After having lumbar spine surgery 20 months ago, I developed tinnitus. I also got TMJ as a result of the ops. I only used to get somatic tinnitus on the right side of my jaw where there isn’t TMJ. I have had a c5/6 disc herniation for over 12 years and it never caused me to have tinnitus. I only got it after my operations. However, the last several weeks I notice that on the left side, I get louder T with more sounds. If I bend down or lie down the T gets much louder. It also does it when I yawn on occasion. It’s so loud it scares me. I saw my neurosurgeon on 15th Jan & explained my concerns about my neck issues getting worse and could they be causing somatic T? She said it’s “impossible” and that she’s never heard of somatic tinnitus. Then went on to say T is only caused by trauma/damage to the C8 nerve in the brain. She did exam me & said I’ve had the c5/6 herniation for years and it’s possible it’s got a lot worse. So, again I have to have yet another MRI. I’ve explained the excruciating nerve pain that radiates down my arms and loss of feeling. She said it may be that I will need an operation because of my worsening symptoms. I’m so worried that if they operate they will make the T so much worse. I will never habituate at this rate. I honestly don’t know what to do. Nobody I know who has T gets it from neck movements. I just can’t go through yet another op & wake up with even worse T. Has anyone else’s T been made worse cervical disc surgery?
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Sassyjax1
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sassyjax, I don’t think you are in a minority of one. During my time on this forum (five years?) I have heard of this. I don’t think it’s particularly common though, or if it is, it doesn’t cause much concern on this forum.
But I would urge you to give Tinnitus UK helpline a ring. I quote from the website
Call us on 0800 018 0527 or chat online with us from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
Moreover, I cannot understand the comment “T is only caused by trauma/damage to the C8 nerve in the brain”. To be polite, I’d say “rubbish”.
And TMJ can exacerbate T too. See TUK website.
Some 40 or 50 years ago I first had issues at about C5. I had osteopathy. This returned every few years and I saw osteopath again. Each time, about three half-hour sessions did the trick. Then nothing for ten years then it returned so I saw a physio. Again, manipulation and exercises did the trick. Of course what was right for me might not be right for you, but I’d have thought that £50 ish to an osteopath or physio or similar could be money well-spent.
I hope other posters can let you know their thoughts.
Thanks for replying Happyrosie. Basically, my last scan in April last year on my cervical spine showed the c5/6 was indenting the spinal cord. I’m a bit worried to go back to my osteopath because of these findings. I’m due another MRI on 10/2/25 - (after refusing to leave the clinic until some sort of plan was put in place). After all, I have already suffered cauda equina syndrome that I self-diagnosed and they managed to miss on 3 MRI scans! It’s a medical emergency and shows very clearly on an MRI. At the moment I’m trying heat & ice to help. I can’t take NSAIDs as I was given them for years & they damaged my stomach lining. It’s all such fun & games. It’s the tinnitus getting much louder and several sounds too that’s distressing me. When I first got T, I didn’t have it somatically. I’m honestly lost. Medical professionals have let me down badly. I have complained through PALS. I always appreciate your support on here. It’s impossible to get any understanding from family or friends. They actually laugh when I say it gets louder from specific movements. Infuriating.
Hi sassyjax. I'm sorry your finding out that most of the medical profession know very little about tinnitus. My T changes with neck position. I have about 3 different sounds in each ear. If I've been lying in an awkward position at night, I can wake up with elevated tinnitus. I think it may be because of position, plus something to do with blood flow to the head. I have a recurring trapped nerve in my shoulder, sciatica, and teeth grinding issues. I would tend to agree with other comments on here. Forget about more surgery and try to manage, with a good physio, your current situation. The body can heal itself if given time. Things that have significantly helped me are, wearing a mouth guard at night, one single pillow keeping the spine and neck in line. My physio gave me neck exercises to do, I do them religiously twice a day. There are neck and jaw exercises for T sufferers on YouTube. All of this has lessened my back and neck problems. Staying active, whether sore or not is also helpful. Incidentally, my dentist tells me all nerves around the neck, jaw and ear area are all interconnected. Biggest help of all however, was the CBT approach, removing my T from the high pedestal I had put it on. Everything I was doing was making my T more important, which actually makes it louder. Its taken a while, but now trying to move it well down the order a bit!!This is definitely a time thing. I really feel your pain, and hope you can take something from this. Take care.
Hello. Thanks for taking time to reply. Unfortunately I have spinal stenosis so there’s nothing that can be done for it as my spinal canal has rapidly narrowed. Cauda Equina is a rare, but very dangerous syndrome which has left me with lasting nerve damage, so my mobility is affected. I have friends who grind their teeth & have had jaw surgery & no tinnitus. How lucky are they? I have only recently got the elevated somatic T, so will take your advice on the pillows and CBT and moving effectively when I can. It’s interesting that you mention blood flow, as, in recent weeks, I have noticed that I can hear a throbbing sound like my pulse, when I lie down. Never have experienced this before now. I’ve got a mouth guard, but it’s quite loose, so will be making a dental appointment to request another one, I didn’t have TMJ before my ops, so that’s interesting to note too. I’m on a list for 6 mindfulness sessions which aren’t until June. Like many other sufferers, I too could have done without T. It’s just so debilitating and virtually impossible to navigate. Especially when it throws in curve balls of the somatic variety. Thanks for the management advice. At least I can get on with a few of your suggestions whilst I wait for the so-called professionals to do something regarding the pain & inflammation. (If anything at all). I’m dreading having cervical epidural injections as my fear is they will make the T even worse.
I wish you all the best and hope your T finds a level you can cope with. One thing I forgot to mention was, I have had a bit of success with Taurine and Gaba supplements. They don't reduce the tinnitus, but studies show they have a calming effect on the part of the brain that tends to overreact to stress, notably tinnitus. They don't work for everybody, but relatively cheap and zero side effects. Worth a try maybe. Take care.
my tinnitus is somatic. I’ve multiple sounds which change in tone with neck and jaw movements. Also when I press on occipital nerves at the back of my head. The tinnitus “specialist” I saw had never heard of somatic tinnitus either which I couldn’t believe and I had to show her literature on it. Coincidentally I’ve also got spinal stenosis c5-c7 but they told me it wasn’t causing my problems. All the best
She caused a brain fluid leak during my first op. Sent me home 5 days later. I spent 11 weeks in extreme pain, sudden, loud tinnitus, constant blurred vision, headaches and a huge lump the size of a small football on my lower spine. Literally begged for help until I ended up in A&E having an urgent MRI. They found another brain fluid leak. After I spent weeks telling my GP, Occ health & surgical team something was very wrong. I ended up in surgery having an emergency operation. It was the worst pain I have ever felt. Said surgeon rocked up at my bedside saying “I think I missed finding the second CSF leak. How’s the tinnitus?”. Great eh?
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Tinnitus getting more severe.
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