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Prednisone and Dexamethasone Injection Makes Tinnitus Worse?
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | Last Active: Nov 12, 2025 | Replies (25)Comment receiving replies
@danadcm69 it is still louder than my baseline but not as bad as it was when all this started. I have seen 5 ents, rheumatology, and neurology and they all think I had a reaction to the steroids, oral and injected, but they haven’t seen this type of reaction before. I think the dexamethasone made my left ear extra sensitive. I’ve been using ChatGPT to research this, and it is likely because the injected steroids diffuse through the round window of your middle ear into the inner ear and affect the nerve and the cochlea which can cause sensitivity and an increase in central gain in the auditory system so the brain turns up the volume of tinnitus as a result. Hopefully it is temporary, and I think it usually is from the injections. Mine is just compounded by my reaction to the oral meds too. I’ve been dealing for 5 months but I’ve also had swelling in my head and ears and eustachian tube dysfunction which has just exacerbated everything. I also have hyperacusis in the ear that got the injection. I’ve come to realize recovery could take many more months. And I’m doing my best to stay hopeful. Do you have sensitivity to sound after the injection?
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@kap333 When the TV volume is up too loud, it is almost painful. I turn the volume up to try to mask the tinnitus, but I have to lower it again if it's too much. I'm glad to hear that you are staying hopeful. It sounds like you have been through a really rough time! I'm happy to know that your baseline has improved. I'm very concerned that my much worse tinnitus could be permanent. I'm functioning worse than ever with this affliction. I have to always have some form of sound on all the time. I have 2 white noise machines and a fan going all night. Do you know of any apps for phones that are good for masking? Sleep has been disruptive for about a year already, but now it's worse. I've had tinnitus for several years now, but it has been getting much more severe for about 6-8 months. My hearing loss is not that bad, but the tinnitus has been very difficult for me to cope with in recent months. My ENT told me before I got the injection that the tinnitus wouldn't get any worse if I got it. I went ahead and got it but now I'm very sorry I did. I'm supposed to call his office and report how I'm doing, after 2 weeks, which will be Oct. 14. What kind of treatments have you had that helped with the severity of your tinnitus? My tinnitus is worse now in my left ear too, and I didn't have an injection in that ear, but it's not nearly as bad as the right ear. I can hear the tinnitus over every other sound in my right ear! I would appreciate any and all help with this condition!