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Perforated eardrum & Tinnitus
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Crcraft posted:
Hello, My name is Christopher I'm a 24 year old full-time student living in the greater Dallas Fort Worth area. Last week my ex-girlfriend who has some mental issues struck me on the side of my head while I was lying down with an open hand. Whenever you bust your eardrum you know something isn't right. I noticed a throbbing pain, muffled hearing and later on "Ring In The Ear".

Let me just say I didn't know much about Tinnitus before the injury but I sure do know. it's something I'd wish upon not my most hated rival. But I pray for anyone that has gone threw it. It's the elephant in the room, It has effected my life big time. They say Silence is golden. Try telling that to someone know suffers from Tinnitus.

My question doctors and fellow people who have gone through a perforated eardrum. In your experience is Tinnitus a normal side effect in perforated eardrums? Does the ringing fade away or go back to normal once the healing of the eardrum is complete?

Thanks for reading my question, Your reply will be greatly appreciated.

God bless
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Rod_Moser_PA_PhD responded:
Have you seen a medical provider to determine the extent of your ruptured eardrum? Most ruptured eardrums will heal...in time...and most of the tinnitus associated with this traumatic event will resolve...in time. Unfortunately, it is not possible to determine when healing might take place. Healing time is very individual, and larger ruptures take longer.

So, good news is that you will probably be fine. If you are not improving in a few weeks, you need to see a good ENT.

And, that ex-girlfriend of yours needs some anger management training...and perhaps, some jail time to think this over.
 
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Crcraft responded:
Yes, I've been to a ENT he said he wants to see me in two months and that he didnt think I needed a repair and the eardrum should heal but the hole was sizable. I'm just really nervous because i hear all these horor stories about 20 years of Tinnitus.

I want my life back, So it's pretty common to have ringing in your ear weeks after the injury to eardrum?

I'm under a lot of stress and this ear noise really is making me go baty. Once the hole is healed? Ringing stops for most people?
 
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Rod_Moser_PA_PhD responded:
I have tinnitus (for a different reason!), and I am not that batty, so hang in there. Yes, it is very likely your symptoms will completely resolve once the eardrum has healed. I seriously doubt you will have tinnitus for twenty years.
 
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Crcraft responded:
Thanks for the reply, In you experiance Tinnitus and Perforated eardrums are indeed related and resolve once the issue is over? Reason I ask is someone told me Tinnitus wasnt related to a perforated eardrum.
 
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Rod_Moser_PA_PhD responded:
There are HUNDREDS of things that can cause tinnitus....ear infections, wax impactions, noise exposure (like rock concerts), TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, or even a side effect of certain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, caffeine, or birth control pills. Tinnitus may also be a symptom of more serious illnesses like high blood pressure, anxiety/depression, diabetes, thyroid disorders, M?ni?re?s disease, or blood vessel disorders. Yes, assuming you do not have another hidden cause, a traumatic rupture of the eardrum can definitely cause tinnitus.
 
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Redoubt responded:
You have my sympathy Christopher. I made the mistake of firing a pistol close to my left ear in 1971, and have had tinnitus ever since. It's louder in my left ear than in my right, but it has never decreased in volume. I have seen doctors at the V.A. Audiology clinic, and there is nothing they can do. The tinnitus camoflages other high pitches, (diagnosed a high frequency hearing loss) so I miss some things that ladies or children say to me. This makes me seem unsociable or self-centered at times, because people will tell me they passed me in a hallway at work and said hello, but got no response. Let people know about your problem so they will understand. You can live with it forever if you have to. Don't let it ruin your life. You'll train yourself not to think about it.
 
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Rod Moser, PA, PhD replied to Redoubt's response:
Thank you for sharing in this discussion....


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