Tinnitus from neck/spine problems

[SueX]

I just don't feel that my Tinnitus is from my head/ears. I'm not an expert but I have a sense that it could stem from a neck issue. As part of the Tinnitus work up a CT scan showed that I have damage to the C5 and C6 parts of the neck. Does anyone know if neck damage can result in Tinnitus? If so, then would mean seeing a rheumatologist alongside an ENT?

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

This might be informative for anyone experiencing tinnitus and concurrent back or neck issues - tinnitus.org.uk/for-profess...

[SueX in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Really helpful, thanks!

[ghlla]

Hi there,

I'm not a medical practitioner, just a fellow T sufferer, my journey started recently.

ENT has ruled out anything serious from an MRI of my head, and I've had three hearing tests confirming my hearing is within acceptable range for my age. My T is isolated to just my. left ear for the most part,

I suffer from anxiety which just predates the T, as does a pretty bad Covid infection. Anxiety is much better at the moment and I assume I've recovered from Covid (no other symptoms lingering).

The one other issue I have is upper back and neck pain, sometimes my head as well. Years of poor desk based posture and lack of exercise I believe has caused some ongoing damage in that area. I've yet to get it formally investigated but I do suspect there's a link with this issue and the T. If it's not this, then god knows what it is!

[psycholady666 in reply to ghlla]

Hello . There is good emerging evidence of a Covid - Tinnitus link ( research ongoing) . Both my husband and I had Covid at the same time 3 years ago with extreme congestion. The tinnitus followed it and had been there ever since.

[happyrosie1]

Ghila,,did you see Pat’s helpful redirection to a part of the Tinnitus UK website? Worth a read!

Also, tinnitus can be caused by …. Nothing! It just happens.

[Hel_C]

I find that my tinnitus gets worse when my neck pain gets worse and it seems logical that it is all linked, although I don't think my neck pain caused the tinnitus. I have booked on the session called "Releasing Jaw and Neck Tension for Tinnitus Relief with Dr Fabrice Bardy at 06:00pm (UK, Ireland, Lisbon Time) on Thursday, March 6, 2025" It pooped up on my emails so I am not sure what I had subscribed to.

[Hel_C]

ha ha I mean popped not pooped 💩!!!

[Sassyjax1]

Hello. I had c5/6 disc herniations 12 years before tinnitus started. I have TMJ issues since having 2 spine ops in 2023. Recently, it was discovered that I have a c7 disc now indenting my spinal cord too, My T changes. Initially it wasn’t somatic & remained a constant level for months, Now I have several sounds, it got significantly worse in December 24. I get my MRI results on Monday in relation to that. My T wasn’t caused by cervical neck issues, but it is exacerbated by it. I’m too scared to have any more operations incase the T gets even worse. I don’t see how anyone with somatic T habituates at all. Especially since it’s so changeable on a daily basis,

[Jimbob7 in reply to Sassyjax1]

It makes habituation tricky and different for us but far from impossible.

We have to do a lot of work on acceptance and also a lot of work around clubbing the noises together as a job-lot; our 'sound environment'. Then, acceptance around that means it doesn't matter what the T is doing that day; loud or soft, hight pitched or hissing, crickets, chirping, etc. It all gets accepted 'into the mix' of our sound environment.

[Sassyjax1 in reply to Jimbob7]

I’m fed up of clicking jaw & screechy neck.🤦🏽‍♀️

[Jimbob7 in reply to Sassyjax1]

Have you had some Physio for that? I'm thankful I don't have those things - just the severe T.

[Sassyjax1 in reply to Jimbob7]

Physio didn’t work. My T didn’t start as somatic. Weird.

[Nonstopnoise]

Hi,I get what you're saying.Had a serious neck problem but several years before hearing loss & tinnitus.Am seeing more & more people question the connection between Covid and/ or vaccines.Makes me wonder

[Sassyjax1 in reply to Nonstopnoise]

This is probably wholly unhelpful - but when I was in hospital, 2 of my nurses had T from getting Covid. Recently, my ENT at Kingston Hospital said he got T from his first Covid jab. He has no hearing loss.

[Jimbob7]

Yep, absolutely the same as you Sue. C5, C6 Cervical Web damage susteained in a severe whiplash injury after taking a winger down an embankment whilst cross-country walking/ running.

I can 'change' the T by moving my head and neck - and when I put pressure on various points of my head. This is Somatic Tinnitus and the good news is that it will (very, very slowly) improve - providing you do not have any other issues such as osteporosis, etc.

[Hazlenuts4 in reply to Jimbob7]

Hi Jimbob I think i have somatic tinnitus as well. I note your reference to it slowly improving which will be great if it does. But what do you base this on?

[Jimbob7 in reply to Hazlenuts4]

I refer to T related to neck/ cervical injuries - as they heal so the T can and does clear. Mine is, very, very slowly. It doesn't feel like it somedays but the overall trend is it's going.

[Hazlenuts4 in reply to Jimbob7]

Thanks Jimbob7. That gives me hope. My T started around the same time that I began having pain around my ear and have since been diagnosed with TMJ dysfunction and tight muscles in neck and upper back. I am having regular physio from a physio who specialises in this and she does give hope that the T sound may reduce so fingers crossed it will.

[jeddington56]

hi, i am like you in that i believe its from a neck issue. I used to have a very stiff neck years ago, but after seeing a chiropractor, ive been much more better, in that i can be on my ipad for hours every day and it not bother me, but before i woke up deaf with the tinnitus, the same week i kept waking up with cramp in the left side of my neck, this was on 3 consecutive nights, then the night after i woke up deaf in my left ear with the tinnitus. I suppose we are all looking for reasons why this has happened to us. I take amitriptyline tablets for fibromyalgia, been taking them for years, and i have read that they can cause deafness, and it said that once out of your system you should hear again, so i am now weaning myself off them and giving it a try.

[VanGoghsEar]

look, I don’t know about neck damage, but I do know that for myself I was given physiotherapy involving my neck. I had such tremendous stress in a previous job, and latterly in life, the physiotherapist targeted tension in my neck. After following the exercises given I was - I’m reluctant to say ‘cured’ - greatly relieved of most symptoms and remain so. Recently, due to stress related problems, an increased volume of tinnitus has returned. But, by and large, where I felt my neck was an issue due to stress related problems I no longer suffer from the majority of Ménière’s issues.

[cheapo]

I have read in the past that neck and spine problems can cause tinnitus. So if any pain can be reduced, perhaps the T will also reduce. Wishing you the best. Pete

[Tlflom]

Heck yes, mine started right with a severe upper cervical injury.