Ear Tinnitus and Pain with Neuropathy

Posted by cwallen9 @cwallen9, Jan 29, 2019

Does anyone have severe tinnitus and ear pain with their neuropathy? I have small fiber and autonomic neuropathy and I have been getting severe tinnitus (roaring and high pitch noise) and a feeling of pressure and pain for the last month. I am wondering if the neuropathy and/or medications are causing it. I am on gabopentin, cymbalta, and NSAIDS.

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Profile picture for mkyearout @mkyearout

I’ve had tinnitus for as long as I can remember (and I’m 73). The neuropathy started much later in my life. So, I don’t think there is a connection, but I am not a doctor. It’s annoying-the tinnitus-but I’ve lived with it for so long I’ve learned how to ignore it most of the time.

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For me, it's more the pain that is difficult to ignore. I just wanted the pain to stop.

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Profile picture for cherip @cherip

For me, it's more the pain that is difficult to ignore. I just wanted the pain to stop.

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I'm with you there. I want the pain in my feet to stop. It drives me crazy sometimes.

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Profile picture for oatmeal @oatmeal

You get neuropathy and tinnitis together. They offen go hand in hand. Tinnitis is inflammation of the brain.

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I don't believe that tinnitus is 'inflammation of the brain'. Go to http://www.hhf.org for more information on tinnitus. The Hearing Health Foundation is doing a lot of research on tinnitus.

Neuropathy is a whole different story.

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Profile picture for Julie, Volunteer Mentor @julieo4

I don't believe that tinnitus is 'inflammation of the brain'. Go to http://www.hhf.org for more information on tinnitus. The Hearing Health Foundation is doing a lot of research on tinnitus.

Neuropathy is a whole different story.

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I think my tinnitus came from years growing up on a farm being around all that loud machinery every day. That's my theory.

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Profile picture for mkyearout @mkyearout

I think my tinnitus came from years growing up on a farm being around all that loud machinery every day. That's my theory.

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Definitely, noise is a cause of both hearing loss and tinnitus. There was a study a few years ago done by researching farmers who drove tractors. They found that the ear most exposed to the tractor noise was affected more than the other one. It had something to do with where the motor was and how the head was turned during the work they were doing.

Noise is definitely a factor. We all need to protect our hearing in noisy settings.

Did you know that tinnitus is the most common debilitating condition reported by veterans who return from combat zones? Hearing loss is second.

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Profile picture for mkyearout @mkyearout

I think my tinnitus came from years growing up on a farm being around all that loud machinery every day. That's my theory.

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Agreed. I also began tinnitus from exposure to loud music.

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I have had idiopathic neuropathy in both feet and legs up to my knees since April 2005. My pain is manageable (level 4-5) by taking Neurontin, tramadol and aleve. I also have post tinnitus in both ears, post vertigo and post balance issues that were caused by a concussion in late September 2022. I landed on the left side of my head and the symptoms started in varying degrees the next day - balance issues first, vertigo a week later and then tinnitus a week after that. I did PT and OT. for a month with some improvement. A month before I fell, I woke up one morning and had weird feelings all over from my knees up to the top of my head, down to my fingertips and all over my face including my lips (which just drives me crazy). I saw my doctor who did the pin pricks all over from the bottoms of my feet and up. I wore a blindfold so I couldn’t see her and what she was doing. Needless to say I didn’t feel anything. I remember asking her when was she going to start poking me? She answered that she was already done. During that time I had some symptoms of COVID, but tested negative so we don’t know what caused it to spread all of a sudden.

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Profile picture for redhatter54 @redhatter54

I have had idiopathic neuropathy in both feet and legs up to my knees since April 2005. My pain is manageable (level 4-5) by taking Neurontin, tramadol and aleve. I also have post tinnitus in both ears, post vertigo and post balance issues that were caused by a concussion in late September 2022. I landed on the left side of my head and the symptoms started in varying degrees the next day - balance issues first, vertigo a week later and then tinnitus a week after that. I did PT and OT. for a month with some improvement. A month before I fell, I woke up one morning and had weird feelings all over from my knees up to the top of my head, down to my fingertips and all over my face including my lips (which just drives me crazy). I saw my doctor who did the pin pricks all over from the bottoms of my feet and up. I wore a blindfold so I couldn’t see her and what she was doing. Needless to say I didn’t feel anything. I remember asking her when was she going to start poking me? She answered that she was already done. During that time I had some symptoms of COVID, but tested negative so we don’t know what caused it to spread all of a sudden.

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It should read post concussion tinnitus, post concussion vertigo and post concussion balance issues. (sorry for the confusion)

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Profile picture for willows @willows

Agreed. I also began tinnitus from exposure to loud music.

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Mine came from Mal de Debarquement, I think. I took a long train ride and had to take scopalamine to stop feeling the train weeks after the trip. My right ear never recovered. Pain and tinnitus, and the ENT is stumped. Sent me on my way with three completely wasted office visits and no plan of treatment, and no referral to someone who may be able to help.

So goes American medicine.

I admit to bitterness. I know doctors see me as "less than" because I'm fat. I'm sent on my way a lot.

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I had never heard of mal de débarquement until you mentioned it but I now know that I have experienced it. I took a cruise pre-pandemic of course. It was a bit rough and I could feel the ship swaying while I was in bed.For weeks afterward every time I would go to bed I felt as though I was on a ship. Didn’t really mind the sensation and didn’t notice any increase in my tinnitus. Sorry you are a tinnitus sufferer. There is no cure and no controlling it. Probably that is why Drs. Know they can’t help anyone complaining of tinnitus. Check out the zAmerican Tinnitus Association for up to date info and suggestions.

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