Exacerbated tinnitus - possible?

[jayfree]

I have read the posts regarding tinnitus, etc - and am grateful for the information and knowledge. I have suffered from tinnitus for several years now, assuredly dive related - but with no exacerbation of symptom. 8 days ago, while assisting in a PADI rescue class (being a submerged, unconscious victim) I was brought to the surface "too quick" from 20', brought to shore and backboarded -- and when the exercise was over noticed vertigo symptoms (which relatively quickly dissipated) but had, and continued to have increased level of tinnitus noise, fullness in ear sensation, either muffeled sound or abnormally loud sound in hearing ..... and was wondering if these symptoms had been experienced similarly by anyone? Will my exacerbated symptoms decrease?

And yes, I DID go to an ENT asap; of course they said barotrauma, no visible signs of injury - eardrum intact and normal tympanogram - tinnitus "incurable" -- and started me on a Medrol pack (oral corticosteriods) which seemed to help at first, but now seemingly less so.....

Any annectodal help/medical help you can pass along would be most appreciated!

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

I have read the posts regarding tinnitus, etc - and am grateful for the information and knowledge. I have suffered from tinnitus for several years now, assuredly dive related - but with no exacerbation of symptom. 8 days ago, while assisting in a PADI rescue class (being a submerged, unconscious victim) I was brought to the surface "too quick" from 20', brought to shore and backboarded -- and when the exercise was over noticed vertigo symptoms (which relatively quickly dissipated) but had, and continued to have increased level of tinnitus noise, fullness in ear sensation, either muffeled sound or abnormally loud sound in hearing ..... and was wondering if these symptoms had been experienced similarly by anyone? Will my exacerbated symptoms decrease?

And yes, I DID go to an ENT asap; of course they said barotrauma, no visible signs of injury - eardrum intact and normal tympanogram - tinnitus "incurable" -- and started me on a Medrol pack (oral corticosteriods) which seemed to help at first, but now seemingly less so.....

Any annectodal help/medical help you can pass along would be most appreciated!

Why not ask the ENT about the possibility of a round or oval window perforation (fistula)? If this occurs, there may well be a change in your perception of tinnitis. It may become more obvious in one ear than the other, etc. Symptoms would consist of vertigo, tinnitis and the loss of hearing of certain sound frequencies.

The steroids are to help reduce any inflammation and hopefully reduce the progression of hearing/ear damage.

I believe that round/oral window fistulas are usually the result of poor equalization upon descent...I'm speaking as a lay person now...I don't see many ears as a dentist. (Well I see the ears, but just don't look inside very much...seems kinda funky! ).

I would also expect that you would have experienced the problem at depth rather than being brought up too fast. Of course if your ears failed to equalize on ascent, you in essence over-pressured the middle ear.

This type of injury may cause your ENT to recommend that you not dive again. If the cochlea is the source of your tinnitis, the condition is indeed permanent. Then again if it's just some earwax pressing on the ear drum, then it may decrease...the ENT most likely would have seen this and advised you as such.

Perhaps some of the other Docs will respond. I think I'm biting off more than I can chew!

Good luck,

Laurence Stein, DDS