Dear Doctor,
I am 40 years old male from India. I am suffering from highly unstable severe tinnitus in right ear for last 3 years (since 30th April 2015)
My tinnitus is audible all the time, even in a deafening loud external sound, and even while in sleep. Maskers, white noise, shower sound, etc. do not help.
I hear 4 types of sounds in my right ear:
1) Electric sparks similar to short circuiting of wires or like the sound when we crumple a polythene bag. This sound is continuous and is most troubling one. Electric sparks can be felt. They hurt. They cannot be masked at all by external sounds.
2) High pitch squeal. This sound is continuous and varies in intensity
3) A burst of static sounds (tick – tick – tick). These are random.
4) Pulsating sound of blood flow through vein while bending over and while the ear is blocked due to cold and cough, and while doing reverse of Valsalva maneuver. This sound has been there since many years, I don’t remember how long.
All these sounds feel like the sound of knife sharpening on a grinding wheel.
These sounds change intensity from severe to very severe very randomly throughout the day. There is no particular pattern.
I can modulate some sounds to an extent by shaking my head and by pushing my lower jaw forward, and sometimes while chewing hard.
Sometimes I get some sort of brain zaps i.e. small 2 to 3 blasts in my head
Sometimes the sounds spread to the whole head and to the left ear, except the electric sparks that remain localized in right ear.
When it becomes extremely severe, I feel some pressure / pain sensation deep inside the ear and under the ear.
Last year, I had stapedectomy surgery in right ear. Did not help in reducing tinnitus. Surgery helped in improving low frequencies but I lost high frequencies (8KHz and above).
I do not have any vertigo symptoms.
Medicines tried so far
Solymedrol (IV) (methylprednisolone)
Depomedrol (IV) (methylprednisolone acetate)
Tinnex (Carovarine) capsules
Complamina Retard tab (Xantinol Nicotinate)
Stugeron Forte tab (Cinnarizine)
Ginkgo Biloba
Jarrow’s L-Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine)
Maxgalin tab 75 mg ( Pregabalin)
Felicita OD tab (Alpha Lipoic Acid, Benfotiamine, Elemental Chromium, Inositol and Mecobalamin)
Nootropil 800 mg (piracetam)
Fludac tab (Fluoxetine)
Restyl 0.25 mg (Alprazolam)
Nutrum tab
Duvanta 20 mg (Duloxetine)
Zenoxa 300 mg (Oxcarbazepine)
Goonj Forte tab (Gingko biloba +Piracetam +Vinpocetine)
Nexito 5 mg (Escitalopram)
Valtec CR 500 (Sodium Valproate + Valproic Acid)
Meganeuron OD (Vitamin B supplement)
Rexipra 10 mg (Escitalopram)
Mirtaz 7.5 mg (Mirtazapine)
Epcon 0.25 mg (Clonazepam)
Post-surgery medicines:
Levoflox 750 mg (Levofloxacin)
Stemetil 5 mg (prochlorperazine maleate)
Wysolone 10mg (Prednisolone)
Ceftum 500 (Cefuroxime)
Enzoflam tab (Diclofenac + Paracetamol / Acetaminophen + Serratiopeptidase)
PAN 40 mg (Pantoprazole)
Zevit capsule (Zinc, Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C)
Relent tab (Cetirizine + Ambroxol)
Valium 5 mg (Diazepam)
Also tried Ayurveda and homeopathy.
I am attaching herewith, all my test reports and also sample tinnitus sounds which are the closest I could get to explain the nature of my tinnitus.
I feel suicidal many times, but holding on looking at my family and my aging parents, being their only child.
I don't know what to do in order to reduce the severity of tinnitus, especially the electric sparks.
Looking forward to your guidance.
Category: Questions and Answers