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Is there any link between PMR and tinnitus

Posted , 12 users are following.

andy34717
andy34717

Hi All,

I am new to this PMR...only a few weeks in with diagnosis from GP and waiting to see a Rheumy for further info about this condition.

I experience Tinnitus...I didn't want to put suffer as it has not been a massive issue for me as only really had realised this at night when trying to get to sleep.  But with this PMR and maybe due to the Pred I am noticing the noise in my ears a little more during the day...can anyone offer any advice or insight here please? 

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • floramac
    floramac andy34717

    Posted

    Hi, welcome. I have had Tinnitus in one ear for over 9 years and PMR for 3. I have not experienced any increase in tinnitus symptoms. Perhaps you are feeling a bit run down and stressed/tired from this new diagnosis, making your tinnitus appear worse. I know when I have a bad night or lack of sleep, I notice the noise in my ear more ?
    • andy34717
      andy34717 floramac

      Posted

      Hi Floramac,

      Thank you for your reply, yes it very much could be down to being a little run down and stressed/tired from the diagnosis...I will keep a watch on this and see if this gets any better over the coming days/weeks with less stress and better sleep and recovery smile

  • MariGrace
    MariGrace andy34717

    Posted

    Tinnitus had been with me for years. The audiologist wants to fit me with hearing aids that have white noise to block the sound.

    The expense has kept me from buying them, yet.

    To sleep, a white noise machine near the bed is helpful, ( or a fan.)

    MariGrace

    • andy34717
      andy34717 MariGrace

      Posted

      Hi MariGrace,

      Thank you for your reply, did the Tinnitus change in any way since you started to take Pred?

      Does your Tinnitus change in any way with PMR?

      How much where the hearing aids that have white noise?

       

    • MariGrace
      MariGrace andy34717

      Posted

      If the prednisone caused it, it happened with my first autoimmune disease in the early 90's. My dose was 100mg a day for most of 2 years. The pred saved my life, did do some damage.

      With PMR, I have gone from 60mg to a steady 10 with occasional additional pred during flares.

      The hearing aids were in the thousands. Insurance would pay some. I wasn't willing to do that yet. With the white noise machine, a good pillow and our sleep number bed, sleep is possible.

      This is a challenge.

      Hope you can find a good solution.

      MariGrace

  • Silver49
    Silver49 andy34717

    Posted

    I'm sorry I can't offer advice but I have tinnitus which only developed after I started Pred. I can't say if it is related to the PMR or the Pred as it I didn't have it prior to PMR and it wasn't noticeable immediately I started taking Pred. I notice it now that you have mentioned it but I tend to manage and not notice it most of the time though I know it is there. It has been raised before on this forum and I don't know if it disappears when the Pred is finished and the PMR goes in to remission. I would interested to know if that had happened to anyone but they're probably not on this forum now. 

  • EileenH
    EileenH andy34717

    Posted

    Some patients find they develop tinnitus with PMR - and it is particularly the case if they are on the GCA end of the spectrum of the illness. I had tinnitus for the entire 5 years I had PMR without it being diagnosed - it resolved within a few months once I was on pred. How soon it went I don't really know - I suddenly realised it wasn't there.

  • richard07199
    richard07199 andy34717

    Posted

    I have had tinnitus most of my adult life.  Now being diagnosed with PMR, I notice no difference in the tinnitus (better or worse).  Also, since taking pred for over a year there is no change in the tinnitus.

    I have a hearing aid with a supposed tinnitus block feature (white noise).  I eventually turned that feature off.  It didn’t work.  It just put a new noise on top of the old noise.

    • MariGrace
      MariGrace richard07199

      Posted

      Richard, thank you, thank you for your post. My audiologist wanted to put me in those hearing aids. I did not get them because of the cost, but have considered trying them.

      You saved a big expense for me.

      When I get the aids, it will be for hearing only.

      Very gratefully,

      MariGrace

  • Harrie4
    Harrie4 andy34717

    Posted

    Isn’t it interesting that there seems to be a rather significant correlation between PMR and tinnitus? I too have had tinnitus for years but the PMR has had no impact on it. However, stress certainly amplifies my tinnitus. I was fortunate to have a wonderful ENT specialist who had tinnitus himself and fully appreciated how stress can negatively impact the ringing. He suggested that I have my ears cleaned every 6 months — not with a syringe — to at least minimize the impact of wax due to my very narrow ear canals. It has helped a lot. One night a couple of years ago stress triggered a surge of tinnitus in the middle of the night. I was really glad I had half an Ativan that night! My GP gives me an Rx for 5 x 2 mg Ativan a year. This can be a real lifesaver. My hypothesis is that we may all have a genetic predisposition to this variant of autoimmune disorder but it’s emotional stress that triggers it. It’s a real lesson how important it is to take it easy. 
    • MariGrace
      MariGrace Harrie4

      Posted

      Stress is not good. There are no ways to eliminate my stress right now, but am trying to manage it. Try to get extra rest, better food choices, vitamins ..for sure, and to carve out a few minutes a day to do one thing that is a joy for my soul.

      Managing stress isn't always possible, but it is worth a try.

      MariGrace

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