Tinnitus, Deafness and Ear Problems Support Group

This group is for those coping with Tinnitus (ringing ears or ear noise), hearing loss, and all ear issues. Join to find support and get advice from others.

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JustShootMeNow 09/12/2010

I have severe low back pain. Diagnosis: none. Nothing wrong. All tests normal.

I have chronic sinus issues. My sinuses hurt so bad sometimes it makes my face hurt. I'm stuffed up most of he time, sometimes to the point of being extremely dizzy. Diagnosis: None. Nothing wrong. All tests normal.

My left knee is extremely painful now - has been for weeks. I can barely straighten it sometimes. Diagnosis: none. Nothing wrong. All tests normal.

I have a lot of pain in my hips, especially my left hip. If I sit too long in one place, I stiffen up so much I can barely walk. Diagnosis: none. Nothing wrong. All tests normal.

I've had tinnitus in both ears for years. Diagnosis: none. Nothing wrong. All tests normal.

This is so frustrating!

Every time I have a new test, I'm hopeful they will find some answers. Every time I get the test results, it's the same story -- all tests normal. Nothing wrong.

I don't want there to be anything wrong, mind you, but I would at least like to know that there is SOMETHING causing my symptoms, SOMETHING I could change, SOMETHING to point my doctor in the right direction.

What happens after the tests come back normal? Nothing. Nil. Nada. There's no further investigation into the symptoms. Every now and then I get a: Still have the back pain? Still have the hip pain? Still have the knee pain? Still have the tinnitus? YES!!! I still have them all, and I still have no answers as to why!!

Sometimes I start to feel maybe it is all in my head -- that if I just exercised more, or ate different foods, or twisted my mouth to just the right position........

Sorry -- I'm just venting. Two weeks ago, I lost the hearing in my left ear -- 82% hearing lost in upper ranges, 100% hearing lost in lower ranges. A whole new round of very loud tinnitus that makes the "old" tinnitus sound like a whisper.

I had blood work done two weeks ago. I had another MRI Friday night -- this time of the brain -- to make sure it's not a brain tumor causing the hearing loss. I am positive I know what the results will be:

Diagnosis: none. Nothing wrong. All tests normal.

deleted_user 09/13/2010

Wow, this sounds terrible!

I pretty much just know about tinnitus since that's what I have, and while tinnitus can't really be "seen" by a doctor, they can measure your hearing and even do a so-called sound matching to determine the pitch and volume of the sound. The audiologist may say that sound matching is not a very useful test, which is probably true.

Have you considered getting a second opinion about some of these issue?

Also, I think a lot of these health issues can be connected. For example, my tinnitus caused my muscles in the neck to tighten up which caused neck and back pain.

Anyway... I think we all have a range of experiences with doctors. I've had some which are very helpful, some not so much. I won't re-visit those that don't feel like they're making an effort, even if there's nothing they can do.

DarkSON 09/13/2010

Just wondering if the same doctor is running all these tests your getting the results from. Have you seen a neurologist about the pain? You might have neuropathy's. Something that a blood test wont tell you. Think about second opinions. Exercise is an option but not always the answer. Look into the difference between nerve pain and muscle pain. If its nerve pain then no blood test will come back with results, only if its arthritis or muscle pain. If your blood tests are coming back normal then I would ask for a referal to a neurologist. That really sucks about your hearing. I hope it gets better for you.

Pat

deleted_user 09/13/2010

I'm so sorry, very frustrating for you. Of course you don't want anything wrong but a diagnosis would give you a map of sorts to straighten things out. I've been dealing with doctors for 5 years now as I got RA in 2006 and it's been downhill from there. If you have the money it might be worth a try to see a homopathic doctor as they are much more open and look at the body as a whole rather than ENT for this, Rheumatologist for that etc. My tinnitus is driving me MAD so I finally went to a homopathic dr. last week and while it might be hocus pocus, there also might be something to it or how else would they stay in business. Anyway for me everything she said hit home so I'm going to try to incorporate some of her suggestions into my lifestyle and see if anything good comes of it. Just a thought for you. And yes I do feel like a hypochondriac even though I have a diagnosis for both issues, people can't see either one so they roll their eyes. If I had a cast on my hands, wrists, knees, elbows and feet (where RA is) they might be a tad nicer about what I'm dealing with. UGH!!

deleted_user 09/14/2010

Vent away! I know how frustrating it is to be told over and over that there is nothing wrong and nothing to be done anyway. And sometimes the causes are in our heads. Which doesn't make the problems imaginary. I would suggest some home remedies to try. And forgive me if you've already been down this road. For the sinuses, NeilMed Sinus Rinse. For the achy, stiff joints, yoga and/or water therapy/swimming.
I hope you're feeling a bit better. Did the MRI come out all right? Assuming it did, that leaves you (and me) with another medical mystery: the sudden deafness, tinnitus and hyperacusis. At least some of this improves. ;)

deleted_user 09/14/2010

Hi Dear
Do you think you are depressed right now? I ask this because i have a girlfriend that had the same thing, pain in her lower back, her legs were stiff, he could barely move. The doctor made all tests that possibly exist and he said: Nothing wrong... still she felt like dieing.
Then her last shot was a young doctor. She said, you are depressed. She gave her Cymbalta and guess??? Eureka! She felt way better after that... She is still taking medication because she has to wine slowly (sorry for the typos). It is hard to take antidepressants because we don't want to accept that we could be so unhappy. I had to take them because tinnitus was depressing me so much. I feel great now but the treatment was long... 2 years.
I am off now and enjoying life again.... I hope this helps...
Mich

janiecf 09/14/2010

Sounds like me. I have had so many tests and nothing concerte, except the knee and back. Back had fussion (wish I didnot do this) ans the knee Needs replacing. I don't want to do that till I figure out this T, vertigo Meniere's. The 2 MRI's nothing, the blood work ok.
dr called for Sleep Apena test and I did not want to do that, something more to worry about! Hang in there, we aren't hypo's. I want to feel good and can't stand people that ask how I am!
Dr's are a hard group to read and it is hard to find the right one that cares enough to listen and help. I and probably you want to feel great or at least good at this young age!
Janie

JustShootMeNow 09/14/2010

All my tests were normal -- no big surprise there. Now we just wait and see if the hearing comes back. I opted not to get the shots in the ears. I've taken two rounds of oral steroids and they haven't helped. I have a real aversion to piercing internal parts with needles.

Mich, it's always possible I'm depressed. I've suffered from depression on and off my whole life. Usually I can tell when I'm in the throes of a depression. I haven't had to take an anti-depressant for almost 6 years. I started to feel a little depressed when this hearing loss started, but thought I had worked through it. I'll pay more attention to that and have a little chat with the doc. Thanks for the suggestion. I'd heard that Cymbalta treats the pain associated with depression, too. Is that true?

I think my doctors believe me when I describe my symptoms. The only time a doctor didn't offer me pain medication was when I went to the emergency with acute pain in my side -- I never go to the emergency room, but I was in agony. I think the doctor thought I was just looking for drugs. She told me to go home and take Tylenol. The next day I saw my own doctor and was diagnosed with Shingles.

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and support. I'm glad this forum is here. Venting is therapeutic.

janiecf 09/14/2010

My Dr put me on cymbalta, for all the depressed feeling I get from this. I think?? it helps so far. Family says so.

deleted_user 09/14/2010

Hi Girls
Believe it or not depression is like a "ghost disease". You could be completely healthy but still it kills you. I had a heart attack in 2004... but guess what? My heart was perfect and everything but... here is the thing, I didn't have the chance to express myself for a big loss I had. I have always been very implosive, so I keep all my feelings for myself. Didn't cry that much or anything. So my sadness and stress, led me to this "unjustified heart attack"... at least that is what it said in the medical record. Now I know how depression works. My doctor told me to run or do some cardio to bust the serotonin. It is hard to exercise when you are depressed but believe me it is the best medication for that.

deleted_user 09/14/2010

Did they put you on antivirals for the shingles. The shingle (herpes) viruse can attack the ear and cause hearing loss and tinnitus. When I went in to the ent the first thing they did was put me on steriods and antivirals, which unfortunately didn't work for me. Sounds also like you have some type of allergy thing going on with you sinuses, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get an Igg allergy test done. That one tests for delayed reactiong to different foods to see if your eating something that is causing a delayed reaction to your sinuses. Anyway good luck with your treatment.

JustShootMeNow 09/15/2010

Thanks for the info David. They did put me on anti-virals for the shingles. It has been only 4 months since I had shingles. When I lost my hearing, that was one of the first questions I asked -- could the hearing loss be related to the shingles. The doc says it's possible, but not likely. She thinks the hearing loss would have shown up sooner if it was related to the shingles.

Sadly, I've been tested for allergies and am apparently not allergic to anything except dust -- and had only mild reactions to that.

I've started keeping a journal of everything I eat, every med I take, everything I do. I'm keeping track of every little change in how I feel. I'm going to find some answers if it kills me! :)

deleted_user 09/15/2010

I'm with you in your frustration! The only way I know there is something wrong with me is IF my doctor says there's nothing wrong! He hates working with me (I have a brain injury as well at the T), and is frustrated in his own impotent efforts to help me.

Boy, must be tough for him.

kip

deleted_user 09/25/2010

Hi, sorry to hear about your troubles, that is a lot to deal with. You mention all the pains you have. I was wondering do you ingest anything with aspertame in it? Most gum brands have aspertame and some foods. Aspertame can have very harmful effects and can cause a lot of different kinds of sickness. My husband likes to chew gum and one day he read an article on aspertame and its effects, he has had a sore back and shoulders and legs for years. Although he does have some arthritis, he found that when he stopped chewing this gum he felt much better, Just a thought...take care.

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