I just found this thread about tinnitus -- thought I'd tell me story, in case some pieces of it may help someone else. Mine started very suddenly and loudly in August 2000 while I was sitting in a room where there was a VERY LOUD collating machine working on our marketing mailing at work. The loud squealing sound in my ears did not quit that day, or the next day. I saw my internist, then an ENT. The hearing test indicated that I had not experienced any hearing loss, and I believe that to still be true. The only thing they had to offer was a special hearing aid to provide white noise. I didn't really like that option. The following week I went to see my husband's chiropractor, even though I was very skeptical and basically a non-believer in chiropractic. I was desperate, so I decided to try it. He said he would know within two weeks whether he could help me. Just hours after the first adjustment, I was experiencing a change -- it was as though someone were taking a radio volume dial and changing it louder, quieter, louder, quieter, etc. It was awful, but I chose to think of it as a positive in that he had effected a change. I was hoping that change could end up being something more desirable. I had daily appointments that first week, and each day the volume decreased. The following week I only saw him three times, and the appointment frequency continued to gradually decrease. I currently see my chiropractor about once every three or four weeks. Sometimes by that time, I am hearing the squealing (much quieter now than originally -- usually I can even just ignore it), but sometimes I go just to stay ahead of it. It turns out that I have a spondylosis, complete with lower back stiffness, and the adjustments help. It may be noteworthy that my father also had tinnitus -- perhaps he had the spondylosis too. If anyone thinks this might be an avenue worth checking, I strongly suggest finding a Gonstead chiropractor. (Gonstead = the gold standard of chiropractic -- and they are not likely to pressure you to sign up for the "lifetime program." Their motto is to find the problem, adjust it, and then leave it alone.) I do find that exercising (walking, climbing stairs or using the elliptical) is helpful. Hope this may be of some help to some of you. My question for all of you -- do any of you also have: - lower back stiffness? - bad knees ? (I need to have two knee replacements, but I'm still in the putting-it-off mode) - hips that are sometimes stiff or tight feeling? I'd like to find out whether there is a common pattern to this. Thanks.

I have tinnitus, which was brought on as the result of a head injury I received in a car wreck 4 1/2 years ago. Mine will never go away. It kind of sounds like I am "listening to the ocean" in a seashell 24/7. Most of the time I can ignore it, but it seems when things are really quiet or if I am really tired, it bothers me the most. Unfortunately I also have 35% hearing loss as a result of the injury and it will deteriorate over the years. Very frustrating, as I'm only 41 and now deafer than my parents. My DH also has hearing loss from many years of ear infections and also siren noises (he's a paramedic) so between the two of us, we spend a lot of time saying, "What??!!" We probably drive our kids crazy! LOL! Eventually I will need hearing aids, but am not anxious to go that route until I have to. The only advice I have is to have background music going during the times it is bothering you the most. Brenda

I haven't heard from them yet. But, I will let you all know when I do. In case anyone doesn't know, it is about a raccoon that was caught in a trap....I'm not sure the wholel story on that...but I think his head was caught in a leg hold trap, and he was taken to the wildlife center hospital, nursed back to health and given to my friend, Nara, to raise, and then released here. It's not really about me. I just walk with Nara down a trail in the woods to release the raccoon, and another one, which I am not sure was it's sibling or just a companion. I tried to find out details from Nara but she gets so many raccoons, I don't think she rememebered the story very well. For all I know, it could be something entirely different. All I know is they brought out a couple of raccoons and released them here. They are supposed to notify us by mail when the segment airs.

It's okay, I didn't take it as being bossy. Yes, I am fortunate that it is a huge complex with satellite facilities all over the area. He is at the main hospital. Private room....treating him very well. He isn't crazy about the food....they have him on a low sodium diet due to the fluid in his lungs. He looked better last night than I have seen him in ages.