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.
I just read last night the latest news of the company doing the vagus nerve stimulation test for tinnitus. I pasted a few sentences from the website. To view for youself, start reading just below the YouTube video. It is kind of disappointing to learn that this therapy will not be a 100% cure for tinnitus. Micro Transponder is the company making the stimulation devices and www.willrosellini.com is where you read about the the news of the research.
Their article says:
"Weve successully gotten our BAA application into the Office of Naval Research. Jennifer Born at the ATA was a really strong advocate to get me back into the mix with looking for funding opportunities to help with the military population. I hope to be able to make a compelling case that the blast wave injuries that soldiers receive in combat could make for different disease states than what we see in civilian populations. Cheering for our soldiers on planes is a nice gesture, but I think we owe them better than that when they return. I think that different research and therapies will be required for them, so it will be important for the military to continue focusing on real translational projects. Ive received a number of comments/emails concerning the results of our clinical studies so far and unfortunately there is not much to say. The principal investigator is very excited about the results so far, but the therapy hasnt cured 100% of the patients (like our rat studies), so we are looking to understand more about what kinds of improvement would be important to tinnitus sufferers (hence the surveys). There is alot of tinnitus out there, but not as many people willing to have surgery and pay more than $1000 out of pocket. More on tinnitus as it develops"
I don't know about others on this site, but I would pay $1000 several times over for a treatment that worked for tinnitus. I hope this information will provide hope to some and not discouragement to others.
Their article says:
"Weve successully gotten our BAA application into the Office of Naval Research. Jennifer Born at the ATA was a really strong advocate to get me back into the mix with looking for funding opportunities to help with the military population. I hope to be able to make a compelling case that the blast wave injuries that soldiers receive in combat could make for different disease states than what we see in civilian populations. Cheering for our soldiers on planes is a nice gesture, but I think we owe them better than that when they return. I think that different research and therapies will be required for them, so it will be important for the military to continue focusing on real translational projects. Ive received a number of comments/emails concerning the results of our clinical studies so far and unfortunately there is not much to say. The principal investigator is very excited about the results so far, but the therapy hasnt cured 100% of the patients (like our rat studies), so we are looking to understand more about what kinds of improvement would be important to tinnitus sufferers (hence the surveys). There is alot of tinnitus out there, but not as many people willing to have surgery and pay more than $1000 out of pocket. More on tinnitus as it develops"
I don't know about others on this site, but I would pay $1000 several times over for a treatment that worked for tinnitus. I hope this information will provide hope to some and not discouragement to others.
If anyone knows more about this drug, please let us know.
Thanks,
I have heard that the vagus nerve if inflammed can cause heart palpitations.
Thanks.
Pattylyn
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00957788
It appears to be a very viable drug in a long term sense. No short term. Just one of the safety issues is after injection into the cochlea, patching the needle hole.
This one has appeared before mstringer1. Thanks for bringing it up again. Looks like it is moving along thru the trials. If anyone wants to be a guinea pig. We will see!!!
It was under trial for treating depression. It failed to produce worthy results.
It was under trial for treating certain seizures with some success.
I highly believe that my tinnitus is due to nerve damage since that is a large focus in my dealings with the medical community. Sometimes I feel that I am hearing my nerves..
You are correct the vagus nerve has something to do with the heart,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve as this link explains. But that is where the implants are for the stimulation for tinnitus. It is believed by a lot or researchers that tinnitus is a sound generated by the brain and not the inner ear. I just hope they are on the right path for a cure or effective treatment, soon.
What nerves do you know or think are damaged, that could cause your tinnitus? Also what do you mean by "hearing you nerves"?
If you don't mind me asking?
I have "nerve" problems as well, severe neuropathy in my feet, lower legs, often my trigeminal nerve acts up, that is a sharp shooting pain in my jaw, and I also have siatica pain...ugg sounds like I am a mess, but all in all I am used to it, and put up with it. The T., actually is more annoying.
Nerve pain is usually sharp shooting pains, tingling or numbness, but can turn to a dull ache. What type of sensations do you have?
I am not aware if the vagus nerve itself can cause pain, do you or anyone else know?
I guess I don't understand that much about nerves in the body and if some nerves can hurt and some might not.
Pattylyn
My nerve issue are along the line of a neuropathy. I became really sick quite a few years back and ended up bedridden. They looked at guimbarre(spelling) but we leaned more towards MS. Then I got better for the most part cept it ate the lining off my nerves(mylen sheath). I thought I was completely healed till oneday(right after a meditation session) I was driving down the road and boom (Anxiety, Noise, screaming noise). I thought it was due to an emotional problem I was going thru with my wife. But it never went away. Then I started to feel the purr(is what I call it). My nerves constantly tingle and pulsate. When I lie down my left side will start to ache(not like muscle cramps) but its my nerves. My sleep is sporadic. Most times I just pass out. Now that I have vicodin it is helping me to sleep better. Strange to say but Lyrica doesnt seem to help anything but my sex life.haha!
I am so thankful for the sun today...
I know you asked the nerve question to DarkSon but I would like to add that I also have neuropathy in my feet and legs. I have diabetic neuropaty and I think it has progressed above my knees, and I think it may have contributed to my tinnitus. If tinnitus is about malfuctioning nerves, and neuropathy is damage to the nerves then they could be related. My tinnitus stated in October of last year when my neurologist increased Gapentin to doubling the dosage. The ringing started a week later.
If you have not been checked for type 2 diabetes, then you need to have an A1C test to see if you are diabetic. Neuropathy is common with diabetes.
Sue
Here is interesting piece of information. The founder of Micro Transponder has been contributing to the design of a game called Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It's a futuristic game were people modify themselves with implants.
It's sad but hopefully also a premonition, that I dream of being examined by doctors instead of just "listened" to. I think massueses' have a better sense of our bodies and wish Doctors would listen to them! A good massage really helps for a bit.
Lastly tho, if the T is due to the hair dying and losing hearing, until/if they get that artifical hair approved...??? Seems that most of the drugs just cause/increase the T sadly. I'm even concerned about taking aspirin!
Actually the hair cells are inside the cochlea in the inner ear. There are thousands of these cells and they are responsible for hearing sound, and when the cells die or get damaged they do not grow back. I do think there is some research on transplanting these hair cells. Rush Limbaugh had a cochlear implant and only had it done in one ear even though he was deaf in both ears since the implant destroys all the hair cells. He wanted to keep one ear in reserve in case in the future medical science may come up with way to restore his hearing. Wikipedia has a great site for information on the cochlea just click this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlea
I would readily pay much more than 1000$ if it was to cure this curse.
i got my tinnitus after just one night clubbing, cant learn to live with it,
god bless the people who care and work for a cure