I have a profound hearing loss and do have tinnitus which can be made worst from my thyroid problem. I've had this problem a very long time since I was little.

{{{hugs}}}

Yes, I do have both. RA came first. I've had tinnitus for several years, at least, but it remained very indistinct until last year, when I began to experience a "plugged ear." I saw an ENT (otolaryngologist), discovered I had experienced hearing loss, and my tinnitus increased. Because my hearing loss is actually in both ears (tinnitus mostly in just the left... I think) and my hearing improved with a short course of high-dose (60 mg) prednisone, the ENT believes I have autoimmune inner ear disease. I don't know for certain that the tinnitus is related, but it seems likely. I will follow up with my RD in March and ENT in April.

My sympathies to all who share this. It's persistent and can be maddening.

I was told years ago that I have nerve damage in both of my ears. If you put both of your fingers in your ears, that's what life sounds like to me. It seems like my hearing has become worse this year though, and the tinnitus is terrible!

I also have RA and tinnitus. I was diagnosed with Tinnitus in March 2010, and with RA in October 2010. I wasn't aware that it might be linked. I had a hearing test in April, and they said I had mild/moderate hearing loss, but nothing they could do yet - just had to live with it. My tinnitus does sometimes get in the way when in a group of people cause I can't keep conversations straight.

Nev er had Tinnitus before RA. I notice that when I take my prednisone the ringing starts. I don't think I have hearing loss yet (71 yrs. young) but the ringing is there after prednisone.
Ra is bad, but the meds do as much harm as good.
Olga

I had RA for 2 years now and noticed the tinnitus the last month or so. I figured it had something to do with the meds- mtx or plaquenil- been on mtx over a year but the plaquenil just since fall. My sounds are annoying but bearable-

Tinnitus was really my first symptom, followed up by chronic migraines. After a year or two, the fatigue set in as well as difficulty "getting going" in the morning. Within another year or two I noticed widespread achiness along with dry eyes & mouth (Sjogren's). Finally, I awoke one morning with a frozen knee that wouldn't undbend. That lead to a positive dx of RA and auto-immune disorder. My doctor has also dx'd me with fibro and sjogren's. And yeah, I still have that dang ringing in my ears and migraines from time to time.

Thanks, everyone for shaing your experience. With hindsight, I wonder now if the horrific tinnitus (like a jet plane taking off) I had almost 5 years ago was the first sign of RA. Also, almost 4 years ago was a dx of Cellulitis in legs a result of Rheumatoid flares. No one back then even thought of RA because I had no joint swelling or pain.
That only reared its head in October, 2009 and that was diagnosed in 10 weeks when I saw the Rheumatologist. My tinnitus now is still there but at a much reduced noise level.
Tinnitus can screw up your life just as much as RA so fo all you people with a double whammy, I really feel for you because I know what it's like.

I have it but I think mine is due to being around jet engines for years and years. I can usually ignore it but sometimes it is so bad I can hardly hear. Like right now I have a high pitch "whine" in my left ear. It sorta comes and goes. Charlie

I have both, buy I think my tinnitus was from bad ear infection. I started hearing a noise in my ear/head 13 years ago, and was diagnosed with RA last October. Tinnitus got better or I got used the noise over the last several years, but after the RA dx it got worse and new noise started which really depressed me. I grind my teeth at night and at the time I broke my night guard and didn't wear it for a few months. As soon as I got a new night guard the new noise disappeared (the next day!). I still have the same old noise in my ear/head, but it's manageable. .

My tinnitus came on instantly out of nowhere. I was working late at my office one night and my right ear suddenly started ringing with a really high pitch, so loud it actually startled me. It faded after a couple of hours. A few days later, the left ear. Then, over time both ears. They still squeal at me today (after nearly a decade). The volume changes from day to day, but the sound never totally leaves. And, as I said earlier, it was downhill from there.

I'm not sure if it's all related but it all started with a nasty case of bronchitis (which became borderline pneumonia). A couple months later, the tinnitus. Six months later, the chronice migraines. After a couple years of those, the fatigue, etc. on into the RA, Sjogren's, Fibro, etc.

Could they all be related to an immune system gone wacko after the initial viral bronchitis? I often wonder, it sure all seems related to me. I often wish as much research was being done on why immune systems suddenly turn on healthy bodies as is done on trying to supress an out of control immun system. I look forward to a cure and not just an endless litany of medications, side effects and tests for damage from said meds. Grrr...

I have had tinnitus for many years have never been dx but it's pretty obvious. i honestly have no idea just how long i have had RA because i have been on remicade for 7 yrs for Crohn's disease, i think it was helping to suppress it. one day it finally got bad enough to break thru.

I have severe RA and tinnitus. The RA is bad but the tinnitus left me suicidal last year. With many different drugs added to my RA cocktail I am finally "learning to live with it" as they say. At least with RA you can lie still and get a break, no such luck with tinnitus 24/7, my tinnitus is very shrill and was measured at 12,000 HZ.
Sue

Yes on the tinnitus but RA was first.

Yes, I have tinnitis - worse in my left ear. However I'm sure mine is from excessive clubbing / going to see bands etc.