very odd business.

mine is so very strange and scary . I wish I could get a proper analysis and someway of assessing that what I have is safe . I’ve been to ENT last year. Not much joy there. Had scans last year too. Since then my head feels like a balloon is blowing up in my head . What to do, where to try next. Spoken to audiology on phone. He said hearing aids no good because my hearing is good . So I think , what next?

[RobWG in reply to rabbits65]

I'm similar, I have a high pitched whine permanently in left ear, intermittent in right. What irritates me more is the sensation of "pressure" or "tension" in my ears and the area in my head around them and my jaw

I've had an mri and hearing test which showed nothing of note so I've been advised to get used to it by ENT and audiology.

Seeing my dentist in April as seems i have TMJ so that might be related.

R

[rabbits65 in reply to RobWG]

Agh yes , I have TMJ in my jaw . It’s called a funny name , difficult to spell . Torambidular or something. I can’t have the dentist injections in the jaw you know when they numb the area before tooth surgery. It makes TMJ worse. Anyway yes , it is the pressure and fullness in the head that gets me more than the noise of tinnitus . And yes, seems like doctors don’t want to know about us, this makes me feel a bit sad , like nobody cares . What next? I’ve no idea. A miracle it might go away .

You have to live in hope.

I walk my two poodles I’m 68 and what age group are you?

[jacobite33]

777John

Think I popped up a large novel in another of your posts.My apologises!

My journey in the past year has taken me down the road you could be thinking John with the posts your putting up

I have tinnitus in my both my large protruding lugs with a feeling of them being blocked.So I can sympathise with what everyone here is saying.It’s terrible folks we all know and we all have experienced the depths and frustration anger anxiety and depression which seems to feed it! It’s the cycle we live in unfortunately!

Here’s a wee thing I’m interested in.Tension around our ears from muscles arteries and cervical neck issues.From our gait to our head carriage down to even how you sleep (if we can get one) on your pillow or even relaxing watching tv or reading.Even TMJ can be a major cause.We all have tinnitus and a sensation of blockage could all these issues be a part of the problem that if we address could help ease our tinnitus?

What do yous folks think? I’ve had a very good experience with AtlasProfilax but unfortunately went for a swim four days later and jerked my neck and it all went back to what it was like initially.The relief and difference even in the clarity of my hearing that I felt with one two hour session of that than six sessions at a chiropractor were unbelievable! Anyone else had an experience of this?

[Destructor]

YesI've had mixed results. I've been seeing a chiro for over 10 years.

I'm only 36 but have had multiple pain sites - partly from fibromyalgia and partly from past injuries and chiro is the only thing I've found helps with these.

My tinnitus (right sided Pulsatile T) has been on for over 2.5 years now

I mentioned to my chiro about the tinnitus and I usually have my neck and jaw adjusted.

Sometimes I have found chiro to be very good for reducing T with it staying off for a day or two or longer. Other times it has returned almost immediately.

Treatments themselves do vary and different adjustments exist (some chiro will mainly rely on an activator. Mine use activators but also use drop benches to physically adjust things). I don't normally find things painful. Neck adjustments sound worse but only because it's closer to your ears and you soon get used to them and learn to relax your body.

My aunt looked up T generally and told me to ask for my atlas... to be adjusted on my neck. It hurt like hell and this one in particular seemed to make things worse.

Personally I think most of my T problems are due to neck and jaw issues but regardless I get them adjusted anyway as I get a lot of pain and face and headache pain when they are misaligned.

The chiro I attend is approx 45 mins drive away so I find the road surface noise can help to mask any T until I'm home if it is raised. Also I typically just rest afterwards as with my neck and other issues I can easily click things off out of place.

I think it's well worth trying. Also, if your body issues are not as bad you might be better for longer time after the treatments. It certainly helps with my other issues and I go on a monthly basis.

[jacobite33 in reply to Destructor]

Destructor hope your well!?

How did you get your atlas adjusted?

[Destructor in reply to jacobite33]

It was done by my chiropractor. A manual adjustment hands on base of skull and clicking it.

[jacobite33 in reply to Destructor]

will need to look in to that further Destructor as I asked my chiropractor about aligning my atlas and he said noThank you!

[Wringing1212 in reply to jacobite33]

Adjusting the neck is one of the leading causes of strokes and anurisms. If the procedure hurts, it's being done incorrectly. When the muscles get relaxed enough, the vertebrae should move easily back into place. The key here is knowing how to signal those muscles to relax. Still, very dangerous.

I do agree that for many, tinnitus seems to be caused by stenosis of the spine or spurs pushing on the spinal cord. It's very difficult to get a neurologist or audiologist to admit this is possible but if pushed, they will tell you the truth. The confusion seems to be in that other things in the hearing sensation network appear to cause T as well.

Perhaps if we conducted our own survey informally on this platform, we could collect enough data to isolate the primary cause. If it proves to be something other than we thought, we'll know why they couldn't find a cure.

Questions like: how much coffee do you drink or how much beer? Have you had a neck injury? Did you ever play in a band?

Ya, I know it's been done but have you seen the results?

So far all I'm seeing is years of us going bla bla bla with no order or results, getting no input from doctors, and we finally give up and just try shutting our minds off and ignoring our reality.

It's just an idea I had🔬

[Destructor in reply to Wringing1212]

Yeah, that's why I always give as much info as possible (possibly boring people in the process) in case other people have had similar experiences. I've suggested doing a poll previously on here where people can click on e.g. having worked in a noisy environment etc, how many years suffered from, or can click to add another alternative option etc. so we can get a built up picture. I don't know personally what platform to use and whether you'd be limited to a number of options, or who this could be forwarded to.Then there is also Tinnitus and Pulsatile Tinnitus - could perhaps be asked as with one of the other questions or could be used to separate results in two different surveys.

As far as I can tell when I've spoke to doctors they haven't taken notes regarding these different issues/experiences. I've written things down and handed them to the doctors

in the past as I really think they could collate answers much more.

I don't know if there is anyone actively researching even or if they just stick to standard questions and procedures.

For example, originally when I saw doctors at my local hospital they weren't even aware of PT despite me giving them full info describing the sound and I only later found out about it after being told I'd just have to live with it and being given no other support. This would suggest there is no standard procedure to follow or that not all ENTs are aware of T vs PT etc.

[Wringing1212 in reply to Destructor]

Yup, I hear you. I'll give this some thought and reply once I'm settled in.

[Destructor in reply to Wringing1212]

Also regarding hurting - yes normally the neck adjustments don't hurt when being done but sometimes I get pain afterwards from headaches and in particular the atlas is so deep and where the neck and head seat it was definitely more uncomfortable.I had chiro last Thursday and am still enjoying a quiet period thank God.

That said I've had postural problems for quite some years since my teens/before and have had a long list of injuries inc sprains that never quite heal. Often things can quite easily go into spasm, jarr (neck), or unalign themselves straight away.

[Wringing1212 in reply to Destructor]

Yes, many doctors don't collect our data or even remember what tests, scans and physical threopy they've ordered. On the other hand, I've seen doctors who have tinnitus themselves and wished I'd never brought it up because it sets them back on their own habituation.

As for T beyond connected to the neck, I find a direct correlation between the times I do things that irritate C5- C6 and spikes in my T.

I also have a variety of pulsatile symptoms that are puzzling.

Triggers can be: loud noise, painting a ceiling(looking up or reaching up for any amount of time). Stress, or too much or not enough caffeine or sleeping with my head to one side, pinching the nerves.

Potential, causes of T:

Spinal, stenosis(whiplash), hearing damage, earbuds, loud guns, loud equipment, concerts, disease, cell phone microwaves, scuba diving., blunt trauma to the head. Pollution(chemicals, plastics, carbons etc.) and of course we all know now, 1 in 5 Covid patients suffer from tinnitus after having Covid.

When you feel pain hours or a day after a neck adjustment, or you can't move your head side to side, that's an indication you're treatment has irritated the nerves or your spinal cord. I've been down that road and my neurosurgeon warned me not to get neck adjustments. If they massage the muscles and use acupressure to relax the muscles, the vertibrae can slip back into place without the trauma.

As for surveys, there was a gentleman who conducted a survey through this platform, maybe a couple of years ago, on the affects stress hormones have on T. I don't recall ever seeing postings of his findings. He was teaching at a university so it seemed like it might have been a clinical study??

Two years ago, the US military gave 100 million dollars to UCSF T department for research but my audiologists there said they weren't looking for a cure so don't get your hopes up. Although they have many soldiers who are injured in the ears and head, or PTSD, they're probably researching how they can use T as a weapon.

[ChefRobin]

I’m new to here. I have tinnitus since 2017. In early 2019, I didn’t realize that it s tinnitus. I am born deaf. I keep researching to find info to reduce on T. I usually have 2 days with no T and other 2 days with loud T. If I have my afternoon nap, it triggers me with T. Sometimes, not. I started to have severe vertigo in 2019. 78percent on right ear thru VNG testing. I have been seeing vestibular therapy many many times. Helpful on balancing my vestibular system and neck issues. You ask about seeing chiropractor. I happen to find a book about T written by Neil G. Bauman. I talked with him thru phone. Also, Dr. Burcon. They said Atlas Therapy should help me. I have migraine issues for over 20 years. Also, injury on back neck from horse riding (2015). I just went to see local chiropractor last two weeks. Will follow up this week. I hope this ll help me with reducing T and Meniere s disease. I ll keep eye on your and other replies. ☺️

[Destructor in reply to ChefRobin]

I hope it does help you, even if not with Tinnitus it may help your other conditions. I wish I'd gone years earlier than I did.

[ChefRobin in reply to Destructor]

Thanks for your feedback. Hope that it helps on other issues too. I’m completely new to chiropractor’s words. Will keep on reading yours and others and be able to learn more about it and talk to chiropractor doctor. He says he does on clients with vertigo problem. I don’t know if he s heavily experienced on that area and on Atlas therapy. Will ask him. Thanks.

[jacobite33]

Heres a cut and paste of a chap that has had neck issues and the time it took to diagnose very interesting!

Charlie_GCharlie_G19 days ago

With the usual caveat that I’m not remotely medically qualified...the symptoms you’re describing don’t strike me as typical of psoriatic arthritis, or inflammatory arthritis generally. The primary symptoms of PsA are very similar to all arthritises, i.e. joint swelling and pain, with the main differences being the pattern of joint involvement (RA typically has a symmetrical presentation, ultimately effecting both joints in a pair, whereas PsA can often be asymmetrical) and that many people with PsA have completely normal blood work, including the standard inflammatory markers of crp and esr, even with visibly swollen joints. PsA does tend to have spinal involvement much more commonly than RA, but less so than ankylosing spondylitis, which whilst it can involve other joints, predominantly effects the spine.

I have longstanding PsA with spinal involvement, but also have a congenital neurological condition that was diagnosed after becoming problematic in my early 20s. It led to a reduction in csf flow in my spine due to an obstruction at the cervical level (my brain was herniating through the opening of my skull and obstructing csf flow), one of the many results of which was pain, tingling, pins and needles, and weakness in my arms, hands, legs, and feet. The proper term for this is peripheral neuropathy. I would also get episodes of my legs just collapsing from under me caused by the same thing. By the time I eventually got diagnosed, I needed two walking sticks to move, but could barely hold the sticks because of the problems with my hands and arms. The insult was that they’d had an mri definitively showing the problem since my first neurology appointment, but told me to my face that the problem was ‘all in my head’. The reason for that was that type 1 chiari malformation is relatively common, occurring in around 1 in every 1000 people, but only causes symptoms in perhaps 1 in 5000 people that have it. It’s often found as an incidental finding when someone is scanned for something else. Even when I finally made my way to a neurosurgeon, I was told all they could guarantee was getting rid of the headaches, because my hernia was small and couldn’t possibly be causing all the symptoms I had. Ten years down the line, it’s now known that the size of hernia in chiari is actually irrelevant to the severity of symptoms experienced, and within 3 days of my first op, I was walking unaided for the first time in more than 18 months. It was indeed all in my head, just not the way they’d all meant.

The reason I’m telling you all this is because I got shunted from specialty to specialty, and even when I landed at absolutely the right place, still got told not only that it’s ‘not my problem’, but also that there was nothing physically wrong with me in spite of test results proving otherwise. The inflammation caused by active arthritis can lead to peripheral neuropathy related to specific joints, but from my own experience and reading, diffuse nerve symptoms often indicate a more central problem like the neck or spine as the root cause. I think neurology probably is the right specialty for you in that regard and to get treatment, but in addition to improving your symptoms, the underlying cause of your neck problems needs to be correctly identified in case there is an ongoing condition that requires longer term treatment.

I can’t give you any more specific advice other than you absolutely have to keep pushing and fighting for someone to take you seriously and try and get you sorted out. The reality of modern medicine is that for all people think we’re really advanced, over years of repeated experiences such as the above (including trying to get my arthritis diagnosed, which took an entire decade) what we actually know and properly understand about medicine and the human body is minuscule. We’ve only really scratched the surface in many areas, and doctors are also human, with all the faults and flaws that come with the human condition, including varying degrees of arrogance, shortsightedness, or simply lack of knowledge. Out of curiosity, have you ever had any ultrasounds on any joints? Also, has anyone offered you nerve conduction studies to prove that you have problems with the nerves transmitting signals? It won’t necessarily identify the source, but will act as evidence that there is something going on. In addition to all my other various broken and malfunctioning bits, I have compression of both ulnar nerves (the nerves running from the elbow to the hands) that became symptomatic whilst trying to convince them of my neuro condition, and they did nerve conduction studies to essentially shut me up. I think they thought it would go towards proving the chiari symptoms were all psychosomatic, when it actually revealed I have cubital tunnel syndrome in both arms, which is the elbow equivalent of carpal tunnel and I need an op to sort 🤷‍♂️😂

I hope some of this has been useful to you, and you manage to get somewhere. I know how frustrating and difficult it is when there’s something obviously wrong but no one seems willing to listen or take it seriously, but I am also living proof that polite but immovable persistence can achieve a lot.

Even looked up Charlie’s condition

Heres the NHS link to the condition

nhs.uk/conditions/chiari-ma...

Even sports injuries whiplash and cervical trauma can cause cervical instability that has a range of symptoms from bowel to bladder high blood pressure anxiety depression tinnitus and so forth.Doctors don’t really recognise it either and it either.It’s worth a look if you have had a fall or neck injury.If things like this is a possibility I’m not saying it will cure the tinnitus but if it helps at least ease it that’s better than paying for TRT or suffering draper.Seen posts about neck issues that once resolved the tinnitus goes away.We have to work our own jigsaws out and this site is amazing for the communication between others that understand and are suffering and offer advice to each other.The ole quack sitting there in his nice tin flute and tie fibbing us off as they know themselves there could be multiple causes and it’s far to expensive to pursue it.Here have some pain killers and anti-depressants as that’s all I can offer but please don’t return to complain about the side affects.Same old!

Take care folks and keep posting!