Tinnitus Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding These Two Incurable Conditions

There are a number of disorders that lead to tinnitus. Multiple sclerosis is just one of them, and it is a degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis leads to a variety of symptoms due to the deterioration of muscle coordination and sensation. One of the symptoms could be tinnitus, a mysterious condition linked to a number of problems in the neural pathways in the brain. The connection may be explained though vaguely. The involvement of damaged neurons is one factor that could be looked into.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is actually an autoimmune disease that specifically affects the brain tissue and the spinal cord. What happens is that the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, which is a fatty layer that insulates the nerve cells. The cells of the immune system gain entry to the nervous system and treat myelin sheaths like viruses. The attack causes damage to the protective covering of nerve cells as well as inflammation. When the nerve cells lose the protective covering, their ability to transmit signals is jeopardized. The nerves themselves deteriorate in a matter of time, and this degeneration is irreversible.

The extent of nerve damage varies from person to person, and the severity of the symptoms depends on the degree of damage to the nerves. Since the central nervous system is affected, various conditions can occur, affecting different parts of the body and impairing different functions gradually. Some people at the advanced stage of multiple sclerosis suffer from inability to walk or talk.

In some cases, people with the disease may suffer from ringing in the ears or tinnitus. Multiple sclerosis destroys the nerves, giving rise to various symptoms. Ringing in the ears is just one symptom which is much more benign than other ailments brought about by the initial disorder. There is little literature that tackled the connection between tinnitus and multiple sclerosis. Possibly, the deterioration of the nerves leads to generation of awry impulses, which the brain “hears” as noise.

Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis presents challenge in the field of medicine because it is hard to spot the signs at an early stage. Patients testify experiencing symptoms that come and go, and sometimes several months in between attacks. The symptoms also mimic those of other diseases. Furthermore, there is no definite treatment for the disorder. Treatments are only geared to counteract symptoms.

What about tinnitus?

Well, tinnitus or ringing in the ear is just one of the symptoms of many disorders, including multiple sclerosis. However, the prevalence of multiple sclerosis is low relative to that of the other diseases, and the chances that it may bring about tinnitus is also low. Tinnitus isn’t one of the major symptoms of this disease. The more common cause of tinnitus is noise exposure, and this kind of tinnitus is characterized by ringing in the ear.

Other causes of tinnitus are Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuroma, and ear infection. There are more than a hundred diseases that cause tinnitus. However, majority of the cases of tinnitus cannot be cured either because the causal disorder is in itself incurable or because no underlying disorder is identified. Multiple sclerosis is one of the incurable causes of tinnitus. If it causes relentlessly intrusive tinnitus, then various ways to live with tinnitus will be offered to the patient. Normally, that ringing or buzzing in the ear may be managed without professional help. There are only a few instances wherein it presents itself as a life-changing and persistently bothering condition.

Treatment Options

If tinnitus occurs with multiple sclerosis, then the latter is most probably the culprit. Medical treatment of tinnitus involves targeting the cause. In this case, it is multiple sclerosis that deserves more medical attention. There are treatments that reduce severity of attacks. Such treatments include corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation caused by abnormal immune response. There are also drugs that delay progress of the disease. Beta interferons slow the rate at which symptoms worsen, but such treatments cause liver damage over time. There are also drugs that help control the immune system, such as Fingolimod, Natalizumab, and Glatiramer. None of these medications will have direct effect on your tinnitus, although they are designed to counteract the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Intrusive tinnitus can be managed through known options discrete from treatments known for multiple sclerosis. Some of the effective management options are sound therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. Since you may be taking medications for multiple sclerosis, it may not be suitable to take drugs for tinnitus. They are not too effective anyway.

When to See Your Doctor

Be wary of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis because they resemble symptoms of other diseases. Go to your doctor when you experience numbness, blurring of vision, electric shock sensation when turning your head, tremors, loss of balance, and dizziness. If you have had these symptoms for some time, get an appointment with your doctor. At the same time, if you suffer from bothersome tinnitus, it’s wise to have your health evaluated. Ask your doctor for safe ways to deal with tinnitus.