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Otologist/Neurotologist Recommendations
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | Last Active: Apr 3 3:13pm | Replies (12)Comment receiving replies
Accepting that the specialists are not able to "fix" anything to do with tinnitus, and learning to live with it, is the best option until the puzzle is resolved. It is a disability, usually unrecognized by anyone because we sufferers are the only ones who " hear" it. ENT docs are unable to help, and I believe it is nerve damage but as a neurologist told me, you can't really see that on any test or fix it with any drug. So you cope with living with the dizziness, noise, and trying to hear over it. I find that having a project or two going on all the time and a houseful of pets to distract me from myself help more than anything. Sort of: where there is will, there is a way.
Replies to "Accepting that the specialists are not able to "fix" anything to do with tinnitus, and learning..."
Recently a treatment was approved by the FDA for veterans who suffer tinnitus. Tinnitus is the most frequently reported disability among those who have served in combat zones due to noise exposure. I have no idea how this works or how well it works, but it's good to know that research is taking place.
Has anyone tried this?
FDA-Approved Lenire Tinnitus Device Now a Treatment Option for 2.9 Million US Veterans Through Veterans Affairs
https://www.audiologyonline.com/releases/fda-approved-lenire-tinnitus-device-29023
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I’ve had tinnitus and vestibular symptoms ever since my initial injury, which was a penetrating ear trauma.
My initial injury embedded the stapes into the vestibule, fractured and dislocated the incus. This all happened on 12/24/23 and I had surgery on 1/2/2024. I was almost back to normal, besides the tinnitus and hearing loss, when I had my first surgery to repair the fracture. Supposedly the ENT “ever so gently” pulled the stapes out of the vestibule. I believe that’s what created the fistula and rocked my brain. Since then, I’ve had 2 additional surgeries by another specialist to repair 2 fistulas that he was able to visualize. I’ve always felt almost “normal” after each PLF repair, but it never lasts. I can live with the tinnitus most days until it becomes a roaring ocean/waterfall that’s pulsating. When it’s that loud, it can be a struggle to concentrate or even hear. I have also struggled with the vestibular symptoms ever since the first surgery. I woke up and felt like I had a brain injury. I had to walk with a walker for weeks. I missed 23 weeks of work in 2024. I feel like the fistula has never healed. I don’t see how it will ever heal if the stapes is always vibrating on the oval window. I get pressure if I plug my ear with my finger and I fail the pressure sensitivity test every time. Now they are wondering if I have Cochlear Hydrops because of the hearing fluctuations or Menieres. I don’t always get the spinning vertigo with each episode. It’s random and is becoming less frequent. Initially the spinning vertigo started this past November and would last 20 mins. Now when they come, they don’t last but a few minutes. I’m just hoping I can find someone that can understand all of my problems and have some recommendations. I’m not looking to jump into another ear surgery unless the surgeon has done thousands. In the meantime I have found that if I just try to go about my day as usual, my mindset it much better. Some days are harder than others because I was a very active independent person and now I have limitations. That’s whats frustrating for me. I’m used to caring for patients not the other way around.