Tinnitus has got a lot worse since a recent operation

[King Herald]

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens, never really had a problem with it, once I got used to hearing continual whining/ringing noises, but since having an operation on my hand a month ago it seems to have doubled in intensity.

I only had local anaesthetic, outpatient op, but the next day I was watching tv and noticed the ringing in my ears had got a lot more noticeable. My wife mentioned she'd heard something about the co-codamol (sp?) painkillers they gave me, that can apparently irritate hearing, but I only took them for the first two nights, and non since.

Even now, a month later, if ever I am sat in a quiet place I notice this loud ringing, far louder than ever before.

So, could it be caused by anything to do with the operation, or the pain killers, or is there anything else that could have caused it to get worse?

I guess they still haven't discovered a cure either?

[grumbledoak]

I get it a little, though I only notice it when I am at home and quite tired. I don't believe the medical profession understand it at all. My sympathies, and best of luck.

[mybrainhurts]

It's the fire alarm...run for it

HTH...

[Bree]

NHS direct is worth a look,

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?...

[spikeyhead]

Its possible but very rare that its a reaction to the painkiller, though its more likely, but still very rare that its anadin related rather than another painkiller.

If its got worse in one ear then go to the docs very quick.

Otherwise go tot eh docs in your own time.

[Busamav]

I suggest this also coincides with your starting to ride >snigger<
a Hardley Movingson.

Do you wear ear plugs when riding ?

[V8A*ndy]

King Herald said:

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens, never really had a problem with it, once I got used to hearing continual whining/ringing noises, but since having an operation on my hand a month ago it seems to have doubled in intensity.

I only had local anaesthetic, outpatient op, but the next day I was watching tv and noticed the ringing in my ears had got a lot more noticeable. My wife mentioned she'd heard something about the co-codamol (sp?) painkillers they gave me, that can apparently irritate hearing, but I only took them for the first two nights, and non since.

Even now, a month later, if ever I am sat in a quiet place I notice this loud ringing, far louder than ever before.

So, could it be caused by anything to do with the operation, or the pain killers, or is there anything else that could have caused it to get worse?

I guess they still haven't discovered a cure either?

Have you had any other medication? Some antibiotics cause this and anaesthetic apparently. I am a sound engineer and was given some meds that had side effects with my hearing. As you can imagine I was very worried about it but it settled down after about 5 days and was still slightly apparent after about a month (eventually forgot about it and never bothered me again). It was a lower frequency tone not as high as the tone you usually get after a gig or using power tools ect.

I've been exposed to some serious sounds levels over the years, most weekends since I was about 17. Now 40 Docs can't believe how good my hearing is. Wear ear plugs as much as possible now especially when using power tools. Ringing sets in very quickly now after being exposed to high levels but goes away just as quick if i'm carefull. Once was deaf for 3 days after a gig. Scared the crap right out of me .

Don't worry too much but go see a Doc ASAP as you might have had a reaction to the drugs.

Edited by V8A*ndy on Monday 27th October 02:27

[Jaguar steve]

Nope, they have not discovered a cure.

I developed tinnitus as a result of a whiplash injury a couple of years ago. This can happen and is well documented although the actual link between whiplash and tinnitus is not very well understood by the medical profession.

Mine is a constant 6khz pure tone in both ears. It keeps me awake at night, spoils my concentration, and ruins any chance of a bit of peace and quiet. Somtimes I can't even sit and read as it pisses me off so much.

I have been given white noise generators to wear for around 6 to 8 hours a day, the idea being they will eventually adjust the threshold of hearing to above that of the tinnitus. Ther are a complete PITA as they make my hearing even worse by muffling outside sounds, which makes me concentrate more on trying to hear, which in turn makes me more aware of the tinnitus .

I'm told I'll get used to it within 5 to 7 years...

[shadowninja]

Isn't it due to enlarged capillaries in the inner ear or something? Swelling after an op is normal but worthwhile asking your doc/surgeon...

[tonyvid]

Did you see this thread the other day?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[King Herald]

Bree said:

NHS direct is worth a look,

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?...

I'll check out the link, see what they say, thanks.

spikeyhead said:

Its possible but very rare that its a reaction to the painkiller, though its more likely, but still very rare that its anadin related rather than another painkiller.

If its got worse in one ear then go to the docs very quick.

Otherwise go tot eh docs in your own time.

Hmmm, it seems to be a bit louder in one ear than the other, but I'm now stuck on a ship for two more weeks, so I'll see how it goes.

Busamav said:

I suggest this also coincides with your starting to ride >snigger<
a Hardley Dangerous.

Do you wear ear plugs when riding ?

Yup, started wearing them almost as soon as I got the bike. I can't believe how I put up with all that wind noise for so many years back in the day. it might explain why my ears are pretty crappy anyway.

V8A*ndy said:

King Herald said:

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens

Have you had any other medication? Some antibiotics cause this and anaesthetic apparently. I am a sound engineer and was given some meds that had side effects with my hearing. As you can imagine I was very worried about it but it settled down after about 5 days and was still slightly apparent after about a month (eventually forgot about it and never bothered me again). It was a lower frequency tone not as high as the tone you usually get after a gig or using power tools ect.

I've been exposed to some serious sounds levels over the years, most weekends since I was about 17. Now 40 Docs can't believe how good my hearing is. Wear ear plugs as much as possible now especially when using power tools. Ringing sets in very quickly now after being exposed to high levels but goes away just as quick if i'm carefull. Once was deaf for 3 days after a gig. Scared the crap right out of me .

Don't worry too much but go see a Doc ASAP as you might have had a reaction to the drugs.

Nope, no other drugs, no antibiotics for several years. I've had some pretty heavy ear abuse over the years with live concerts, Sabbath, Motorhead, etc, plus years of riding fast with no ear plugs...

I have heard this noise before, after loud events, then fades after a day or two, but this seems to have started totally without cause.

Jaguar steve said:

Nope, they have not discovered a cure.

I developed tinnitus as a result of a whiplash injury a couple of years ago. This can happen and is well documented although the actual link between whiplash and tinnitus is not very well understood by the medical profession.

Mine is a constant 6khz pure tone in both ears. It keeps me awake at night, spoils my concentration, and ruins any chance of a bit of peace and quiet. Somtimes I can't even sit and read as it pisses me off so much.

I have been given white noise generators to wear for around 6 to 8 hours a day, the idea being they will eventually adjust the threshold of hearing to above that of the tinnitus. Ther are a complete PITA as they make my hearing even worse by muffling outside sounds, which makes me concentrate more on trying to hear, which in turn makes me more aware of the tinnitus .

I'm told I'll get used to it within 5 to 7 years...

I don't know what range mine is in, kinda high pitched, though I used to have all sorts of various faint tolling bells, hums, buzzes, but so quiet as not to really 'disturb' me.

This current one is loud enough to be very annoying. When I have the hearing test for our company medical they play a variety of tones and whines, so I guess I'll soon find out how things have changed since the test 18 months ago, next one's due in April. If it doesn't get better before then.

I'll ask my wife to pop in to the hospital that did the op and ask them if they have any knowledge or previous experience of it happening.

This must be my longest ever multi-quote reply.

[Andy Zarse]

King Herald said:

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens, never really had a problem with it, once I got used to hearing continual whining/ringing noises, but since having an operation on my hand a month ago it seems to have doubled in intensity.

I only had local anaesthetic, outpatient op, but the next day I was watching tv and noticed the ringing in my ears had got a lot more noticeable. My wife mentioned she'd heard something about the co-codamol (sp?) painkillers they gave me, that can apparently irritate hearing, but I only took them for the first two nights, and non since.

Even now, a month later, if ever I am sat in a quiet place I notice this loud ringing, far louder than ever before.

So, could it be caused by anything to do with the operation, or the pain killers, or is there anything else that could have caused it to get worse?

I guess they still haven't discovered a cure either?

HTH!

[King Herald]

Andy Zarse said:

King Herald said:

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens, never really had a problem with it, once I got used to hearing continual whining/ringing noises, but since having an operation on my hand a month ago it seems to have doubled in intensity.

I only had local anaesthetic, outpatient op, but the next day I was watching tv and noticed the ringing in my ears had got a lot more noticeable. My wife mentioned she'd heard something about the co-codamol (sp?) painkillers they gave me, that can apparently irritate hearing, but I only took them for the first two nights, and non since.

Even now, a month later, if ever I am sat in a quiet place I notice this loud ringing, far louder than ever before.

So, could it be caused by anything to do with the operation, or the pain killers, or is there anything else that could have caused it to get worse?

I guess they still haven't discovered a cure either?

HTH!

[NDA]

My sympathies - I have tinnitus too and would love to find a solution. I now have to put subtitle on the feckin TV and am very irritated by it in the evenings....

The tinnitus coincided with me having to take aspirin every day for a heart condition (along with beta blockers and ace inhibitors). I'm told (by the specialist) that there's no link - but it's odd that medication appears to trigger tinnitus.

[Jaguar steve]

King Herald said:

Andy Zarse said:

King Herald said:

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens, never really had a problem with it, once I got used to hearing continual whining/ringing noises, but since having an operation on my hand a month ago it seems to have doubled in intensity.

I only had local anaesthetic, outpatient op, but the next day I was watching tv and noticed the ringing in my ears had got a lot more noticeable. My wife mentioned she'd heard something about the co-codamol (sp?) painkillers they gave me, that can apparently irritate hearing, but I only took them for the first two nights, and non since.

Even now, a month later, if ever I am sat in a quiet place I notice this loud ringing, far louder than ever before.

So, could it be caused by anything to do with the operation, or the pain killers, or is there anything else that could have caused it to get worse?

I guess they still haven't discovered a cure either?

HTH!

[tonyvid]

Jaguar steve said:

King Herald said:

Andy Zarse said:

King Herald said:

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens, never really had a problem with it, once I got used to hearing continual whining/ringing noises, but since having an operation on my hand a month ago it seems to have doubled in intensity.

I only had local anaesthetic, outpatient op, but the next day I was watching tv and noticed the ringing in my ears had got a lot more noticeable. My wife mentioned she'd heard something about the co-codamol (sp?) painkillers they gave me, that can apparently irritate hearing, but I only took them for the first two nights, and non since.

Even now, a month later, if ever I am sat in a quiet place I notice this loud ringing, far louder than ever before.

So, could it be caused by anything to do with the operation, or the pain killers, or is there anything else that could have caused it to get worse?

I guess they still haven't discovered a cure either?

HTH!

You better put your earplugs in before you do that

[Andy Zarse]

tonyvid said:

Jaguar steve said:

King Herald said:

Andy Zarse said:

King Herald said:

I've suffered with tinnitus since my early teens, never really had a problem with it, once I got used to hearing continual whining/ringing noises, but since having an operation on my hand a month ago it seems to have doubled in intensity.

I only had local anaesthetic, outpatient op, but the next day I was watching tv and noticed the ringing in my ears had got a lot more noticeable. My wife mentioned she'd heard something about the co-codamol (sp?) painkillers they gave me, that can apparently irritate hearing, but I only took them for the first two nights, and non since.

Even now, a month later, if ever I am sat in a quiet place I notice this loud ringing, far louder than ever before.

So, could it be caused by anything to do with the operation, or the pain killers, or is there anything else that could have caused it to get worse?

I guess they still haven't discovered a cure either?

HTH!

You better put your earplugs in before you do that

[ashes]

Try the British Tinitus Association - I subscribed to this for my Mum and they have some great resources for members

Take care

K

[OJ]

Pardon?

My Mum has fairly severe tinnitus, most likely due to her having meningitis as an infant... or it might just be selective hearing

Strangely I have the opposite problem in that my hearing is rubbish, especially when there's background noise. If i'm in a remotely noisy pub or bar I have to stand there doing the classic 'mmmhmmm, yep, nod politely'. I put it down to thrashing a variety of loud machines around a track combined with extended periods spent in an even louder machine used to tow my loud machine TO the track.

ETA - Still it could have been worse, a friend and business partner of my dad ended up in a persistent vegitative state when he was having a minor operation on his hand which he injured in his youth. Bad reaction to the local anaethetic, he had a heart attack which went unnoticed for anything up to 20 minutes. Doctor thought he'd fallen asleep (he'd had a lot of other ops done over the years on this hand) and didn't notice anything was wrong until he noticed his lips were blue.

Edited by OJ on Monday 27th October 16:03

[james_tigerwoods]

I have permanent tinnitus too and I have been told by a specialist that there's no cure - background noise is my friend and without it there's that ringing (that is sometimes louder than background...) - the nights when I can't sleep are horrendous

The specialist did, however, say that although there's no cure, you can get "hearing aids" that can "play" the same sound in your ears - the idea being that you wear them for 18 hours a day for 6-18 months and it helps your brain tune the ringing out. I've not tried this one yet....