Are you experiencing intermittent ringing or fullness in your ear?  Does it feel wet but it’s dry?  How about weird sensations on your face or around the eye? If so, I completely understand how these feelings can seriously impact your quality of life.  You often feel very drained, fatigued, and irritated due to the consistent annoyance in the ear throughout the day and especially before sleep.  Many times, people that are experiencing these symptoms take a course of antibiotics which usually does not make any difference after few days.  Often they see many specialists and after all the test results are negative, they are left clueless and don’t have anywhere to go.

I’ve been successfully treating people with these problems on a regular basis and that’s why I have decided to write this exclusive report to make sure you are taking the right steps to correct this problem.  This helpful document will include the proper course of action to take to reduce your symptoms and get back to a normal life.  Don’t let ear problems get in your way of living an enjoyable lifestyle! 

Imagine how life would be in 3 months if you could reduce the ringing in the ear?  Your life will be less stressful so you can accomplish your goals and enjoy what you love to do.  Start easing your pain immediately by downloading this free report and scroll down to read more about Tinnitus.  

Here’s to your health, 

Andrew Seo, DPT

Tinnitus is the perception of hearing sound when no actual external noise is present.  While it is commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears,” tinnitus can also be described as buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, and clicking.

An estimated 50 million Americans experience tinnitus.  Ten to twelve million people are disturbed enough to seek medical attention.  They often visit their primary doctor followed by an ENT specialist.  Unfortunately, tinnitus is a common disorder with limited treatment options.  However, over the past 15 yeas, research has identified the association between neck pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and tinnitus.  Up to 75% of tinnitus patients can modulate their symptoms with muscle contractions of the head, neck, and jaw.  People with TMJ problems are likely to suffer from tinnitus, and people with neck injuries may also suffer from tinnitus.  Successful treatment of the neck and jaw can improve tinnitus symptoms.

Origin of Tinnitus

Somatic Tinnitus has an origin that is a combination of muscular, skeletal, vascular, respiratory, or located in the TMJ.  Somatic tinnitus also know as Somatosound can be either Pulsatile or Nonpulsatile Tinnitus.  Pulsatile Tinnitus is also referred to as venus hum or vascular noise which pulses in sync with the heartbeat.  It is essential that these patients receive immediate medical attention.  Sources of nonpulsatile tinnitus are either muscular, respiratory, or TMJ.  An example would be a spasm of muscles that connect to the eustachian tube.

Neurophysiologic (Sensorineural) Tinnitus originates within the auditory nervous system such as the cochlea.  The cochlea is a snail-shell like structure in the inner ear that produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.  Damage to the cochlea from noise exposure often results in tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be both temporary or permanent.  In general, the longer a person has experienced tinnitus the more likely it is to be permanent.  Exposure to loud noise can cause temporary tinnitus and typically resolve within few days.  Tinnitus also can be induced by a number of medications and drug interactions.

Relationship Between Temporomandibular (TMJ) Disorder and Ear Pain and Tinnitus

TMJ Disorder can cause ear and jaw pain.  In the absence of an ear infection, the pain is often related to the TMJ Disorder.  This area includes not only the jaw joint but also the chewing muscles surrounding jaw and ear.  Ear pain results when the ligament is pinched or compressed between the jaw joint and the ear canal.  Ear pain can also be triggered by muscle pain in the jaw.   The ligament and retrodiscal tissue have nerves, blood vessels and ligaments which can cause ear pain.  Many people with TMJ and ear symptoms have tinnitus which is presented by ringing or buzzing in the ears.

In summary, there are three main reasons why problems with the TMJ may cause tinnitus, or make it worse.

Treatment for TMJ Disorders

Simple changes such as a soft diet, or the use of anti-inflammatory medicines may help simple cases.  For people who grind their teeth or clench their jaw, a professionally made bite guard appliance is frequently used to protect the teeth from excessive wear.  In exceptional cases, surgery may be required to perform surgery on the TMJ.  If your tinnitus is related to your TMJ problem, the tinnitus may improve as the TMJ problems get resolved.  To learn more about TMJ Disorders, click on this link.

Relationship Between Neck Pain and Tinnitus

Studies show that patients who suffered head and neck injuries, such as a car accident, or who have neck pain or stiffness for other reasons, such as arthritis, are more likely to experience tinnitus.  In addition, nerve endings in the neck make connections in the hearing centers of the brain.  Tinnitus is often associated other symptoms such as neck pain, headache, depression, and difficulty with memory and concentration.  Some people are able to change the intensity of their tinnitus by simply moving their neck or jaw.

Treatment generally depends on the cause of the neck problem, but the results from treating the underlying neck problem are often good.  To learn more about treatment options for neck pain, click on this link.  Individualized treatment options can be discussed with a clinician that specializes in Craniofacial and TMJ Disorders.

Dr. Andrew Seo, DPT, at the Functional Performance Physical Therapy, dedicated exclusively to the evaluation and treatment of neck pain, TMJ disorders, craniofacial pain, and tinnitus.  His approach involves a comprehensive evaluation for proper diagnosis and non-invasive treatments.   He provides successful results using research-based individualized treatment in a caring and friendly environment.  If you are currently suffering from symptoms listed above and want help immediately or have any questions, simply email us at info@fpphysicaltherapy.com.  Alternatively, you can get in touch with us by visiting www.fpphysicaltherapy.com or calling 610-822-1072.  We serve patients from Bryn Mawr, Radnor, Havertown, Ardmore, Wynnewood, and the surrounding communities.