Constant tinnitus: Are there any solutions?

I call mine a mosquito in a wind tunnel (closest description I could think of).
It gets worse as the day progresses, possibly because I take ibuprofen for chronic pain. I also am a grinder-clencher. I have a night guard but it’s in bad shape. They’re around $600 and not covered by most insurance. I’ve added OTC ones to build it up. (The last time I got it replaced the dentist looked at the wear and said, “Impressive”.)
Has anyone tried hearing aids? My physician wants me to go to an audiologist but with no insurance, it’s more than I can afford. The hearing aids on TV are a fraction of the cost. (Wonder if I can “test drive” one.)
I need only my right ear but can’t seem to find them sold singly. Some times I can handle the noise fine, other times I want to turn up the TV or music to make it stop.

I found a lot of information, sound videos, even audiologists on youtube when I was searching for answers. I'm telling this because I had every doctor I see tell me there wasn't a cure for tinnitis. BUT, I ignored them and learned how to cope because of this support on youtube.

Also, for me, I had a hearing test and got hearing aids. It was the single most important reason I was able to reduce the tinnitus I had.

I believe I have cervical tinnitus which is caused by degeneration of discs in the neck. Some of the nerves in that area extend to the ear. Saw this in a study in the Netherlands. Recommendation is a neck collar a few hours a day to improve the tinnitus. I told my audiologist, and he had never heard of it.

Yes, that's an interesting coincidence: I also have cervical disc degeneration. Plus radiation treatments to head and neck that my neurologist explained has damaged nerves in my neck and upper back. It seems to me our physicians might take time to consider new studies they are not familiar with ("never heard of it") But medicine has changed. There is no time.

Thanks for the information though! I "never heard of" cervical tinnitus. Disc degeneration also affects the nerves. At times I have used a lidocaine patch on my neck and upper back before I go to bed. It does calm tinnitus.

It is just so high maintenance with anything chronic!

@hraymo3 S
I laughed at the "impressive" remark because that just happened to me at a hand surgeon appt. I need to have a stabilization of my thumb joint because it looks like my tendon has given out. The PA kept saying, impressive when she saw how loose my thumb joint is. The thing is we didn't try to be impressive! We just wanted to stay young with good tendons and not grind our teeth!

I wanted to add my experience 2 years ago getting hearing aids. I thought my right ear was the only one I'd lost hearing in because I had radiation treatments for head and neck cancer. They laughed when I said I only wanted one hearing aid. That's why I thought to share this with you. I was able to get really great hearing aids online and pay by the month. It was really worth it. Tinnitus has almost gone away. I have bluetooth thru my phone for calls and music/videos etc. I didn't realize I was stressed by not hearing well.

The hearing aids on TV don't require a hearing test because they aren't adjustable. That would be something to try until you have Medicare and a free hearing test once a year. That's how I got my hearing tested.

Yes, that's an interesting coincidence: I also have cervical disc degeneration. Plus radiation treatments to head and neck that my neurologist explained has damaged nerves in my neck and upper back. It seems to me our physicians might take time to consider new studies they are not familiar with ("never heard of it") But medicine has changed. There is no time.

Thanks for the information though! I "never heard of" cervical tinnitus. Disc degeneration also affects the nerves. At times I have used a lidocaine patch on my neck and upper back before I go to bed. It does calm tinnitus.

It is just so high maintenance with anything chronic!

@hraymo3 S
I laughed at the "impressive" remark because that just happened to me at a hand surgeon appt. I need to have a stabilization of my thumb joint because it looks like my tendon has given out. The PA kept saying, impressive when she saw how loose my thumb joint is. The thing is we didn't try to be impressive! We just wanted to stay young with good tendons and not grind our teeth!

I wanted to add my experience 2 years ago getting hearing aids. I thought my right ear was the only one I'd lost hearing in because I had radiation treatments for head and neck cancer. They laughed when I said I only wanted one hearing aid. That's why I thought to share this with you. I was able to get really great hearing aids online and pay by the month. It was really worth it. Tinnitus has almost gone away. I have bluetooth thru my phone for calls and music/videos etc. I didn't realize I was stressed by not hearing well.

The hearing aids on TV don't require a hearing test because they aren't adjustable. That would be something to try until you have Medicare and a free hearing test once a year. That's how I got my hearing tested.

Thanks. I know I need to see an audiologist. Just waiting to move. I finally made it to the top of a senior housing waiting list. Now to get all the paperwork done.
I’ll be able to afford much more once I move.