Tinnitus Support Group

Very intersting procedure ledliyl. I am surprised this has never come up in discussion. When I get my benefits package which includes hearing I believe I might give it a try.

Pat

Here is more info about this treatment.

http://www.earsinus.com/secure/Abo...

ledliyl, you might ask the doctor if its possible to speak with other patients that have had this treatment before going thru with it. You might be put at ease in doing so and not missing out on a good possibility.

Pat

ledliyl,
I read the link that DarkSon provided and the Silverstein Microwick does sound interesting. I would want to talk to others that have had it done also. I had hyperacusis for several weeks after the increase in my T last year. Luckily the hyperacusis got better in a few weeks and is only mild now. People that have never experienced it don't know how really awful it is to have regular, everyday sounds amplified to who knows how many times more than they should sound. T is bad enough without having that also. I hope that you find a treatment that gets rid of it completely or at least helps with it.

Good luck in your search.

Deb

Hi ledli, hope you're doing well.

I've never heard of the Microwick procedure. Google-it-up and hopefully some good info will pop up.

I am sincerely not on any kind of anti-neuromonics band wagon. It is not my goal or hope to see the therapy (neuromonics) fail. I would absolutely love to hear that it works and fellow sufferers are being helped. But the fact remains that NO ONE but audiologists are reporting that it's effective in an appreciable way. This is really becoming concerning.

There is a ridiculously huge (read: beyond vast) discrepancy between the success doctors are reporting and the real world reports of sufferers. Doctors are saying "Is Tuesday at 2:30 a good time for your first neuromonics treatment?" (with scheduling pen in hand). And patients, months later, are saying "Is there any way to get my money back?" : (

Even the guy who joined recently to inform us Neuromonics was helping him and wouldn't disapear like the others and would "be around for the long haul" is gone with the wind. Nice knowing you, dude! Adios! (eye roll)

It's getting to the point I'm considering making some effort myself. I have (years ago) called Neuromonics in Colorado and asked for any studies that would indicate the therapy has helped 3% much less the 90% success rate they used to claim on their site. Neuromonics will not provide _any_ information.

Theres something rotten in Denmark, folks. I've always known a company that advertises a 90% success rate is a company that has a less than ethical agenda but when ENTs and audiologists continue recommending a $5000 treatment to patients as a forgone conclusion that "it will work" without any form of medical studies available it's clear the $5000 is the goal, not your well being. I'll call Neuromonics again tonight after work. I'll post a thread about it later.

Ledli, as you and I both know frustration and impatience will only hinder us not help and you are a charmer so next time you speak to the neurotologist (or whomever it regards), if you would, Led, simply ask for some kind, any kind, or research or medical study on neuromonics that would help you make a _more informed decision_. Sorry I can't help more on the Silverstien treatment. Never heard of it.

how much does the Silverstein Microwick procedure cost? If it's relatively cheap I'd probably give it a try (depending on the procedure.. if it's ear drops, fine. If it requires needles or invasive measures I'd pass)

Thanks eveyone for your input.I spoke to a nurse and she suggested that i get a second opinion with another neurolotologist and then go from there. i posted this on another fourm and have not gotten anything good.One risk with this procedure is getting a ear infection i dont need that, try to fix one problem and end up with another one is not on my to do list.One person said they had it done and it didn;t do anything but it didn't make things worse.Im going to get a second opinion.

ledliyl , I may be wrong but I thought the feeling of fullness in the ear was a "Symptom " of Hyperacusis not a cause. Your 1st sentence concerns me because I don't think it's right to say that H is caused by a build up of fluid in the inner ear. There is often a feeling of fullness, I described it like being on the bottom of the swimming pool and unable to get rid of the pressure in my ear. I had an awful lot of earache as well when I had H. But it's actually cleared up all on it's own. I now just have T and mild sensitivity to certain high pitched noises.
Like T I don't really think there is a medical explanation for H either. I just woke up one day and there it was! An absolute nightmare in the begining. I couldn't stand every day noises and I got quite frightened of sounds at that time. It's really a bad thing to have and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It's also very hard to explain to people. I have always been quite deaf and all of a sudden I was asking for the TV to be turned down etc....very strange.
I would be very frightened of having things put in my ear. It's a very sensitive organ and you are right when you say hey, this is my ear you're messing with"! Take care and get lots of different opinions and advice on this procedure.
Best Wishes
Mandy

Hi Ledliyl, I read long time ago, almost when I got T that this man in Spain (it was a spanish forum), he said, try vitamins and other stuff but stay away from steroids... Ah he was an ENT suffering from T...

The wick procedure was invented to minimize damage to the inner ear via injections and allow them to use a minimal amount of the medicine as it is applied right into the inner ear organs - apparently before this wick - the injections were hit and miss - also the wick is supposed to allow the patient to administer medicine to themselves daily with little to no risk of infection.

Apparently some people with chronic ear infections and other conditions such as Meneire's need a constant flow of medicine to the inner ear - the needles from ENT's over a period of time causes scarring and runs the risk of being misapplied -

So an ENT invented the wick - apparently after himself - is it the Steinwick or something?

I had read numerous articles about it - one application for tinnitus sufferers - applying a very small amount of lidocaine daily to the affected ear via the wick and experiencing relief but little side effects - such as dizziness or other symptoms that come from these harsh medications being overadministered to the inner ear -

It is only two years old at best and they are still doing studies with it - with the average study taking three years to complete - round up the lab rats (people), do the protocol and follow-up - we may start to see completed studies of this in the next year -

But after that the FDA has to approve it's use here in the States - apparently parts of Europe are already on the wick bandwagon -

It was not intended to cure or treat tinnitus - but like many things - ENT's in Europe started applying lidocaine and steroids via the wick to see if they could give their patients relief -

Some reported relief - from a little to remission -

The problem with tinnitus - a million reasons could be the culprit and one ENT might stumble onto the cure for a particular person -

This is why tinnitus is so frustrating -

Some people getting lidocaine from the wick reported worse symptoms as if their ear screamed out it didn't want the treatment - but severe sufferers would take the chance -

That's why it's not being fast tracked for tinnitus treatment here in the USA -