I’m in shock that I’m even posting this right now.
After a year of agonizing tinnitus, several mental health crises, and gaining 20 pounds just to cope, I finally found relief. After seeing multiple doctors and doing my own research, the ringing is gone. I still have a bit of white noise due to some moderate hearing loss, but the piercing sound is gone.
It turns out my severe tinnitus was caused by extreme neck muscle strain from poor posture over the last year. The sounds ranged from high-pitched screeching and whooshing to constant hissing. My first specialist told me that because of my hearing loss, there was nothing to be done and I just had to accept it.
I tried to live with it for six months before seeing a new specialist. He suggested my tinnitus might be linked to facial or neck muscle tension and recommended massages.
I also found a case study online (Chronic Cervicogenic Tinnitus Rapidly Resolved by Intermittent Use of Cervical Collar - PMC) about a man who had chronic tinnitus for 20 years. Doctors told him it was permanent, but it turned out to be neck-related. After wearing a neck brace for three weeks, his two-decade-long ringing vanished.
Inspired by this, I bought a $25 neck brace and started doing neck stretches every hour for a week.
I saw a massive difference within just an hour of wearing the brace. Combined with the stretches, the ringing dropped significantly. By the fourth day, the ringing was completely gone! I’m now on day nine and the silence is holding.
I’ve noticed that if I neglect the stretches, the strain returns along with the ringing, but it disappears once I resume the exercises.
Because of my hearing loss, there is still a very faint white noise, but it’s nothing compared to the misery of the last year.
The study I read mentioned that people with neck-related tinnitus often suffer for years because doctors overlook muscle strain as a cause. After a year of suffering and dark thoughts, I am finally free of the ringing. I’m so glad I didn’t just listen to the first doctor. I could have ended up like that man in the study, suffering for 20 years from something totally preventable.