Sternocleidomastoid muscle in neck/Tinnitus

[bluebell71]

I have come across a YouTube video explaining how the Sternocleidomastoid muscles either side of your neck can cause loud tinnitus.

I’ve been suffering with tinnitus for many years, at the moment it’s very loud and has been for the last few months.

I am also seeing a physiotherapist for pain in my neck left side, when I stretch my head to the right it hurts. I sleep on my left side too.

I am wondering that by doing neck exercises by stretching the muscle leaning head to the right and holding may improve my tinnitus.

Anyone else experienced this and do neck exercises help ?

Jean

[Peejayache]

That's interesting Bluebell. Before my T started three years ago I suffered from much pain on the left side of my neck. It gradually went after chiropractor treatment but my T started up on the right side and has continued since.

[Waju14160]

Good morning Jean,

I've had pulsatile tinnitus for years and years and mostly am lucky enough to be able get on with life without it bothering me too much.

During the past few months or so I think my neck is getting stiffer and tinnitus noisier so maybe there is something in it. I have been thinking about seeking advice from someone to see if massage or neck exercises might help. I notice that as I move my neck the noise/pitch of the tinnitus alters greatly.

Looking forward to reading the replies you get!

Have a lovely day x

[Angelicscripts6]

They maybe some truth in this..I've got pulsating tinnitus which is down to neck & after tests from ent & scan on neck due to a lump at left side which turns out its the muscle so when I finally see neurosurgeon next month I'll mention this.Disks in neck gone & have boney osteophytes growth which are squashing blood vessels nerves & when I try neck exercises my neck muscles go into spasm & have very little movement & cause the tinnitus to become unbearable.

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi Jean

I believe that this falls into the general category of somato sensory tinnitus - tinntius which can be changed or suppressed by muscular movement in the spine or jaw area. There's a research paper on our website from a few years back by Belgian physiotherapist Dr Sarah Michiels which relates to it - tinnitus.org.uk/somatic-som...

Best wishes

Pat

[bluebell71 in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Thank you for the reply, I’m curious as I have a painful neck when I lean to one side and very loud tinnitus. Thank you

Jean

[Mat189]

Hello. I have high pitched T in my left ear. It’s acceptable but my annoying thing is my ears feel a fullness. I can crack or pop my ears by swallowing but they go back immediately. Also my T then becomes more of a hum. I’m currently seeing an osteopath who thinks it’s connected to my upper spine C1 and C2. Time will tell if it’s affective

[Fridays_Child_62 in reply to Mat189]

I have been through similar episodes with tension in my ears and opening the Eustachian Tubes only giving very temporary relief. Do you get any relief from lying down or applying a warm or cool compress to the sides of your face?

[Mat189 in reply to Fridays_Child_62]

Hi. The only relief I get from lying down is when I’m asleep. I will try the warm cloth on the side of my face. Thanks.

[bluebell71]

Thank you everyone for replying, there is a link provided by BTA which explain more about this subject. I hope it helps…..

Jean

[bluebell71 in reply to bluebell71]

The link is about somato sensory tinnitus - tinntius which can be changed or suppressed by muscular movement in the spine or jaw area. I am wondering if neck exercise’s and neck movement may help reduce the loudness of T 🤞

Jean

[Kimijo66]

My tinnitus is loud in both ears and I believe it is coming from the upper cranial and jaw area, when I get massages and they work on the neck muscles it sends pain right up to my ears, so yes muscles can cause that. I just recently started seeing a chiropractor and he is doing decompressing on my neck and I noticed my ears are making weird noises. Again this is targeting neck muscles, so his pressure points he does on my neck seems to aggravate it a little. I do know also that the infra red light therapy beds seems to relax these muscles.

Kim

[bluebell71 in reply to Kimijo66]

Hi KimSame here I’ve got loud T in both ears, it calms down a little at times. Thank you for your reply there is definitely some connection with neck muscles and tinnitus. I will try anything that may relieve me from the racket going on in my head…..

All the best and take care.

Jean

[Graham1108]

Hi, Interesting post. I have pain in my neck on my right side at the same time as T in my right ear which has been ongoing since November 2020. The 'specialist' at the ENT hospital told me 'I can 100% assure you that the pain in your neck you are experiencing has nothing to do withT' but I don't believe him! After research the pain I am experiencing is from the Sternocleidomastoid muscle and I am convinced its related to my T. Someone posted some time ago about the Curalistic Programme which is on you tube. I wonder if you look at that it might help?

[Keepfitandhealth]

Hi bluebell71,It can’t hurt to do a bit of stretching. Try some gentle yoga or Pilates classes at your local gym or studio. Worse case you’ll be too relaxed and have more flexibility! I have found relaxation de stresses me which makes everything more manageable.

[bluebell71 in reply to Keepfitandhealth]

Thank you for the advice, you are right it doesn’t hurt to do some stretching, I may well try some yoga or go to the gym. The distraction with being with people will help also taking my mind off T.

It’s all about managing your tinnitus staying in control, although it’s hard some days.

Best wishes

Jean

[Mat189]

My fear is my Osteopath my make my T louder. After first few treatments it seems a little louder. After yesterdays treatment a few hours later I had to lay down because I felt so dizzy and sick. I ended up sleeping for 12 hrs and still don’t feel 100% today.

[bluebell71 in reply to Mat189]

Hi Mat189I would keep going if you can with your Osteopath, manipulation of the neck and shoulder muscles will help to relax you eventually.

It may take a while but I believe that to de stress and relax if you can should be beneficial and hopefully reduce your tinnitus in the long run.

All the best

Jean